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Ave Explores

Ave Maria Press
Lent
Advent
Catholic Church
Catholicism
Pope Francis
Prayer
Catholic Faith
Mercy
Pope Leo XIV
Christmas
Wilderness Within
Eucharist
Jesus
Digital Evangelization
Spirituality
Holy Week
Spiritual Growth
Jubilee 2025
Parable Of the Prodigal Son
Faith

A project of Ave Maria Press, Ave Explores helps you discover and learn about aspects of the Catholic faith from a variety of different angles, looking at topics relevant to the spiritual life in a fresh, engaging, and practical way.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes269Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ChristianityReligionReligion & Spirituality

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Ave Explores

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Ave Explores: Catholicism in Literature, Katie sits down with Kaitlyn Facista and Andrew Swafford to discuss the enduring legacy of two of Christianity’s greatest storytellers, C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien.

Facista, author of ... more

Sr. Allison Gliot, FSP, and Fr. Michael Brisson, LC, both set out to write fiction, only to find their stories taking unexpected turns. One created a tale involving a priest entangled with the mafia; the other imagined a world where young adults navi... more

Authors Haley Stewart and Claire Swinarski reflect on how a lifelong love of reading sparked their writing careers, helped cultivate a rich reading culture in their homes, and continues to open the door to deeper, more meaningful connections with oth... more

To kick off the new series of Ave Explores on Catholicism in Literature, Fr. Jonah Teller, OP, shares how a lifelong love of reading shaped his faith, imagination, and vocation. In an age dominated by scrolling and screens, he reflects on why great b... more

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Recent Guests

Kaitlyn Facista
Author of building this Hobbit's heart; expert on Tolkien and Lewis
Ave Maria Press
Episode: Week Three: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien: Faith, Imagination, and the Power of Story feat. Kaitlyn Facista and Andrew Swafford
Andrew Swafford
Professor who teaches C. S. Lewis; author on Magnifica Humilitatis and Mere Christianity
Benedictine University
Episode: Week Three: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien: Faith, Imagination, and the Power of Story feat. Kaitlyn Facista and Andrew Swafford
Fr. Michael Brisson
Priest, Legionnaire of Christ; author of Death in Black and White
Ignatius Press (publisher for the book); Death in Black and White
Episode: Week Two: Murder Mysteries and Vampire Novels with Fr. Michael Brisson, LC, and Sr. Allison Gliot, FSP
Sr. Allison Gliot
Daughter of St. Paul; author of The Curse He Chose and The Light They Left (In Aeternum Vampire Series)
Daughters of St. Paul
Episode: Week Two: Murder Mysteries and Vampire Novels with Fr. Michael Brisson, LC, and Sr. Allison Gliot, FSP
Claire Swinarski
Author and writer, mother of three
Harper Collins; Letters from a Catholic Feminist (Substack)
Episode: Week One: Reading in the Home
Haley Stewart
Author and publisher, editor
Word on Fire (Votive imprint)
Episode: Week One: Reading in the Home
Fr. Jonah Teller
Dominican priest, Eastern Province; mentioned as guest on teaser and episode
Dominican Order; St. Joseph's, NYC
Episode: Teaser: Read like a Friar with Fr. Jonah Teller, OP
Laura Kelly Fanucci
Author of Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection
Ave Maria Press
Episode: Easter: Feast after the Fast with Laura Kelly Fanucci
Father Patrick Mary Briscoe
Dominican friar, author of Witness
Dominican Order
Episode: Holy Week: The Shock of Holy Week with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP

Host

Katie McGrady
Host of Ave Explores; Affiliated with Ave Explores / Ave Maria Press

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 270 ratings
  • Yes tune in

    Katie provides an honest approach to our faith sprinkled with fun and an opportunity to grow deeper in your relationship with God.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lovatic45
    United States4 months ago
  • A great listen

    Katie is an excellent reporter and easy to listen to! I really enjoy her calm and funny demeanor. I’m proud that she is Catholic and from Louisiana!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bonniejeanie8
    United Statesa year ago
  • The man behind Joan Watson: ex-priest Kevin McGoldrick

    Listeners deserve to know that Ave Maria author Joan Watson (a.k.a. Mrs. McGoldrick) is married to an ex-priest accused of sexual abuse of several young women across multiple dioceses.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Listeners deserve to know
    United Statesa year ago
  • Grateful

    I am grateful that so much information regarding Catholic faith is available! Katie’s podcast,

    Ave Explores, is one of my favorite resources.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    snowy_egret
    United Statesa year ago
  • Excellent podcast

    I love this podcast. It’s like listening to a good friend. Katie is well spoken, intelligent and warm. I feel elevated after listening to her speak about the topics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Carmel1980
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are knowledgeable and motivating; content is accessible and uplifting.
Diverse guest roster offers a broad Catholic perspective and practical takeaways.
Consistently high-quality production and warm hosting style.
Some episodes touch on sensitive issues; listeners should be aware of potential concerns about church leadership topics.
Engaging host with thoughtful guests and practical faith topics.

Top Christianity Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Week Three: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien: Faith, Imagination, and the Power of Story feat. Kaitlyn Facista and Andrew Swafford
Q: What book most impacted you and which would you recommend others read first?
Kaitlyn cites The Lord of the Rings as the book that shaped her the most, while recommending The Silmarillion for a deeper look into Tolkien's world; Andrew highlights The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion as pivotal, with broader recommendations including Mere Christianity and other works that illuminate faith and virtue.
Teaser: Read like a Friar with Fr. Jonah Teller, OP
Q: What was the most influential book you've read, and why did it matter in how you live today?
The Lord of the Rings stands out as a book that continually inspires me to be a better person, to value friendship and sacrifice, and to consider a larger purpose in life, while also offering a vivid invitation into a fully imagined world that teaches virtue.
Week One: Reading in the Home
Q: How do you keep reading a joyful part of family life in a busy, tech-driven world?
Lead by example, make reading a natural, shared activity, and use formats like audiobooks or family read-alouds to keep it engaging; involve kids in choosing books and connecting them to real-world experiences.
Holy Week: The Shock of Holy Week with Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP
Q: What have you been grateful for as a result of a witness-focused Lent?
Briscoe expresses gratitude for how readers and listeners have shared that the book helped them understand the Passion more deeply by praying with different figures and seeing themselves in the biblical narrative, which deepens scriptures engagement and personal faith.
5th Week of Lent: Lent Makes Us Courageous with Pete Burak
Q: What practical practices do you recommend for Lent to cultivate courage?
Develop a coherent theme for the season, engage in small acts of sacrifice (like simplicity or self-denial), and seek daily moments of encounter with God that form lasting virtue.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ave Explores

What is Ave Explores about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on Catholic faith, practice, and liturgy, balancing deep doctrinal conversation with practical, everyday spirituality. Episodes frequently feature priests, religious orders, authors, and musicians who illuminate Lent, Advent, Holy Week, and broader Catholic life with personal stories, liturgical insights, and book-based frameworks. A standout is the mix of intimate, family-centered angles with scholarly and pastoral perspectives, plus a willingness to explore modern challenges in faith without sacrificing tradition.

Where can I find podcast stats for Ave Explores?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Ave Explores. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Ave Explores and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Ave Explores get?

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What are the audience demographics for Ave Explores?

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How many subscribers and views does Ave Explores have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Ave Explores has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Ave Explores?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ave Explores:

1. Abiding Together
2. The Poco a Poco Podcast with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
3. All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri
4. Godsplaining
5. Restore The Glory Podcast

How many episodes of Ave Explores are there?

Ave Explores launched 7 years ago and published 269 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Ave Explores?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Ave Explores?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Ave Explores from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Ave Explores?

Recent guests on Ave Explores include:

1. Kaitlyn Facista
2. Andrew Swafford
3. Fr. Michael Brisson
4. Sr. Allison Gliot
5. Claire Swinarski
6. Haley Stewart
7. Fr. Jonah Teller
8. Laura Kelly Fanucci

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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