Ave Explores

Joyce Rupp, author of Jesus: Friend of My Soul, shares how the season of Lent is an invitation to love other people in more intentional ways, just as Jesus loves us. Rupp also relates how the COVID-19 crisis is a chance to be more aware of our common humanity, seeing Christ in each person we encounter.

Tommy McGrady and Katie Prejean McGrady, coauthors of Lent: One Day at a Time for Catholic Teens , discuss how young people can fully invest in the season of Lent. McGrady shares how fasting, prayer, and almsgiving can be the foundation of a fruitful spiritual life for teenagers long after Lent is complete.

Joel Stepanek, author of Chasing Humility: 8 Ways to Shape a Christian Heart , joins Katie Prejean McGrady to discuss how Lent can be fruitful if we pay attention to what God wants us to do with prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Humility is the golden thread that ties together these Lenten practices.

Emily DeArdo, author of Living Memento Mori: My Journey through the Stations of the Cross talks with Katie Prejean McGrady about her battle with cystic fibrosis and how it deeply affects her friendships, family life, and faith. Emily shares how carrying this cross helped her gain new insights into how to walk through any desert, especially the forty days of Lent.

Gary Zimak, “worry” expert and author of "Give Up Worry for Lent! 40 Days to Finding Peace in Christ" chats with Katie Prejean McGrady about how to avoid becoming over scrupulous and reassures us that we can’t really ruin the forty days of Lent if we keep our priorities straight.

Deacon Greg Kandra talks with Katie Prejean McGrady about how the practice up giving up something in Lent actually starts with giving. Kandra also shares insights into the Lenten devotional Daily Devotions for Lent 2020 and what he’s going to focus on doing during Lent this year.

Catholic authors and speakers Sr. Miriam James Heidland, S.O.L.T., and Fr. John Burns talk about the basic need everyone has to seek healing. Whether it’s from wounds, slights, or deep and long-lasting trauma, the need for healing is directly tied to living a mentally healthy life. Our conversation explores ways to rest in the healing power of God’s mercy, forgiveness, and love.

Tommy Tighe is a counselor, author, and podcast and TV host, but he would tell you his most important title is husband and father. In this episode, Tighe shares about the struggle of losing a child and how he, his wife, and their four other sons have lived with their grief, maintained their faith. and remained mentally healthy. Tommy also offers insight on how to help those who are struggling with...

Roy Petitfils counsels teenagers struggling with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, and stress. In this episode, he gives an overview of what teens are facing, how screens and social media are influencing teenagers and their mental health today, and how all of us can have open and fruitful conversations about mental health challenges.

Catholic speaker, author, and "worry expert” Gary Zimak discusses what it’s like to live with anxiety, and helps explain ways chronic worriers can find peace, comfort, and relinquish control to Jesus.

Leah Darrow, a speaker, author, Season 2 contestant on America’s Next Top Model, and founder of Lux U, shares about her struggles with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, “mom guilt,” balance, and explores ways one can find peace & strength through spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation, regularly attending daily Mass, and “recalibrating” one’s routine.

Katie Prejean McGrady gives a snapshot of the topic for the upcoming season of Ave Explores, taking a look at stress, anxiety, and mental health. This season includes interviews with Leah Darrow, Roy Petitfils, Tommy Tighe, and more, along with articles from professional counselors, psychologists, and doctors. Subscribe to Ave Explores: Stress, Anxiety, and Mental Health here :

Katie summarizes the Ave Explores Mary series, highlighting the key points made by all the guests on Season 1 of the podcast and insights gained about the role Mary plays in our lives.

Katie gets a master class in the 3 most well-known Marian apparitions from the Miracle Hunter himself, Michael O'Neill. With wisdom and insight, Michael unpacks Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, telling the stories fo these Marian apparitions, the miraculous healings and moments surrounding these profoundly beautiful moments in Marian history, and helps us underst...

Katie visits with Kristin Reilly, a working mom with 7 kids, a career in finance, and an online ministry that brings hundreds of people together on Instagram Live every morning to pray the rosary together.

Katie sits down with J.D. Flynn, Editor-in-Chief of Catholic News Agency and co-host of the popular Catholic podcast, The Editor's Desk from CNA, to talk about the Blessed Mother's importance to his family, how praying a rosary every evening has helped him be a better husband and father, and he puts on his "Canon Lawyer hat" to help give tips on how to explain Mary to non-Catholics.

Katie visits with Leticia Ochoa Adams, a wife, mom, and speaker from Texas, who shares about grief, hope, and faith following the suicide of her son and how we can look to Mary as mother and comforter during the darkest days.

Katie Prejean McGrady and “Pittsburgh’s Okayest Priest” Fr. Anthony Sciarappa, host of the popular Catholic podcast "Clerically Speaking," chat about how his devotion to the Blessed Mother grew while he was in seminary and how we can all welcome Mary into our prayer life.

Katie Prejean McGrady and Meg Hunter-Kilmer talk about what it’s like to travel all the time (especially when living out of your car), how to trust in God’s providence, and how Mary is an example of what radical trust in God can, and does, look like.

A pear-sized brain tumor helped director, producer, and comedy writer Jeannie Gaffigan draw closer to the Blessed Mother. In this first Ave Explores podcast, Gaffigan, wife of comedian Jim Gaffigan, talks with Katie Prejean McGrady about praying the Rosary alone and with her family and how her illness helped her grow in her faith. Gaffigan’s new book, When Life Gives You Pears , was just recently...

Katie Prejean McGrady, author, speaker, and project manager of Ave Explores, gives an overview of this new initiative from Ave Maria Press and reflects on the role Mary has played in her own life.

Katie Prejean McGrady introduces Ave Explores, a new project from Ave Maria Press. This season, we explore Mary, our Blessed Mother, answering some big questions about her and the role she plays in our lives. Why does she matter, and how can we get to know her? What does it mean to pray with Mary, to emulate Mary, to trust like Mary? Who is she, really? You'll hear stories from a woman who travels...