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Ave Spotlight

Ave Maria Pressavespotlight.fireside.fm
Want to hear more about life from a Catholic perspective? Listen to host Oscar Rivera as he talks with special guests about culture, current events, and all things Catholic. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of your faith and how to live it in the world today.
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Episodes

Episode 108: All About Dating with Lillian Fallon

On this week's episode, Chenele talks with long-time friend, Lillian Fallon, about dating--preferred apps, dating in your 30s, and how to stay hopeful. You don't want to miss it!

Dec 12, 202221 minEp. 108

Episode 107: Faith in the Unexpected with Allison Gingras

Allison Gingras, author of Encountering Signs of Faith, shares the story of how her daughter's adoption helped her trust and encounter the Lord. Allison and Chenele also talk about sacramentals and how they help us to learn about the faith in unexpected ways.

Nov 28, 202226 minEp. 107

Episode 106: Let's Talk Mass with Fr. Dave Dwyer, CSP

Have you ever had questions about the Catholic faith? Perhaps you were confused about something you heard at Sunday Mass? You are not alone. This week Chenele and Busted Halo's Fr. Dave Dwyer, CSP, discuss ways to learn more about the faith and avoid simply going through the motions. They also talk about Fr. Dave's new book Mass Class and the questions he is most frequently asked about Catholicism.

Nov 14, 202226 minEp. 106

Episode 105: 5-Minute Prayers Around the Advent Wreath

In this episode, Chenele and Lisa Hendey, founder of the award-winning CatholicMom.com and author of 5-Minute Prayers Around the Advent Wreath, talk about how to incorporate the Advent wreath into your seasonal traditions while building community and getting out of your normal routine.

Oct 31, 202222 minEp. 105

Episode 104: Misconceptions of Vatican II with Fr. Blake Britton

The 60th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II was October 11, 2022. There have been a lot of misunderstandings about what really happened during the council. Fr. Blake Britton, author of Reclaiming Vatican II, joins Chenele to address common misconceptions, why the liturgy is a priority, and hope for the faith of millennials.

Oct 17, 202227 minEp. 104

Episode 101: Giving Thanks and Letting Go with Danielle Bean

Danielle Bean joins Chenele to talk about sending your child to college, supporting their independence, and parental paranoia. Danielle shares her personal testimony of trusting God, and what she would tell her younger self.

Sep 06, 202225 minEp. 101

Episode 100: Celebrating the 100th Episode of Ave Spotlight

This week we're celebrating the 100th episode of Ave Spotlight! Join host Chenele Shaw and former host Katie Prejean McGrady as they chat about how it feels to host their own show, their favorite episodes, and what gives them hope.

Aug 22, 202222 minEp. 100

Episode 99: Host Chenele Shares Her Story of Reversion to the Faith

In the final episode of the Ave Spotlight summer conversion story series, host Chenele Shaw shares her own inspiring story of hope--from getting kicked out of high school to managing a Philly cheesesteak restaurant to becoming director of youth ministry for the Diocese of Orlando.

Aug 08, 202213 minEp. 99

Episode 98: Leah Darrow on the Power of Personal Development

This week Chenele Shaw chats with Leah Darrow of Power Made Perfect, her new Christocentric personal development program. Darrow talks about being your best self and shares about her powerful conversion from despair and shame to hope, mercy, and the love of Jesus.

Jul 25, 202235 minEp. 98

Episode 96: Leah Libresco Sargeant on Her Conversion from Atheism to Catholicism

Chenele talks with Leah Libresco Sargeant about her conversion from atheism to Catholicism. After many debates during college, Sargeant was inspired to investigate Catholicism more fully by the faithful witness of her peers. She also offers suggestions about how to engage in healthy debates with those who have different beliefs.

Jun 27, 202221 minEp. 96

Episode 95: Gloria Purvis on Her Conversion to the Catholic Faith

In this episode, Chenele Shaw chats with Gloria Purvis about her conversion to Catholicism when she was twelve years old after encountering the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration. Although her parents were not Catholic, they supported her passion to witness to the faith as an advocate for the sacredness and dignity of the unborn, and Black lives.

Jun 13, 202230 minEp. 95

Episode 94: Best of Ave Spotlight: Saints who Struggled with Mental Issues with Tommy Tighe

You loved this episode from Tommy Tighe so much that we have brought it back! We hope you enjoy this new feature of Ave Spotlight in which we replay these "best of" episodes from time to time. Oscar Romero. Dorothy Day. Thérèse of Lisieux. Edith Stein. All these great saints struggled with their mental health. Join Chenele Shaw and mental health counselor Tommy Tighe on this special episode where they talk about saints who strove for holiness and brought their mental struggles to the Lord.

May 30, 202229 minEp. 94

Episode 93: Female Doctors of the Church and Spiritual Direction with Vinita Hampton Wright

Are you interested in spiritual direction but not sure how to get started? Join us this week as Chenele talks with Vinita Hampton Wright about the difference between spiritual direction and therapy, why it is valuable to one's faith journey, and how to find a spiritual director. Wright also introduces us to her new book, Set the World on Fire: A 4-Week Personal Retreat with the Female Doctors of the Church.

May 16, 202228 minEp. 93

Episode 92: Integrating Work and Faith with John Cannon of SENT Ventures

Do you wish your work culture reflected the values of your Catholic faith? Join Chenele Shaw and John Cannon, founder of SENT Ventures—an organization that supports and mentors Catholic entrepreneurs— as they discuss how change in the workplace begins with one person who wants to grow in holiness. Cannon encourages those he mentors—and you—to be more intentional about scheduling time for prayer, Mass, community involvement, rest, and other practices that will allow God to work through you.

May 02, 202220 minEp. 92

Episode 91: Evangelization, Beatitudes, and Baseball with Fr. Casey Cole, OFM

What do a priest, baseball, and the beatitudes have in common? Join Chenele Shaw this week as she talks with popular YouTuber Fr. Casey Cole, OFM, about social media, the priesthood, and this summer's Bleacher Brothers tour. He will visit all thirty MLB parks in eleven weeks with his friend Fr. Roberto "Tito" Serrano, OFM, to share the good news.

Apr 25, 202227 minEp. 91

Episode 90: Beginning Well with Joel Stepanek

We only have a few firsts in life, but we have many new beginnings. Do you embrace a fresh start as an exciting opportunity or do you mourn what you left behind? In this week's episode, Chenele Shaw and Joel Stepanek discuss how to meet new beginnings with grace and as moments to encounter Jesus Christ. Stepanek—vice president of parish services at Life Teen—also offers practical strategies for beginning well that will help you joyfully grow as a Christian.

Apr 18, 202224 minEp. 90

Episode 87: Hope in the Face of Evil with Tom Corcoran

How can God allow horrible things to happen? In this episode, Chenele talks with Tom Corcoran, coauthor of _Seriously God?, about evil and navigating the challenges of life. Corcoran says that difficulties are actually opportunities to rely on the Lord, learn more about him, and deepen our relationship with him.

Mar 28, 202222 minEp. 87

Episode 82: Celebrating Black Saints with Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Chenele and Meg Hunter-Kilmer talk about the blessing and importance of befriending saints whose life experience is much different from our own. Meg also introduces lesser-known Black saints and shares her personal story of becoming friends with saints who are different from her. Do you ever think of the saints as your friends? What if you befriended a saint who is different from you?

Feb 21, 202228 minEp. 82

Episode 81: Catholics United for Black Lives with Shannon Wimp Schmidt

Chenele talks with Shannon Wimp Schmidt, founding member and media director of Catholics United for Black Lives about responding to racism, educating the Church, and faithfully supporting the Black Lives Matter movement while staying true to Church teaching.

Feb 14, 202217 minEp. 81

Episode 80: Celebrating Black Catholics with Marcia Lane-McGee

Happy Black History Month! Join Chenele and Marcia Lane-McGee in this special episode to talk about the uniqueness of Black Catholic culture, Marcia's new book Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s, and her work as cohost of the Plaid Skirts and Basic Black podcast.

Feb 07, 202220 minEp. 80
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