Ave Spotlight

Episode 202: Church Communication with Intentionality feat. Justin Dery

October 27th, 2026  |  41 mins 15 secs

AI, artificial intelligence, ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic church, catholic faith, catholic podcast, catholicism, church communications, cocreators, dery music and media, digital evangelization, justin dery, oscar rivera

Oscar welcomes Justin Dery, founder of Dery Music and Media to explore the growing tension between artificial intelligence and human creativity in church communications. Together they broach the question, are we sacrificing intentionality for efficiency when using Ai in church communications? This conversation challenges Catholics to embrace technology without surrendering the very gifts that make us human. After all, being made in the image of a Creator means we were created to create.

Three Takeaways:
Efficiency doesn't equal intentionality.
AI should assist, not replace.
We were created to create.

Episode 201: Blessed Fulton Sheen’s Lasting Impact feat. Katie McGrady

October 12th, 2026  |  39 mins 8 secs

Saints, ave spotlight, beatification of fulton sheen, blessed fulton sheen, catholic church, catholic podcast, evangelization, katie mcgrady, oscar rivera, proclaim the gospel, sheen awards

Oscar welcomes Catholic speaker, author, and radio host Katie McGrady back to Ave Spotlight for a conversation about the legacy of Blessed Fulton Sheen and the power of media to proclaim the Gospel. Fresh off receiving the inaugural Sheen Award for Impact in Radio and Podcasting, Katie reflects on the importance of using our platforms for something greater than recognition. Together, they explore Sheen’s groundbreaking television ministry and his remarkable gift for communicating timeless truths with clarity, boldness, humor, and a profound understanding of the Church’s mission. From the missionary creativity of the 1950s to today’s world of podcasts, social media, and algorithms, this episode asks a challenging question: If we have more ways than ever to share Jesus with the world, what are we doing with that gift?

Episode 187: Prayer That Changes Everything Fr. Josh Johnson

March 16th, 2026  |  31 mins 6 secs

Prayer, Scripture, ave maria press, ave spotlight, call to holiness, catholic church, catholic faith, fr josh johnson, free podcast for catholics, oscar rivera

Fr. Josh Johnson shares his journey from spiritual searching to the priesthood and how prayer became the anchor of his life. In this episode of Ave Spotlight, he reflects on the universal call to holiness and the power of scripture to help us hear God’s voice. Slow down, listen, and rediscover how prayer can draw you into deeper relationship with God.

Episode 186: More Than Language with Deacon Charlie Echeverry

March 2nd, 2026  |  55 mins 23 secs

ave explores, ave spotlight, blind spot, catholic church, deacon charlie echeverry, latino catholics, oscar rivera

Oscar sits down with Deacon Charlie Echeverry to explore the intersection of Latino culture and Catholic faith in a rapidly changing America. Drawing from his book Blind Spot, Deacon Charlie explains why language is only a tool—while culture is the true gateway to evangelization. From Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime moment to the real risks of syncretism and cultural Catholicism, this conversation challenges the Church to move beyond simple translation strategies and toward authentic cultural integration rooted firmly in truth.

Episode 184: Influencers, Algorithms, and the Psalms with Emily Mentock

February 2nd, 2026  |  34 mins 42 secs

2026, Easter, Psalms, ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic church, catholicism, digital evangelization, lent, oscar rivera, podcast for catholics, praying with the psalms

Emily Mentock joins Oscar for an honest conversation about faith, influence, and a changing digital era. As the Catholic Church discerns how to navigate influencer culture, we explore what it means to cultivate an authentic online presence rooted in digital mission—not personal branding.

Together, we discuss the importance of resisting the pressure to “perform” as influencers by staying grounded in prayer, humility, and parish life. We also look to King David as a surprising model of influence and reflect on why the Psalms remain one of the Church’s most powerful—and underused—spiritual treasures.

Episode 167: High School Seniors Take Over Ave Spotlight

June 9th, 2025  |  40 mins 5 secs

ave maria press, ave spotlight, catholic church, catholicism, high school seniors, oscar rivera, sharing the faith

On this episode, Oscars talks to high school seniors from public, private and Catholic Schools about their Catholic experience in each of their school settings. This conversation is not only eye opening but hopeful. These teens are not the future of the Church, but the RIGHT NOW of the Church.