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 193: Humanity in the Age of AI with Paul Blanchard

June 9th, 2026  |  54 mins 1 sec

AI, a catholic approach to ai, ave maria press, ave spotlight, digital evangelization, human dignity, magnifica humanitas, oscar rivera, paul blanchard, pope leo xiv

Oscar sat down with Paul Blanchard, director of social media outreach and IT specialist for the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi, to explore one of the most important questions facing the Church today: How do we embrace technology without losing our humanity? Drawing from Pope Leo XIV recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Paul shares insights from the front lines of digital evangelization, where technology serves the mission of making disciples rather than replacing relationships. Together we discuss AI companions, social media, human dignity, and the Church’s responsibility to provide moral guidance in a rapidly changing world. Through it all, Paul reminds listeners that the goal of technology should not be efficiency alone, but deeper communion with God and one another.

Three Takeaways:

1. Technology should serve relationships, not replace them.
2. Human dignity must remain at the center of AI development.
3. Evangelization is ultimately personal.

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.