Ave Spotlight

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?

Three Takeaways:

The platform is a tool, not the prize. Fulton Sheen understood that the value of media wasn’t found in awards or recognition, but in its ability to communicate Christ and his Church to the world.

The Church is bigger than what we see. The veneration of relics and the communion of saints remind us that we belong to one Body of Christ, united across generations and throughout the world.

Every generation has a missionary opportunity. From television and radio to podcasts and social media, the challenge remains the same: use the tools of our time to bring people closer to Jesus.

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Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Oscar sits down with Catholic hip-hop artist and evangelist Joe Melendrez for a conversation about identity, creativity, and what happens when an encounter with God redirects your entire life. From appearing on MTV as a teenager to encountering the Holy Spirit at a teen A.C.T.S. retreat, Joe shares how he discovered that his gifts for music, dancing, and performance weren’t meant to build up the world but to glorify God. We explore why Catholic artist should pursue excellence, not because we are perfect but because our God is so perfect.

Three takeaways:

Encounter with Jesus changes our direction in life.

Creativity is part of evangelization

Your gifts are your mission.

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Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

Oscar sits down with Lauren Gothard to discuss how to navigate major transitions without retreating into what feels comfortable. Starting with an insightful takeaway from Spider-Man, they explore what happens when life shifts and we are challenged to embrace who we are becoming rather than clinging to who we’ve been.

Lauren and Oscar dive into the difference between being a consumer of faith and an active contributor to the Gospel. Lauren shares practical insights on overcoming the fear of sharing our faith, getting past the mental blocks that quiet the Holy Spirit, and recognizing that goodness is meant to be shared with those around us. She reminds us that God meets us as a healer in our brokenness so that we can step out in courage.

Whether you’re heading to college, entering a new season, trying to deepen your faith, or just wondering whether God is real, this episode offers a simple challenge: give God an opportunity to lead you somewhere new.

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Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)

On this episode of Ave Spotlight, Meg Hunter-Kilmer talks about staying rooted in Christ during one of life’s biggest transitions: college. Meg challenges the idea that holiness requires having everything figured out—sharing stories of imperfect saints whose lives reveal a God who meets us exactly where we are and calls us forward.

For college students navigating new freedom, relationships, busy schedules, and questions of identity, Meg offers a refreshingly practical path to holiness. Holiness isn’t about becoming someone else; it’s about allowing God to transform the person he already created you to become.

Three Takeaways:

Get into scripture. Make time to read, pray with, and reflect on God’s word.

Make space for silence. Silence creates room to hear God’s voice and recognize his presence.

Embrace the sacramental life. The sacraments give us the grace and strength we need to grow in holiness.

Fr. John Garabedian, associate director of vocations for the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, talks with Oscar about baseball, priesthood, creativity, and learning to trust God’s call. A former college baseball player and graphic designer, Fr. John reflects on how the highs and lows of athletics taught him to keep success and failure in perspective, and how these lessons transfer to the spiritual life. He also shares his journey from recognizing a possible call to priesthood, and eventually surrendering to the vocation God had been placing on his heart all along.

Three takeaways:

Use the tools without losing the human touch.

Your identity is bigger than your performance.

God’s call requires a response.

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Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)