Podcast Summary: Lead With AI

Episode Title: Can't Find Words to Pray? This AI Spiritual Companion is Here to Help
Host: Dr. Tamara Nall
Guest: Joshua Pinto, Founder of Risen
Date: December 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt episode, Dr. Tamara Nall converses with Joshua Pinto about Risen, an AI-based spiritual companion designed to provide faith-rooted support and guidance to individuals, particularly those navigating loneliness or grief. The discussion delves into Risen's origins, impact, inner workings, ethical considerations, and Joshua's vision for its transformative potential within faith communities and beyond. Throughout, the tone is empathetic, authentic, and practical, emphasizing real technological impact over hype.

Key Topics and Insights

1. The Human Story Behind Risen

• Joshua’s Motivation (02:36–04:49):

  • Joshua shares how Risen was born from personal grief, after losing both parents within a few years.

  • He sought spiritual companionship during lonely nights and, unable to find a supportive digital alternative, built a prototype for himself.

  • Noticing positive changes in his faith life, he realized the tool could help others silently carrying heavy burdens.

    “It was Tamara, born very much in a moment of grief… I wish I had a spiritual director in my pocket…Two days later I coded a prototype for myself to use.”
    — Joshua Pinto [03:08]

2. What Is Risen?

• Definition and Capabilities (04:49–06:02):

  • Risen is an AI-powered spiritual companion offering free-flowing conversation and guided experiences rooted in Catholic faith.

  • Designed for difficult, deeply personal spiritual questions, it responds with theological accuracy and pastoral sensitivity.

    “You get responses that are very theologically accurate but also pastorally sound ... not just information, but spiritual guidance delivered with pastoral care.”
    — Joshua Pinto [05:30]

3. User Impact and “Holy Smokes” Moments

• First Impactful Experience (06:14–07:49):

  • Joshua recounts his wife being moved to tears by Risen’s compassionate response to her struggles as a mother.

  • Users often expect generic advice but are surprised by genuine, custom spiritual care.

    “One friend ... said, ‘Josh, this app is more pastorally attentive than my parish priest on a Monday morning.’”
    — Joshua Pinto [06:51]

• Single Mother’s Story (12:51–13:47):

  • A single mother navigating hardship found comfort through Risen, especially on nights when she couldn’t find the words to pray.

    “The app gave her something to lean on in those lonely nights, a way to pray when she couldn’t find the words, a voice that reminded her she wasn’t alone.”
    — Joshua Pinto [13:19]

4. Who Is Risen For?

• Intended Audience (08:01–09:30):

  • Built primarily for everyday Catholics but accessible to anyone interested in faith-rooted guidance.

  • Non-Catholic Christians have expressed interest, prompting consideration of broader denominational support in future versions.

    “We’re seeing a big quiet revival in the church ... many are not cradle Catholics ... and there aren’t enough tools out there to support that.”
    — Joshua Pinto [08:40]

5. Under the Hood: How Risen Works

• Technology and Personalization (10:11–12:19):

  • Built on theological guardrails ensuring fidelity to Catholic teachings.

  • Incorporates “Soul Print” to remember users’ journeys and offer contextually personalized guidance.

  • Features “Avatar Engine,” allowing users to select guides (inspired by saints or lay people) for relatable tone and support.

    “If you could peek inside Risen’s brain, you would feel like you are in a library or a chapel or an office of a counselor. ... The experience feels like real human accompaniment, very nuanced and very personal.”
    — Joshua Pinto [10:22 and 12:15]

6. Ethics and Guardrails

• Ensuring Responsible Use (14:42–17:31):

  • Risen is intentionally not a therapist or priest; it augments, not replaces, real church or professional care.

  • Draws from authoritative sources (scripture, catechism, saints).

  • Combines AI-based flagging with human-in-the-loop moderation to catch theological or pastoral errors and manage sensitive topics.

  • Urges seeking professional help when conversations exceed its scope.

    “Risen isn’t God, isn’t the priest, it isn’t the therapist. It’s built to walk alongside people, but never to replace the church, the sacraments, or professional care.”
    — Joshua Pinto [14:56]

7. Vision for the Future

• 2030 and Beyond (17:45–19:23):

  • Joshua foresees Risen integrated into Catholic life—supporting schools, churches, and remote communities.

  • Envisions scalable, deeply personal spiritual care, and partnerships to build enterprise-level models for faith formation.

    “By 2030 ... a real spiritual companion for the everyday person ... Pastoral care that is deeply personal for the individual, but also scalable for the church.”
    — Joshua Pinto [17:45, 18:47]

8. Rapid Fire Takeaways (23:05–24:15)

• Most Overrated AI Trend: Replacing humans with AI.

  “The future isn’t elimination, it’s augmentation. AI should give people superpowers, not seek to replace them.”
  — Joshua Pinto [23:05]

• Underrated AI Trend: Contextual AI—systems that adapt and remember.
• Must-Read Book: The Fourth Industrial Revolution by Klaus Schwab.
• Boldest Prediction:

  “Trust will become the new competitive advantage. People will choose AI they trust with their values and their families, not just the one with the biggest model.”
  — Joshua Pinto [24:03]

9. How to Access and Support Risen (21:01–22:30)

• Risen is currently free at Rysen Life, sign-up encourages both users and faith-aligned investors to participate and help shape its development.
• Contact Joshua directly through the website or LinkedIn; social channels forthcoming.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Need for Spiritual Companionship:

  “People go through life with a smile ... all while carrying very heavy crosses of their own.”
  — Joshua Pinto [04:30]

• On the Tech’s Empathy:

  “Risen draws from a deep well of the Church ... there’s real substance that it draws from.”
  — Joshua Pinto [15:24]

• On Future AI Consciousness:

  “If AI ever became conscious, the first sign wouldn’t be what it tells us. Rather, it would be what it chooses not to.”
  — Joshua Pinto [19:51]

Important Timestamps for Segments

• The personal loss that inspired Risen: 02:36–04:49
• How Risen works & personalization: 10:11–12:19
• Ethics and moderation safeguards: 14:42–17:31
• Risen’s future vision: 17:45–19:23
• Rapid-fire questions: 23:05–24:15

Episode Tone and Style

Warm, empathetic, practical; both Dr. Nall and Joshua use accessible language, real-life examples, and a conversational flow to demystify AI’s spiritual applications and drive home the theme of technology as a tool for genuine human accompaniment and hope.

Summary Takeaway

This episode bridges technology and deep human needs, revealing how AI, when carefully designed, can become a vessel for empathy, spiritual growth, and meaningful support. Risen stands as a testament to technology’s ability to respond to loneliness—not by impersonating faith leaders or therapists, but by respectfully and reliably walking with individuals on their unique journeys. The future envisioned is not replacement but augmentation: AI as a partner in nurturing connection, understanding, and trust.