Bible in a Year Podcast Hits 1 Billion Downloads

Last updated on: March 27, 2026 at 7:45 pm by William Hemsworth

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Bible in a Year Podcast Hits 1 Billion Downloads 2026-03-27T19:45:23-07:00 William Hemsworth

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[Exton, PA – March 26, 2026] The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) has surpassed 1 billion total downloads, marking a historic milestone for Scripture engagement in the digital age. What began as a simple invitation from host Fr. Mike Schmitz to “listen to the Bible for 20 minutes a day” has drawn millions worldwide into daily prayer with God’s Word.

“None of us—the Ascension team, Jeff Cavins, or myself—had any idea what God was going to do with it,” said Fr. Mike. “We never anticipated the reach, the impact or even just the sheer number of people who would say yes to reading Scripture every day. The Holy Spirit has been moving in ways no one could ever script.”

Since its launch in 2021, The Bible in a Year has become the most successful religious podcast in the world. The podcast debuted at #1 across all categories on Apple Podcasts—an unprecedented achievement for a Catholic program—and hit the top spot again in 2022. The Bible in a Year continues to rank among the Top 40 shows overall and #1 in Religion and Spirituality, reaching nearly half a million listeners daily.

Built on Jeff Cavins’ The Bible Timeline—a groundbreaking framework that presents Scripture as one unified story of salvation—The Bible in a Year has helped millions understand the Bible in a clear and accessible way. Its impact was recently recognized when Cavins and Fr. Mike became the first Catholics to receive the Museum of the Bible’s Pillar Award for Narrative, honoring their role in bringing Scripture to life for a new generation. As reports highlight a historic surge of people becoming Catholic this Easter, The Bible in a Year continues to play a role in that spiritual movement.

“It isn’t our own skill or cleverness, but the Word of God that transforms the human soul,” said Cavins in his acceptance speech. “God has a wonderful plan for every one of our lives. Your story is in His story, and that [truth] changed my life.”

Life-Changing Impact

With more than 60,000 five-star reviews on Apple Podcasts, thousands of listeners describe the podcast as life-changing, with many crediting it as a key factor in their decision to enter the Church.

“Thanks to this incredible podcast, I joined OCIA and I will be, God willing, doing my confirmation Easter Vigil. Every time I could, I would invite other members to listen to the podcast so they could enrich their lives as I have!” —Mar K.

“I’ve always been agnostic… then I started listening to The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike. I kept putting it off to contact a Catholic Church, and in one episode he said don’t put off what you can do today. And so then I contacted a Catholic Church and I went to a weekday Mass. Through our OCIA I’m learning loads about the faith and my relationship with Christ has got deeper through Adoration.” —Emma

“I was a lukewarm Catholic my entire life and thought I had a decent understanding of my faith, yet I never went to church nor had a firm grasp of the faith in which I was raised. This podcast was instrumental in bringing me back home, and I’ll forever be grateful to Fr. Mike and his commentary for helping me understand what I had been missing out on for my entire life.” —Randy R.

As many listeners take steps in joining the Church, new resources from Ascension and Fr. Mike are helping them deepen their journey. A recently released Teaching Mass video, designed to walk viewers through the meaning of the Mass, is nearing half a million views on YouTube in less than one week, reflecting a strong desire from both new and lifelong Catholics seeking to better understand the liturgy.

To join The Bible in a Year, anyone can download the free reading plan at www.AscensionPress.com/BIY and listen on the Ascension app, YouTube and all podcast platforms.

See the full Bible in a Year press kit here.

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About The Bible in a Year

The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) is the world’s #1 religion podcast. Since its 2021 debut, listeners worldwide have been guided through the entire Catholic Bible in 365 daily episodes using The Great Adventure Bible Timeline learning system. With more than one billion downloads and over 60,000 five-star reviews on Apple Podcasts, the podcast has transformed how Catholics engage with Scripture and sparked a global movement of daily Bible reading.

About Fr. Mike Schmitz

Fr. Mike Schmitz is a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Duluth and one of the most trusted voices in Catholic media today. Host of the #1 religion podcast The Bible in a Year, Fr. Mike has guided millions of listeners through Scripture with his approachable teaching style and genuine passion for helping people encounter Jesus. Click here to see full author biography.

About Jeff Cavins

Jeff Cavins is recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the most effective and engaging speakers in the Church today. Over the past several decades, Cavins has been a leading figure in Catholic media and dedicated his life to developing The Bible Timeline, a practical, interactive program that helps people read the “big picture” of God’s plan of salvation in Sacred Scripture and understand its meaning for their lives. Click here to see full author biography.

About Ascension

Ascension is a multimedia network and the leader in Catholic faith formation and digital content. For over 25 years, Ascension has helped nurture the faith of over 20 million Catholics through award-winning books, the chart-topping Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) podcast, more than 50 unique faith formation programs, and the Ascension Presents YouTube channel and Ascension app.

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