Ascension is working on a new version of the Bible in a Year podcast just for kids, with a new host and optional video of each episode.
You’ve probably heard of Fr. Mike Schmitz’s incredibly popular The Bible in a Year podcast, which quickly vaulted to the top of “most listened” podcast charts since it premiered in 2021.
Maybe you’re one of the millions of people who have learned something from it and been part of the one billion downloads the podcast has racked up.
Now fans of the podcast — and Catholic parents, grandparents and educators everywhere — can rejoice in some fantastic news. Ascension is working on a new version of the Bible in a Year podcast just for kids — and this time, each episode comes with a video!
What to know:
- Host: Fr. Josh Johnson
- Launches: January 1, 2027
- Ages: 7-12
- Format: 365 daily episodes, video + audio
A new host, a familiar format
Fr. Josh Johnson will host The Bible in a Year: Family Edition, launching January 1, 2027. Designed for families with children ages 7 to 12, The Bible in a Year: Family Edition tells the story of salvation through Scripture in a way that is engaging, age-appropriate, and deeply rooted in the Catholic faith.
Much like the original podcast, each episode includes a Scripture reading, an age-appropriate reflection from host and Catholic priest Fr. Josh Johnson, answers to common Bible questions from children, and prayer. Listening to it can give families or Catholic-school classes an easy yet meaningful daily rhythm for encountering God through His Word together.
Fr. Josh's reflections will be accompanied by reading Bible passages on-screen and timeless sacred artwork included to help young viewers remember the biblical characters, and the podcast is also available without video on all major podcast platforms.
The podcast promises to be a fantastic resource for parents, grandparents, godparents, teachers, and children. Designed for families with children ages 7 to 12, the new podcast guides families through the story of salvation in 365 daily episodes.
“Children deserve the opportunity to fall in love with God’s Word from an early age. We're not just going to read Bible stories — we're going to discover how every story points us to Jesus Christ,” said Fr. Josh Johnson in the podcast announcement video. “My prayer is that this podcast helps families grow closer to Jesus, closer to one another, and closer to the Church.”
What kids will learn
Like the original podcast, this family edition will use Jeff Cavins’ Great Adventure Bible Timeline to help kids understand the big story of Scripture and see how every part of the Bible points to God’s plan of salvation. Jeff Cavins himself will appear in 12 special episodes of the Bible in a Year: Family Edition as a “Bible Explorer” to introduce children to the major time periods of salvation history.
The daily readings for the podcast are taken from the second in Ascension’s forthcoming series of Bibles for children, The Great Adventure Catholic Bible for Beginners, written for a 3rd-5th grade reading level. And Ascension included children in the making of the series: In each episode, Fr. Josh answers questions from children about the Bible, helping young viewers discover how Scripture connects to their own lives.
You can watch the podcast announcement video here and learn more about the upcoming podcast. Maybe your 2027 resolution will be joining in this Bible in a Year for kids, an incredible opportunity to learn and grow in faith as a family.
