Ascension, the Exton-based Catholic media company behind what it calls the world's most downloaded religious podcast, is launching a new daily series aimed at families with children ages 7 to 12.

The Bible in a Year: Family Edition, hosted by Fr. Josh Johnson, will debut at the beginning of 2027, as both an audio podcast and a YouTube video series. The 365-episode program will feature Scripture readings, reflections geared toward younger listeners, children's Bible questions, and prayer, according to a July 16 report by MyChesCo.

The simultaneous audio-and-video release marks a first for Ascension's "In a Year" franchise, which until now has launched as audio-only podcasts. Founded in 1998 in Exton, the company is led by President and CEO Jonathan Strate, who took the helm in 2021.

A billion-download foundation

Ascension announced March 26 that The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) had surpassed 1 billion total downloads worldwide since its 2021 debut. The original podcast reached No. 1 across all categories on Apple Podcasts and still draws nearly half a million listeners daily, according to the company.

"None of us had any idea what God was going to do with it," Schmitz said in Ascension's March 26 announcement. "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 franchise also includes The Catechism in a Year, which debuted at No. 1 on Apple Podcasts on January 1, 2023, and The Bible in 10 Minutes, which drew more than 1 million YouTube views in its first week in 2024.

Family Edition details

The new series will draw content from Ascension's forthcoming book, The Great Adventure Catholic Bible for Beginners. Fr. Mike Schmitz, whose original podcast established the franchise, pointed to the challenge of adapting Scripture for younger audiences in a July 16 statement.

"For Fr. Josh to be able to pick up the Family Edition and say, 'Okay, how are we going to present this in a way that is age-appropriate?'… it's going to be incredible," Schmitz said.

What's next

A pilot episode is available on YouTube. The full series launches January 1, 2027, on major podcast platforms and YouTube.