Episode Overview

Podcast: The Fr. Mike Schmitz Catholic Podcast
Episode: Fr. Mike Reflects on 5 Years of The Bible in a Year
Date: January 1, 2026
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)
Theme: Fr. Mike commemorates the fifth anniversary of "The Bible in a Year" podcast, sharing heartfelt reflections on the global impact, remarkable listener stories, and the living power of Scripture. He looks back with gratitude, highlights what’s changed, and invites both old and new listeners to continue the journey into God’s Word.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Unanticipated Impact and Global Reach

• Reflecting on Five Years: Fr. Mike expresses amazement at the podcast’s reach and influence since its 2021 launch.
  • Quote (00:24):
    "When we launched the Bible in a year, back in 2021, none of us, the Ascension team, Jeff Cavins, or myself, had any idea what God was going to do with it."
• International Audience: The podcast is the #1 religious podcast worldwide, with listeners in over 150 countries.
  • Quote (00:49):
    "It's reached listeners in over 150 countries."
• Unexpected Testimonies: Fr. Mike shares stories where listeners from countries hostile to Christianity found faith through the podcast.
  • Quote (01:13):
    "We've got messages from people who were raised Muslim, who have now professed faith in Jesus. And not just in this country... but people in countries where, if they publicly become Christian, their lives are forfeit."
  • Memorable Moment (01:30): Fr. Mike recalls his prayer after watching a movie about conversion through audio preaching, seeing that prayer answered in real life.

2. Personal and Family Connections

• Stories from Listeners of All Ages: The reach of the podcast spans generations—from children as young as 8 to listeners up to age 99.
  • Quote (03:02):
    "I've heard of whole families, like an 8 year old who like, yeah, I've listened to the whole Bible now… to an 88 year old, 93 year old… earlier today I heard from a 99 year old person who listens."
• Moving Family Experience: Fr. Mike’s own parents completed the podcast together and listened to his recordings as a family.
  • Memorable Moment (03:41):
    "The people who taught me how to read, I got to read God's word to them."
• Friends, Siblings, and Bishops: His siblings and even his bishop have completed the journey, often quietly.
  • Quote (04:17):
    "My own bishop at one point… said, Father Mike, [I] have been listening. And I thought, oh my goodness, I hope I’m not making mistakes."

3. Stories of Conversion and Hope

• From Atheism to Faith: A powerful testimony about a lifelong atheist and his transformation.
  • Quote (03:13):
    "He said he was in his 40s, an atheist his whole life… I remember this was the first year… and he said, I realize, I believe."
• Prison Listeners: Inmates have written about finding renewed hope through listening to daily Scripture.
  • Quote (04:30):
    "There are people in prison who say that Scripture has given them hope again."

4. The Unsung Heroes and the Work Behind the Scenes

• The Power of a Team: Fr. Mike highlights the Ascension team’s tireless work, involving many unsung individuals and robust infrastructure.
  • Quote (05:00):
    "Just to create one episode, the podcast has to go through like 19 different stations… there’s so many people who have worked on social media and letters, people responding to people."
• Credit to the Holy Spirit: The podcast’s impact is ultimately attributed not to human effort but to God's inspiration.
  • Quote (05:32):
    "The Holy Spirit has been moving in ways I could never, no one could script… this is God's work, right? I mean, all of this, I got to be the narrator."

5. Invitation to Begin (or Continue) the Journey

• Every Year Is Year One for Someone: The journey remains fresh, whether it’s a listener’s first year or their fifth.
  • Quote (06:02):
    "This could be year one for you. This could be year one for a thousand, a million more people this year."
• The Bible’s Inexhaustible Richness: Fr. Mike encourages past listeners to start again, as God’s Word always brings new insight.
  • Quote (06:21):
    "God's word is inexhaustible. There's always more. And so when you get done, press play. Day 366, day 367. Because God's Word is never old. It is always new. It is always powerful. It is always living and effective."

6. Fifth Anniversary and New Features

• Bonus Content Announcement: For the first time, there will be exclusive bonus commentary in the Ascension app for the “Early World” period (Days 1–5).
  • Quote (07:07):
    "Because this upcoming year for the first time, there is bonus commentary. As we hit this five year milestone, we wanted to do something a little special after each episode in the early world time period."
• Ascension App Improvements: Enhanced features include reflection questions and instant access to answers.
  • Quote (08:00):
    "I noticed in the bottom, there's, oh, all these questions that I might have. I could tap on them, and there's answers right there."

7. Final Words of Encouragement and Gratitude

• For New and Returning Listeners: Fr. Mike expresses sincere gratitude for every participant, praying for listeners and requesting their prayers for him.
  • Quote (08:28):
    "Whether you've been here since the beginning or you're joining here for the first time, I'm so grateful that you're here. God's word is alive, and he has something for you this year."
• Looking Forward: Marks the approach of one billion downloads, a testament to a global hunger for Scripture (09:00):
  "We're just. Just shy of 1 billion downloads. Press play today."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | | :--------: | :----------------- | :-------------| | 00:24 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "None of us, the Ascension team, Jeff Cavins, or myself, had any idea what God was going to do with it." | | 01:13 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "We've got messages from people who were raised Muslim, who have now professed faith in Jesus..." | | 03:13 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "He said he was in his 40s, an atheist his whole life... he said, I realize, I believe." | | 03:41 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "The people who taught me how to read, I got to read God's word to them." | | 04:30 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "There are people in prison who say that Scripture has given them hope again." | | 05:32 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "The Holy Spirit has been moving in ways I could never, no one could script..." | | 06:21 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "God's Word is never old. It is always new. It is always powerful. It is always living and effective." | | 07:07 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "For the first time, there is bonus commentary... exclusive bonus commentary available only in the Ascension app." | | 08:28 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "God's word is alive, and he has something for you this year. I'm praying for you. Please pray for me." | | 09:00 | Fr. Mike Schmitz | "We're just. Just shy of 1 billion downloads. Press play today." |

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–01:30: Introduction and marveling at the global reach
• 01:31–03:41: Powerful testimonies from listeners and Fr. Mike’s personal/family connections
• 03:42–05:32: Family, friends, and clergy stories; impact on prisoners
• 05:33–06:21: Lifting up the whole Ascension team, recognizing this as God’s work
• 06:22–07:07: The call to start again – “God’s word is inexhaustible.”
• 07:08–08:28: Fifth anniversary special: Bonus commentary and app enhancements
• 08:29–End: Closing gratitude, prayers, and anticipation for the next year

Final Thoughts

In this milestone reflection, Fr. Mike Schmitz shares both awe and gratitude at how “The Bible in a Year” has transformed lives across cultures and generations. From dramatic conversions to simple family moments, he emphasizes that the journey into Scripture is always new and worthwhile—no matter how many times it’s begun. By inviting everyone to “press play” again and highlighting new app offerings, he cements the podcast as not just an annual challenge but a lifelong resource for encountering the living God.

Tone: Warm, personal, amazed, inviting, and deeply grateful.