Ascension’s chart-topping podcasts in English and Spanish are #1 in the U.S. in “all categories” and #1 in “Christianity” in 47 countries worldwide
Hit podcast The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)™ featuring Jeff Cavins is back in the #1 position on the U.S. Apple Charts, one year after achieving the same feat in January 2021.
This year, aided by an all-new version in Spanish, the impact of the show is going global.
As of January 3, Ascension’s duo of Bible-focused podcasts (The Bible in a Year in English, La Biblia en un Año in Spanish) had snagged the #1 spot in “Christianity” in 47 different countries including Great Britain, Italy, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. (Full list of countries available in the Ascension Newsroom.)
“Chartable,” a leading authority in podcasting charts, has named The Bible in a Year (English version) as the #1 podcast in Religion & Spirituality in the world this week as ranked by total “global reach.”
“So many people listened last year, and they’ve inspired a whole new crowd to participate,” adds Jonathan Strate, president and CEO of Ascension, the Catholic multimedia network behind the show.
Deja vu for 2022: The #1 Podcast in the U.S. for the second year in a row
This is the second year in a row that The Bible in a Year podcast became the #1 show in the United States. Hosted by popular Catholic priest, “BIY” debuted as the #1 podcast in all categories from Jan 2 – 18, 2021, and maintained nearly a half-million daily downloads through the end of the year.
Podcast producer Ascension’s website, podcast, and social media pages are awash in over 37,000 testimonials from 2021 listeners who found the podcast to be a life changing addition to their prayer lives, such as this review from mamaw2i on Apple Podcasts:
“I cried at the end of the last episode. My heart was so touched. Hearing Fr. Mike say, ‘Thank you, Father,’ after the last readings for the year felt so profound. I’m starting over again. … Thank you, God, for Fr. Mike.”
“Many of us are distracted and distressed by the battles we face in the Church, in the culture and in our country. By the grace of God The Bible in a Year podcast has helped hundreds of thousands to rediscover a biblical worldview – one of hope in God’s love and Divine will,” said Fr. Mike, chaplain for the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth.
Serving the Spanish-Speaking Church
This year, Ascension added the all-new Spanish-language La Biblia en un Año podcast hosted by Fr. Sergio Serrano, OP and Fr. Dempsey Acosta to their offerings. Between the two shows, the #1 podcast in Christianity in 47 countries is now a Catholic podcast guiding listeners through the Bible Timeline.
#1 in Christianity in 47 Countries (Both Podcasts Combined)
On January 3, 2022 at 2:00pm ET, The Bible in a Year in English was #1 in Christianity on the charts for the following 31 countries:
- Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United States of America
On January 3, 2022 at 2:00pm ET, La Biblia en un Año in Spanish was #1 in Christianity on the charts for the following 16 countries:
- Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, Venezuela
About Ascension
Ascension is a multimedia network and the leader in Catholic faith formation and digital content. Over the past 20 years, Ascension has helped nurture the faith of over 10 million people in over 8,000 parishes through more than 50 unique faith formation programs and the Ascension Presents media platforms. The Ascension Presents YouTube channel boasts 600,000 subscribers, 88 Million total views, and is the largest Catholic YouTube channel in English.
Media Contact
The Bible in a Year Press Kit includes previous releases, images, and the Bible in a Year Fact Sheet. For interview requests, B-roll and media inquiries, email: LJoyce@AscensionPress.com.