And ... It's a Wrap!

One of life's realities is that all good things must come to an end.  So it is for this podcast.  I've had a wonderful time bringing you these 40-some episodes and I thank you for sticking with me through it all.  In this short episode I'll share my closing thoughts, thank everyone who has helped, and leave you with a cliffhanger .... Season 2???

Here's where you can find all the The Year I Read the Bible resources:

The blog

The videos

The books

Transcript

Speaker 0:03

Hello everyone. It's Lori and I thank you for tuning in. I'm calling this episode and it's a wrap because, well, this is it. Let me take you back in the year 2023. I read the Bible cover to cover. And while I read, I realized how much I didn't know about this book and about my Christian faith. So I started jotting down notes of things I wanted to research and learn more about so I could understand the Bible better. From there, God led me on a multi-year project to spread the word, which is now drawing to a close. In 2024, I wrote weekly blogs based on my research to find answers. I released them on my website, and I also filmed myself reading the blogs and posted them to my YouTube channel. In 2025, I compiled all 40 essays and publish them available in ebook formats, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook. Next. I started this podcast every Tuesday morning. Since June 22nd, 2025, I've released a new episode. They start with me reading the essay, and then we move into an interview with a friend or colleague. We discuss the topic and hopefully introduce brand new concepts for you to consider. I've enjoyed this project so much. I'd never done a podcast before. Having a podcast of my own gave me a chance to learn a whole new skillset. The podcast software, creating entertaining and valuable content, scheduling and preparing my guest, interviewing them, compiling the episodes, editing them. Writing the show notes, promoting them so others could find it. I had the opportunity to join in on an international effort called. Podcast on which featured over 2,600 podcasts to devote one episode during the week of March 14th, 2026, to charity efforts that help others imagine the wave of goodwill and positivity that flooded the podcasting airwaves That week I chose to feature a small nonprofit called Feed My Peeps, founded by my friend. Jackie Bray. They partner with food stores and restaurants to collect excess food items that would normally be thrown out and instead she and her small team cook and feed hungry people in locations across the country. I pray that through podcast on Feed My peeps got many more eyes on their wonderful efforts. More prayers and financial donations as well. Throughout this whole experience, I've been contacted by people telling me that the concepts I shared helped them become more knowledgeable about the Bible. Some were inspired by this effort to start their own Bible in a year project. I personally was inspired by Jesus's great commission, basically, to hear his message. And then spread the word by telling others. So I'm thrilled that people are listening just as Jesus instructed us all. Speaking of listening, I can share a few statistics with you. This podcast has allowed me to share God's word with way more people than I imagined possible. The year I read the Bible has had listeners from 25 countries and 262 cities. Praise God. And today is April 21st, 2026, and I'm officially finished. I presented all 40 episodes that I wrote essays on, but. I was talking to my son about, my thoughts about being done. I told him I was happy to have finished the project and I had such a positive experience doing it all, and I was happy that God had called me to do it, but I'll probably miss it. I've really enjoyed doing it and I can imagine that after a few week break, I'll miss it. And he said, well, mom, you can always do a season two. And I started thinking, Hmm, he's probably right. My episodes ended after Jesus's resurrection. There is still more material in the Bible. If I wanted to do a season two, I could start with the creation of Jesus's church in acts of the apostles, the Apostle Paul's missionary journeys, the epistles of the early leaders to the new churches. And of course, the ever mysterious book of revelation that would make a great season two. So I will keep it as a possibility with a very flexible start date. For now, I'm calling it a rep, but before I go. I want to thank each and every one of you who took part in this journey with me. Thank you for everyone who read the blogs, watched the videos, read the book, or listened to the podcast. Thank you for encouraging me by sending me notes, leaving a review, or telling me how much you enjoyed the material. And a huge thank you to all my interview guests. This podcast would not have been the same without you, without your expertise and insight, sometimes pushing yourself far out of your comfort zone, these episodes would not be as engaging or informative as they have been. You have added so much value with your contributions. So let me just take a moment to thank all of them by name. Linda Rutland, Allison Snyder, Cindy Jolly, Janice de Angelis, Elizabeth Ann Wallace, Beth Sprinkle, Jody Stallings, Robin Lee, Beth Dooley, Diane Miley, Christina Nessi. Melissa Henderson, Jackie Bray, angel Ambrose, Lisa Pritchard.

7:07

Jennifer Tyrell, I.

Speaker 7:10

Leslie Caperton, Josephine Young Patty and David Hayworth, norm Larson, Janet Dickinson, and Dina Clark. Best of luck to all of my listeners over the last 40 some episodes and 10 months of podcasting. It's Lori Larson saying it's a wrap.