The Crusade Channel App: Mike Church’s 24/7 Talk Radio Network, Built With AppPresser
Some apps are built around a product. The Crusade Channel is built around a voice. For 35 years, Mike Church has been talking to listeners on the radio, and today his flagship program, The Mike Church Show, anchors an entire independent network that listeners can carry in their pocket. The Crusade Channel app, built with AppPresser, brings that network to iPhone, iPad and Android, and its audience has responded with something every app owner hopes for: a perfect 5.0 star rating on both iPhone and Android.
In this featured app spotlight, we take a closer look at the people behind The Crusade Channel, what the app does, who it serves, and why it is such a strong example of what happens when a WordPress site and a mobile app work together.
Who Is Behind The Crusade Channel
Mike Church, known to his audience as “The KingDude,” has worked in talk radio since 1992. In 2003 he launched Sirius Satellite Radio’s first live talk show and went on to host morning drive on the SiriusXM Patriot Channel. When that run ended in 2015, he did not look for another platform. He built one, launching The CRUSADE Channel on November 11, 2015, as a station designed from the ground up for live talk radio.
The network is clear about what it stands for. Its mission is “Restoring the order by advancing eternal, transcendent, truth Always in All Ways,” and its core values are Faith, Hope, Charity, Humility and Fortitude. The Mike Church Show airs live weekdays from 6:00 to 9:00 AM Central, offering commentary on the culture with a promise the network is proud of: “unlike all other hosts, Mike offers solutions!”
It is also a full station, not a single podcast feed. The lineup includes Crusade Channel News, Catholic talk with ReConquest, the Thursday Night Throwdown roundtable, Album Autopsy, and classic radio like Suspense! and The Green Hornet. For an audience that loyal and a schedule that deep, a dedicated app is the natural way to keep everything one tap away.
What The Crusade Channel App Does
At its core, the app gives listeners one dependable place to hear, watch and take part in everything the network produces. The app includes:
- On-demand streaming of the premium radio station broadcast, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
- A free version of the station broadcast with commercials, so anyone can start listening right away.
- Access to the programming schedule.
- Access to subscriber member and account services.
- Access to premium, members-only podcasts, posts and newscasts.
- Previews of premium podcasts.
- A contact page.
- A button to call the live talk shows from inside the app and talk to the hosts on the air.
- Subscription links to unlock premium services right inside the app.
The app is free on iPhone and iPad (iOS 16 or later) and is also available on Android. Version 2.1.0, released June 30, 2026, brought what the team called “substantial updates in the capability of this app,” and the Android version was updated on August 5, 2026.
App Screenshots
Here is a look at the app. Notice how the home screen leads with the actions listeners care about most, and how a player bar stays docked at the bottom of every screen.
Test Drive the App
The best way to understand what makes The Crusade Channel special is to try it yourself. Download the free app, tap play on the live stream, and explore the podcasts and video sections.
Key Features That Stand Out
Live Radio, Always On
The heart of the app is the live station stream. Listeners tap play and they are in, whether it is the morning show, an afternoon rebroadcast, or a classic radio drama late at night. The free, ad-supported stream lowers the barrier for new listeners, while members get the premium broadcast.
Call In From Your Phone
Talk radio has always been a two-way medium, and the app keeps it that way. A dedicated button lets listeners call the live shows directly from the app and join the conversation on the air. It is a small feature on paper, but it turns a passive listening app into a front-row seat.
Podcasts, Previews and Video
Missed a show? Mike Church Show episodes are available on demand as podcasts, and premium podcasts come with previews so listeners can sample before they subscribe. The video section organizes Mike Church Show clips and original series like Album Autopsy by category, and members can watch the show live.
Community Built In
The Crusade Channel community gathers in its live chatroom, the CRUSADER Stadium. The app’s home screen features “Chat & Listen Now” and “Chat & Watch Now” buttons, so listeners can follow the conversation while the show plays.
Memberships That Fund Independent Radio
The network describes itself as supported by subscriptions and donations, and its Founders Pass memberships come in tiers that unlock different levels of access, from the premium stream to the full podcast archive and live video. The app connects directly to those member and account services, so subscribers can manage everything in one place.
A Perfect 5.0 Rating
Ratings are one of the most honest signals an app can earn. At the time of writing, The Crusade Channel holds a 5.0 rating from 67 iPhone users and a 5.0 rating from 20 Android users. A perfect score on both platforms says a lot about the experience: the stream works, the content is easy to find, and listeners feel at home.
It also says something about the relationship between a host and an audience. When a community has followed a show for decades, its expectations are high. Meeting those expectations on two platforms is a real accomplishment for any media organization.
Who The App Serves
The Crusade Channel app serves a clearly defined audience, and that is part of its strength. It is built for:
- Longtime Mike Church Show listeners who want the live morning show, the archive and the rebroadcasts in one place.
- Faith-focused listeners, especially those drawn to Catholic programming like ReConquest, the Saint of the Day and Sermon Sunday.
- Fans of classic radio who enjoy shows like Suspense! and CBS Radio Mystery Theater.
- Members and supporters who fund independent broadcasting and want easy access to the premium content their membership includes.
- New listeners who can start with the free stream and previews before deciding to join.
The network also runs the CRUSADE Radio Guild, a non-profit effort that invites people to learn broadcasting from experienced professionals.
What This App Shows About AppPresser
The Crusade Channel website, crusadechannel.com, runs on WordPress, and that matters. The site already holds the network’s podcasts, show pages, schedule, videos and member accounts. With AppPresser, that content does not need to be rebuilt somewhere else. The app draws from the same WordPress site the team already manages every day.
For a media organization, that is a big deal. When a new episode is published, a new show is added to the schedule, or a membership plan changes, the team works in the tools it already knows. The website and the app stay in step, and the people producing a daily live show do not have to become full-time mobile developers.
The Crusade Channel also shows how an AppPresser app can go well beyond a simple content feed. Live audio streaming, a docked player, call-in buttons, video categories, chat access and member services all live together in one native app. That combination is what turns a website’s audience into a loyal mobile audience.
Congratulations to Mike Church and the entire Crusade Channel team on building an app that has earned a perfect 5.0 rating.
Do You Want Your Own App?
If your organization already runs on WordPress, launching your app with AppPresser is simple. Your app pulls directly from the website you already manage, so every update you make to your site appears in your app automatically. Ready to get started on your app right now? Check out our pricing page.
Not on WordPress yet? AppPresser can still help. Our team can move your website onto WordPress and then set up your app, so everything works together from the start. And if you need something more tailored, from custom features to a completely custom app, our custom development services have you covered.
If you need help or have any questions, tell us about your organization and what you’d like your app to do, and we’ll get back to you with a clear answer on costs and next steps.
