Discerning Hearts

What Discerning Hearts does

Discerning Hearts is a 501(c)(3) Catholic apostolate headquartered in Omaha, USA, founded in 2011 by Executive Director Kris McGregor. The organization produces Catholic spiritual content including podcasts, radio broadcasts, video retreats, and devotional resources, with a library exceeding 3,000 free podcast episodes. Distribution spans major third-party platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube) as well as owned channels including DH Radio, a 24/7 streaming service, and mobile applications for iOS and Android.

The apostolate draws on a curated network of Catholic theologians, spiritual directors, and clergy, formalized through a Leadership Board that includes Archbishop Lucas. Cross-promotional and distribution partnerships with the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, Magis Center, and Spirit Catholic Radio Network extend reach within the Catholic media ecosystem. There is no commercial product line, subscription tier, or paywall; all content is offered without charge.

The business model is donation-funded. Revenue derives from charitable contributions supporting ongoing content production and operations, with a headcount of 51-100 employees. There is no disclosed revenue, endowment size, or major donor concentration in the available data, so financial scale is inferred from operational footprint rather than financial reporting. The organization functions as a content ministry rather than a commercial media business, and growth is measured in listener reach, episode output, and platform presence rather than revenue or ARR.

Name

Discerning Hearts

Legal name

Discerning Hearts

Website

https://discerninghearts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Discerning Hearts is a 501(c)(3) Catholic apostolate founded in 2011 in Omaha that produces free podcasts, radio broadcasts, video retreats, and devotional resources for Catholic listeners, funded by donations and led by Kris McGregor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Media

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Catholic Broadcasting (MPABALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Christian Broadcasting (TV & Radio) (MPABALAA), Religious News, Talk & Commentary Channels (MPABALAL), Religious Radio Broadcasting (MPAIAEAF), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Catholic podcasts
• Spiritual formation media
• Religious audio content
• Catholic devotional resources
• Christian radio broadcasts

Headquarters

HQ city

Omaha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donor Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit apostolate, Discerning Hearts operates primarily through charitable donations from its large online community of listeners and supporters. The organization runs periodic appeals (Summer 2026 Appeal mentioned) to fund operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Discerning Hearts produces and distributes free Catholic audio and video content for spiritual formation, including a library of over 3,000 podcast episodes, 24/7 streaming radio, mobile applications, and video retreats. The ministry delivers authentic Roman Catholic teaching through podcast series covering contemplative prayer, discernment of spirits, Scripture study, saints, Church history, and devotional prayers, featuring respected priests, theologians, and spiritual directors.

Product overview

Discerning Hearts is a Catholic podcast platform offering over 3,000 free podcast episodes organized across multiple content series. The core product is the Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts platform, supplemented by DH Radio (24/7 streaming), DH App (mobile applications for iPhone and Android), and Video Retreats. Content series include Spiritual Formation, Prayer Room (devotionals and novenas), Scripture Study Library, Cloud of Witnesses (saints), Church Then/Now (history and apologetics), Living Faith in the World, Spiritual Classics Audio Readings, and Inside the Pages (book discussions). The platform distributes content through major podcast streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts A Catholic podcast platform offering over 3,000 free podcast episodes focused on spiritual formation, Catholic teaching, prayer, Scripture study, and devotional content. Features multiple podcast series hosted by priests, theologians, and spiritual directors, and serves individual Catholics seeking deeper spiritual formation.
• DH Radio A 24/7 streaming Catholic radio service providing continuous audio content including prayers, reflections, and spiritual programming, accessible online to listeners worldwide.
• DH App A free mobile application for iPhone and Android devices that enables on-the-go access to all Discerning Hearts podcast content and streaming radio for individual Catholic listeners.
• Video Retreats Video-based contemplative retreats providing guided spiritual exercises and formation experiences for individual Catholics seeking immersive prayer and reflection content.
• Prayer Room A standalone collection of Catholic prayers, devotionals, novenas, chaplets, and liturgical prayers provided with both text and mp3 audio downloads for personal and communal prayer.
• Spiritual Classics Audio Readings Audio readings of classic Catholic spiritual texts including works by St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Francis de Sales, and the Liturgy of the Hours, delivered as standalone on-demand audio.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Spirit Catholic Radio NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMany Discerning Hearts series are produced and formatted for use on Catholic radio stations, including the Spirit Catholic Radio Network, allowing broadcasting in its broadest sense through new media outlets.
• Apple PodcastscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary podcast distribution platform providing global reach to iOS users through the Apple Podcasts directory.
• SpotifycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor podcast streaming platform for music and podcast listeners, enabling discovery through Spotify's recommendation algorithms.
• Amazon MusicminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPodcast distribution through Amazon's music streaming service, reaching Amazon Prime subscribers.
• iHeartRadiominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBroadcast and podcast platform expanding reach to iHeartRadio's radio audience.
• TuneInminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAudio streaming platform providing additional discovery channel for podcast and radio content.
• YouTubecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVideo platform for visual podcast content, building stronger online community and reaching secular audience through YouTube's recommendations.
• St. Paul Center for Biblical TheologyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDr. Scott Hahn and associates of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology appear on the Discerning Hearts platform, with cross-promotional relationship.
• Magis CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFr. Robert Spitzer and the Magis Center content available through Discerning Hearts podcasts.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network): EWTN is the largest Catholic media network in the world, operating TV, radio, and a major digital/news platform serving the same Catholic audience as Discerning Hearts. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping spiritual formation, news, and devotional content but on a vastly larger scale and budget.

Direct peers

• Relevant Radio: Relevant Radio is a Catholic radio network with talk, teaching, and devotional programming distributed across terrestrial stations and digital streaming — directly comparable to Discerning Hearts' DH Radio and podcast model. Both compete for the same Catholic listener seeking on-demand and broadcast Catholic formation.
• Catholic Answers: Catholic Answers produces Catholic apologetics, catechesis, and evangelization media across radio, podcasts, and online articles — directly comparable to Discerning Hearts' apologetics and catechesis content series. Both target English-speaking Catholics seeking substantive doctrinal formation.
• Ave Maria Radio: Ave Maria Radio is a Catholic radio network producing Catholic talk, devotional, and formation programming distributed via terrestrial and digital channels. Comparable to Discerning Hearts' Catholic radio broadcast and podcast distribution model, including syndication to local Catholic radio stations.
• Ascension (Ascension Presents): Ascension produces Catholic podcasts, videos, and Bible study programs aimed at evangelization and formation — directly overlapping Discerning Hearts' Scripture Study, spiritual formation, and podcast products. Comparable audience, format, and go-to-market motion via streaming and apps.

Emerging players

• Hallow: Hallow is a leading Catholic prayer and meditation app offering audio-guided prayers, devotionals, and Scripture content via mobile — overlapping with Discerning Hearts' mobile app and devotional audio libraries. It represents a more consumerized, tech-forward take on the same core spiritual formation use case.
• Pray More Novenas: Pray More Novenas produces audio Catholic devotionals and novena content, directly overlapping with Discerning Hearts' Prayer Room audio devotional library. Smaller, devotional-focused peer in the same digital Catholic formation niche.

Regional players

• Sacred Heart Radio: Sacred Heart Radio operates Catholic radio programming in selected U.S. regions with devotional, catechetical, and formation content. Comparable to Discerning Hearts in Catholic radio broadcasting and formation focus, though smaller and regionally concentrated.
• Catholic Radio Network (various local stations including Spirit Catholic Radio): Spirit Catholic Radio Network is a regional Catholic radio broadcaster that distributes Discerning Hearts series. Comparable as a Catholic radio distributor and broadcaster; relevant given the explicit partnership for content syndication.

Others

• St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology: St. Paul Center produces Catholic Scripture study content featuring Dr. Scott Hahn, with whom Discerning Hearts has a cross-promotional partnership. Comparable as a Catholic biblical theology content creator and indirect ecosystem partner in Discerning Hearts' Scripture Study Library.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DiscerningHearts
• Facebookfacebook.com/schoolofprayeranddiscernment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Discerning Hearts