Digital Side Hug

During a recent breakfast at Dimples Deli in Brentwood, Rubio sits down with Steve Holladay, the founder & director of Ultimate Escape. After a ridiculous lightning round of get-to-know-me questions, we get to know Steve’s beautiful heart as he...

On a recent trip to the United States, former homeless street kid from the slums of Nairobi turned Spirit-powered Youth Minister, Francis Mbuvi spent the night at the Rubio house, home of his biggest fan: Charity Rubio! Following a sample of the...

Andrew Root, PhD - the Olson Baalson Associate Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary in Minneapolis, MN & author of the Theological Journey Through Youth Ministry series (What I call the Chronicles of Nadia!) - joins Rubio via...

Dr. Robert Epstein, former editor of Psychology Today, current professor at the University of the South Pacific and one of the most quoted psychologists in America, joins David via Skype to talk about his heart for teens and the thesis of his...

Josh Graves, David Knox, Eric Livingston & Wes Riddle join Rubio for another exciting conversation about the goings on of the Association. Is LeBron's supporting cast ALREADY more potent than the group assembled for that 4-year run? Which...

Youth Ministers, brace yourselves for this terrific conversation with 36yr veteran youth worker Mark DeVries, author of Family Based Youth Ministry & Sustainable Youth Ministry. After identifying Brad Pitt as the most likely actor to play the...

Michael Kimpan is the executive director of the Marin Foundation - a foundation which has as it’s goal to "build bridges between the LGBTQ Community and communities of faith”. After a delicious lunch at Joey’s House of Pizza, David & Michael...

During their annual trip to Cedars of Lebanon State Park, 5 full-time youth ministers from 4 different states - totaling over 60 years experience in ministry - sit down with Rubio to record the first ever “Renewal Podcast”. After a slightly...

Author of the book “Asking Can Be Fun” and good friend to The Digital Side-Hug, Dr. Morris Gregwire (and his son) drop by to say hello. David calls an audible and asks Dr. Gregwire to do the “Blitzkrieg” honors. Morris tries out some of his...

Rubio sits down with one of his best friends in the world & also his Impact Beach Ball Race Nemesis, David Skidmore - youth minister at the North Boulevard Church of Christ in Murfreesboro, TN. Before heading to Slick Pig for a half-slab of ribs...

(Recorded at IMPACT…a youth rally on the campus of Lipscomb University) Mark Moore, former missionary to Uganda, Africa, Founder of Mana Nutrition and the man ultimately responsible for introducing Rubio to the career of youth ministry, stops by to...

On a mission trip to Mexico with his youth group, David found time to sit down with Teen-turned-Missionary Karly Dallas - leader of a life-changing after school ministry in Vicente Guerrero, Baja, Mexico called Oasis. In addition to teaching Rubio...

Rubio sits down with Dave Clayton - point leader at Ethos Church in Nashville, TN to talk about life, Weezer & what God is doing at Ethos that has resonated so strongly with young Christians in Nashville. Ethos is a unique church that has grown...

David invites three other ministers on the Otter Creek staff and an “Urban Farmer” from Memphis to join him for an extremely informal (and almost offensive) look at one of the most exciting sporting events of the year: The NBA Playoffs! Hear OC...

(2 of 2 podcasts recorded with professional counselors from Agape) - The second podcast with Licensed Senior Psychological Examiners Jim Frost, M.A. and Jennifer Lackey, M.A. Jennifer (Clinical Services Coordinator) & Jim (Assistant Clinical...

(1 of 2 podcasts recorded with professional counselors from Agape) - Rubio asks Jim Frost, M.A. and Jennifer Lackey, M.A., both of whom are Licensed Senior Psychological Examiners, to spend some time sharing insights and advice on counseling...

(5th of 5 podcasts recorded at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference in Columbus, OH) - Rubio sits down with Jason Ostrander, “Lead Guy” at Simply Youth Ministry & the Director of (and busiest man at) SYMC. In between bites of lunch, Jason talks...

(4th of 5 podcasts recorded at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference in Columbus, OH) - Rubio sits down with former youth minister/Rocketown director & current “undercover youth minister" Theresa Mazza. After sharing her undying passion for...

(3rd of 5 podcasts recorded at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference in Columbus, OH) - Rubio spends some time with 26-year youth ministry veteran Darren Sutton, author of “Everyone’s Called to Youth Ministry…They Just Don’t Know It Yet”. Darren tells...

(2nd of 5 podcasts recorded at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference in Columbus, OH) - David sits down with Bryan Halferty, minister to young adults & college students at Mercer Creek Church & creator of The Unitive. After revealing that he’s...