Two Point Conversion with BYU Football: A Gospel Discussion Podcast

This week on Two Point Conversion, Connor and Chase are joined by special guest Ethan Thomason, an offensive lineman on the BYU football team, to dive into the Book of Psalms (Psalms 102–150). The conversation centers on the theme that the Lord can comfort us in our sufferings—and how life's journey, with all its ups and downs, mirrors the psalms themselves. Chase shares updates from NFL training camp with the Raiders, including his growing appreciation for special teams and what it's teaching him about trusting God's plan over his own. Ethan opens up about the difficult stretch of injuries that have marked his college career—including a torn ACL suffered just as things were looking up—and how Psalm 102's "prayer of the afflicted" took on deeply personal meaning. The three discuss what it means to fall in love with the process, and to recognize His hand in the small, everyday moments. Connor shares his practice of recording "Lord's hand journals" as voice memos—his own modern-day Psalm 119—and ties it all together with Brad Wilcox's reminder that we're not earning heaven, we're learning heaven.

Chase Roberts returns to the podcast with Connor Pay after missing last week's episode — for good reason. Chase made his first NFL catch in a preseason game with the Raiders, and he walks us through the play, the nerves, and what training camp mistakes taught him about growth and resilience. The duo also welcome BYU linebacker Siale Esera to the show. Siale shares his journey from American Samoa to Provo, how he ended up at BYU, and what fall camp has been like under a new defensive scheme. Then they dive into this week's Come, Follow Me reading in the Psalms (chapters 49–86). We talk redemption, repentance, and what it means to "create in me a clean heart." Chase opens up about how learning to embrace mistakes on the football field has deepened his understanding of the Savior's grace. Siale shares a powerful story about his father Peter's conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — a story of family, faith, ridicule, and a grandmother's quiet reassurance that changed everything.

Connor Pay is joined by guest co-host Trevor Pay and special guest Professor Ryan Sharp, Associate Department Chair of Ancient Scripture at BYU, for a deep dive into the Book of Psalms — the first week of their Come, Follow Me study in the Old Testament's most beloved collection of songs, prayers, and poetry. Ryan guides the discussion through the Psalms, exploring how these 150 ancient hymns capture every dimension of the human experience with God. The trio also discusses topics like the power of music to shape our hearts and what it means to study scripture "sacramentally" — connecting heart and soul with God.

This week's episode is unlike any other. Connor and Chase sit down with actress and Israeli ambassador Diane Nea for a wide-ranging conversation that mirrors the Book of Job. Diane shares her extraordinary life story: from a decade-plus on Law & Order: SVU to losing everything. She talks about making aliyah and becoming an Israeli citizen, living in Israel during wartime, and finding herself in an unlikely role: literally gathering Israel as an ambassador for the Jewish homeland. Along the way, Diane draws stunning parallels to the Book of Job — the suffering that can't be explained, the friends who assume you must have done something wrong, and the enduring faith that carries you through anyway.

Connor Pay and Chase Roberts sit down with Liz Darger — Senior Associate Athletic Director at BYU — to dive into the Book of Esther from the Come, Follow Me curriculum. Liz shares her remarkable journey from Boise, Idaho to BYU's athletic department: a path shaped not by careful planning, but by a series of unexpected nudges from God, coaches, and mentors. Along the way, the three discuss what it means to show up with courage in a male-dominated industry, why God's hand is often most visible in hindsight, and how Esther's story mirrors the experiences of modern missionaries and everyday believers.

Connor Pay and Chase Roberts welcome David Snell, the creator of the YouTube channel Keystone to discuss this week's Come, Follow Me lesson from 2 Chronicles. They use the story of King Asa as a launching point to explore why we sometimes stop trusting God when life gets hard. Together they discuss what it really means to be a peacemaker in today's world, what repentance actually looks like when you put it in football terms, and why clinging to temple covenants is the throughline of it all.

Connor Pay and Chase Roberts are joined by BYU professor and author Brad Wilcox for a conversation about the similarities between the Revolutionary War, George Washington, and ancient Israelite kings. The trio dives into 2 Kings 16–25, exploring the reigns of wicked King Ahaz, faithful King Hezekiah, and reform-minded King Josiah — and how these ancient stories are strikingly relevant to the pressures of modern life. Brad draws on Seven Tipping Points That Saved the World to show how Hezekiah's faith-filled stand against the Assyrian Empire was a pivotal moment in world history that ultimately helped pave the way for religious freedom and the Restoration of the Gospel. They also discuss why peace, not just a good feeling, is the real sign of divine communication and the importance of counseling with women — from ancient prophetesses to modern Relief Society leaders.

Connor Pay and Chase Roberts are joined by BYU Ancient Scripture professor Ross Baron for a deep dive into one of the Old Testament's most sobering stories — the fall of King David. They unpack how a man of towering faith could unravel so completely. Professor Baron brings the Hebrew text to life — revealing that David wasn't just "walking" on the roof; he was pacing, a caged lion far from where he was supposed to be. The group traces the small and simple failures that preceded David's great sin, the cover-up that followed, and Nathan's masterful parable that exposed it all. But this episode isn't just ancient history. Connor opens up about his own personal battle and the redemption he found through Christ. Chase reflects on life as a Raiders rookie in Las Vegas — and how the same temptations David faced are alive and well in every generation. Professor Baron closes with a powerful testimony anchored in the Savior's words from the cross: "It is finished."

Connor Pay and Chase Roberts are joined by BYU religion professor Robbie Taggart for a memorable episode about David and punk rock. Before diving into the scriptures, Robbie shares his remarkable backstory — from playing bass in punk bands alongside the future members of The Used, to serving a mission that changed everything, to eventually earning a PhD and landing his dream job teaching religion at BYU. The conversation then turns to this week's Come Follow Me material covering the story of David. Going far beyond the familiar David and Goliath account, Professor Taggart walks through the full arc of David's life — the jealous Saul, the loyalty of Jonathan, the wild wilderness years, and the stunning Davidic Covenant in 2 Samuel 7. He unpacks how God's persistent, unrelenting love (hesed) carried David through his greatest triumphs and his most devastating failures, pointing ultimately to Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of that ancient promise. Chase also reflects on how David's faith connects directly to his own experience as an NFL free agent with the Las Vegas Raiders — giving the battle to the Lord and finding peace in the process.

Connor Pay and Chase Roberts are joined by BYU religion professor Robbie Taggart for a memorable episode about David and punk rock. Before diving into the scriptures, Robbie shares his remarkable backstory — from playing bass in punk bands alongside the future members of The Used, to serving a mission that changed everything, to eventually earning a PhD and landing his dream job teaching religion at BYU. The conversation then turns to this week's Come Follow Me material covering the story of David. Going far beyond the familiar David and Goliath account, Professor Taggart walks through the full arc of David's li...

Connor and Chase are flying solo this week for a shorter, more personal episode diving into 1 Samuel 8–10, 13, 15, and 16 — the chapters that set the stage for one of Scripture's most iconic stories: David and Goliath. This week, the guys reflect on the powerful theme that whom the Lord calls, He qualifies — and what it means to feel unworthy of a calling but show up anyway. Connor shares his own experiences with feeling unqualified, from his mission to his recent calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and how these chapters brought real comfort. Chase draws a compelling parallel betwee...

BYU religion professor Tyler Griffin joins Connor Pay and Chase Roberts for a deep dive into the Book of Ruth and the opening chapters of 1 Samuel. What begins as an overlooked four-chapter story becomes a rich exploration of loyalty, redemption, and what it means to trust God in seasons of uncertainty. Professor Griffin unpacks the powerful symbolism woven through Ruth's story — how Naomi represents the House of Israel, Ruth represents each of us, and Boaz serves as a type of Jesus Christ — the ultimate kinsman redeemer. Together, they explore how Ruth's loyalty, Boaz's loving kindness, and Hannah's praise in 1 Samuel all...

Connor Pay and Chase Roberts are joined by BYU professor of ancient religion Josh Matson for a rich discussion on the Book of Judges as part of this week's Come Follow Me study. Josh shares his winding journey to BYU — from being cut from his high school basketball team, to a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Canada, rejected job applications, a week in Hawaii that led nowhere, and ultimately landing at BYU on his fourth try. His story sets the tone for the episode's central theme: God calls people not because of what they've do...

Connor Pay and Chase Roberts welcome BYU cheerleader and social media personality Ammon Montenegro to the podcast. Chase kicks things off with an inside look at life as an NFL rookie — grueling OTA schedules, thousand-page playbooks, and the constant pressure to perform every detail flawlessly. Then Ammon shares his remarkable journey: growing up as one of eleven kids in Las Vegas, playing football and wrestling, walking on at Snow College, serving a mission in Liberia, and ultimately feeling called to cheer at BYU — where he's now a three-year captain leading a team full of women with a whole new kind of c...

In this episode, hosts Connor Pay and Chase Roberts are joined by BYU offensive lineman Kyle Sfarcioc for a conversation that covers football, faith, and the journey in between. Chase shares his exciting news: he just signed with the Las Vegas Raiders and is heading to mini camp immediately after recording. Kyle opens up about his remarkable first year as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From his early skepticism when he arrived at BYU, to reading the Book of Mormon on planes flying home to be with his father, who was battling terminal illness...