Advertise on podcast: Two Point Conversion with BYU Football: A Gospel Discussion Podcast

Fresh off a bye week, Connor and Chase are back in the studio with returning guest Tanner Wall to dive into Isaiah 40–49 and the powerful shift from judgment to comfort, hope, and redemption. The conversation kicks off with BYU football — Kalani Sitake's unwavering principles (yes, including the end-of-game debates), a player-led culture that's turned the program into a powerhouse, and why staying process-oriented matters more than style points. Then things get personal as Tanner and Chase open up about their NFL journeys — the highs of signing with the same team, the gut-punch of being released, injuries, identity crises, and what it really looks like to "wait upon the Lord" when life doesn't go according to plan.

Connor and Chase are joined by BYU professor and friend Hank Smith to tackle one of scripture's most intimidating — and most quoted — books: Isaiah. Chase opens up about being waived injured by the Raiders and shares what rehab, new team workouts, and finding blessings in adversity have looked like. Then the three dive into Isaiah 1–12 for this week's Come, Follow Me, covering how to approach Isaiah without being overwhelmed, the history of scattering and gathering, why Nephi loved Isaiah's words, and what it means to turn your sword into a plow. Hank walks through Isaiah's temple vision in chapter 6, the prophet's call and cleansing, and the hopeful promise in chapters 11–12 that God will gather His people — and gather you, personally.

No full episode this week — Connor Pay checks in with a quick update on why Two Point Conversion is on a brief hiatus. They apologize for the missed week and encourage listeners to dive into this week's Come, Follow Me lesson.

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 are back with a shorter-than-usual episode — Chase is reporting early to Las Vegas for Raiders training camp, and Connor is deep in final prep mode for BYU Football’s fall camp. Despite the condensed schedule, they each share one powerful insight from this week's Come, Follow Me study in Ezra and Nehemiah. Chase draws from Nehemiah 6:3 — "I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down" — and unpacks how Nehemiah's refusal to be distracted by enemies mirrors the subtle ways Satan tries to pull us away from our covenants. Not through dramatic temptation, but through the slow, quiet pressure to settle for "good" when God is calling us to "best." Connor takes a different angle, zooming in on the reconstruction of the temple in Ezra. Studying the temple as a personal focus lately, he traces a recurring pattern throughout the Old Testament: when Israel honored the temple and its covenants, they flourished. When the temple was neglected or destroyed, they fell. He connects that pattern to his own life — and to the joy he and his wife Mallory have found in regular temple attendance and family history work.

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.

What do a Cold War Army colonel, a BYU religion professor, and an NFL wide receiver have in common? More than you'd think. This week, Connor Pay and Chase Roberts sit down with Professor Ken Alford — a retired U.S. Army colonel, West Point computer science professor, and now BYU Ancient Scripture instructor in his 19th year — to dig into 2 Kings 2–7 and the ministries of Elijah and Elisha. In this episode, Ken traces his remarkable dual career: from commanding troops in West Germany during the Cold War, to managing $5.5 billion in government IT contracts, to teaching church history at BYU. The trio also discuss the meaning behind the names Elijah ("Jehovah is my God") and Elisha ("God shall save") — and why that matters. And what does it really mean to receive a "double portion" of the Spirit? Plus, a deep dive into the story of Naaman: what a million dollars in silver, a dirty river, and seven baths teach us about humility, obedience, and stopping at wash number six.

Connor Pay is joined by his brother Trevor, a current offensive lineman at BYU, and special guest Professor John Hilton III — BYU religion professor and Scripture Central contributor — for a deep dive into 1 Kings. John guides Connor and Trevor through the division of Israel under Rehoboam and Jeroboam, the strange tale of the two prophets at dinner, the Widow of Zarephath's extraordinary faith, the iconic showdown between Elijah and the priests of Baal, and the courage of the forgotten prophet Micaiah. Along the way, the conversation weaves in real-life parallels: the weight of peer pressure, what it means to truly "burn the ships" in discipleship, how Coach Kalani Sitake used a President Nelson quote to rally BYU before a comeback win over Iowa State, and why Trevor chose to serve a mission even when it meant possibly never playing alongside his brother Connor — and how God honored that choice anyway.

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.