Hard Faith Podcast: Season 4 - Episode 7 "Recapping Wrapping the Trilogy with Spencer & McKenna"

Spencer and McKenna Folmar sit down just two weeks after wrapping the Suicide Prevention Trilogy to look back on one of the most ambitious seasons in Hard Faith history: three feature films made in a single year, including two films shot back-to-back in just five weeks.

They share the story behind The Days Are Evil, God Is Beautiful, and REST—from an idea Spencer carried for nearly 15 years to a trilogy exploring suicide, grief, depression, faith, family, and hope from three different perspectives. They also talk candidly about the emotional weight of the material, the prayer and support that surrounded the production, and their hope that these films will reach people who desperately need to know that their lives matter.

Along the way, Spencer and McKenna take listeners behind the scenes of an extraordinary production: long days and sleepless nights, a cast and crew that became a family, community members opening their homes and businesses, McKenna feeding as many as 30–50 people while also producing and working on set, and countless people stepping outside their job descriptions to make the films possible.

Now that all three films are finally in the can, Spencer and McKenna reflect on what it took to get there, the people who carried the mission alongside them, and what comes next for the Suicide Prevention Trilogy and Hard Faith.

Hard Faith Podcast: Season 4 - Episode 6 Marty Richards "Nickel on the Grass" 9/11 Best Screenplay at Hard Faith Fest NYC 2025

In Episode 6 of the Hard Faith Podcast, Spencer Folmar sits down with screenwriter and veteran fighter pilot Marty Richards, winner of Best Screenplay at Hard Faith Fest NYC 2025 for his first screenplay, Nickel on the Grass.

Marty shares the remarkable true story behind the screenplay. On September 11, 2001, he was both a United Airlines pilot and an F-15 pilot in the Massachusetts Air National Guard. What began as a routine training mission became a scramble into the skies during the terrorist attacks. Marty ultimately spent hours over New York City helping intercept aircraft and stabilize American airspace.

But his story is as much about what happened after September 11 as what happened that day. Marty opens up about the lasting toll of the experience, his struggle to understand and process what he had lived through, and how faith, family, surrender, and eventually writing helped lead him toward healing. His screenplay grew out of that journey and his participation in the Writers Guild Foundation’s Veterans Writing Project.

Twenty-five years after 9/11, Marty offers a deeply personal perspective on service, trauma, storytelling, and the importance of asking for help. It is a conversation about what happens when a warrior discovers that sometimes the hardest act isn’t fighting—it’s surrendering what you cannot control and trusting God with what comes next.

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Season 4, Episode 5: Peter Iengo — Turning Grief into Purpose Through Faith and Film at Hard Faith Fest NYC

Award-winning filmmaker Peter Iengo joins the Hard Faith Podcast to share the deeply personal story behind his feature film One More Time, winner of Best Feature Film at the inaugural Hard Faith Film Festival NYC. Inspired by the loss of his father during the COVID-19 pandemic, Peter opens up about his journey through grief, how the GriefShare ministry helped restore his faith, and why he chose to transform his pain into a film that offers hope to others.

In this moving conversation, Peter reflects on more than two decades in filmmaking, from winning a Student Emmy and screening films at international festivals to teaching the next generation of filmmakers. He shares how his experiences with loss reshaped not only his personal faith, but also the direction of his career, leading him to create stories centered on grief, healing, and the power of Christ.

Together, Spencer and Peter discuss the importance of authentic storytelling, the healing process that comes through creating art, and why Christians should not shy away from difficult conversations about suffering. Peter also explains how GriefShare welcomes people from every background and denomination, offering practical encouragement for anyone walking through loss.

If you’ve experienced grief, wondered how faith intersects with suffering, or believe stories can change lives, this episode is an honest and hope-filled conversation you won’t want to miss.

Submit and attend Hard Faith Fest NYC at www.HardFaithFest.com