About Be
It all started in 2012 for Monica—this message that God dropped into her spirit at once that said,
“It’s not about the book, Steely. Don’t get so focused on the method that you lose sight of the message.”
So she paused and was still and allowed God to bring freedom from the tight hold she had on the book.
And He did.
But it started long before then for Sara—this calling to pull back from all the things and press in to all of Him, to stop her striving and allow God to bring freedom from works and find freedom in Him.
And He did.
And then one day, God birthed an idea in Sara’s heart for ministry, although it didn’t have a name or a shape. And another day, God nudged Sara’s heart to call Monica and invite her into this unspecific ministry with no name and no shape. And since there was no longer any book for her to cling to, Monica said yes.
Together with God, at a coffee shop in the Big City, Sara and Monica named and brought shape to Be Still Be Free. Born from the soul-giving, life-freeing conversations had over coffee, the podcast sprung forth with the goal of bringing those real conversations, rooted in truth to other women.
Conversations just like you would have with your friends at a coffee shop.
Tracy was an early guest to Be Still Be Free. After all, Monica and Tracy knew each other from their single days at church, and had dozens of those real conversations rooted in truth together over the years.
Tracy was a natural fit for the podcast, and easily brought her counselor’s perspective and wisdom to the conversations as early as episode 6. Always a listener favorite, she quickly became a regular guest, and then seamlessly stepped into co-host during the season Sara needed to again be still and step away. It’s only fitting that now she’s a permanent part of the future of Be.
12 years and 246 episodes later, Be Still Be Free is still focused on one mission—to see women set free from their doing and step into their being. And it all starts with being still, then being free.
Thank you for being here. We hope you are blessed.
Meet Your Hosts
Tracy Hurst
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Tracy Hurst |
Monica Steely
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Monica Steely |
Sara Goede
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Sara Goede |
MEET Tracy
Tracy’s personal story of overcoming depression and finding purpose through Christ inspires countless women every day, reminding them that no matter where they’re at, God can radically change their story too. She is living proof that God’s grace can turn any situation around—and she’s passionate about helping others discover that same hope! Her heart for others is contagious, and she’s here to share everything from real-life encouragement to loads of laughs to some seriously inspiring wisdom.
Tracy is all about authentic connections—whether she’s sharing her journey on stage, counseling women, or hanging out with her family and friends. She’s married to Michael, and together they’re raising two amazing daughters in Atlanta, Georgia. When she’s not diving into deep conversations with women of all ages, you’ll find her volunteering at her daughter’s school, leading Bible studies, meeting friends at new restaurants or just enjoying some downtime with her family.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Author, and Conference Speaker, Tracy is passionate about helping women discover hope and experience flourishing in their life. She’s also a former co-host on Marriage and Family Today on Moody Radio, where her heart for helping families shined through. With a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and training in Christian Counseling, Tracy has dedicated her career to walking alongside women and teens as they heal and grow. Tracy’s story has been featured on hundreds of radio shows, podcasts and magazines and recently within the United Kingdom. She’s even served on the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, appointed by the Governor of Georgia. Whether counseling clients, writing, or speaking at events, Tracy brings her credentials, experience, and genuine passion for helping others to everything she touches.
MEET MONICA
Monica is a right-brained, creative-minded, former self-loather who is still learning to appreciate who God created her to be. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she’s an introverted observer who loves coffee and getting outside to breathe, think and talk with God.
Monica and her husband, Greg, have two kids—their daughter is at Auburn University and their son is in high school. The entire family is very involved with their church and various school activities. When she’s not in the bleachers cheering at basketball games, Monica enjoys coffee, travel, reading, writing, and spending quality time with her family. She does not enjoy meal planning, grocery shopping or most domestic activities, and is so very grateful for Instacart and Costco prepared meals.
Monica writes at her blog and speaks at events when God makes her do it. She loves being behind the scenes writing and podcasting, mostly here at Be Still Be Free. She’s been published in Today’s Christian Woman magazine, and has written at (in)courage.me. Her most popular blog series, Metamorphosis: Embracing a Life of Becoming was possibly going to be a book someday, but has become a favorite podcast series in the meantime.
MEET SARA
Sara is the kind of woman you just want in your corner - a wife of 25 years, a mom to two grown kids, and a passionate follower of Christ who is all about making a difference in the lives of others. After raising a family and learning all the ups and downs of parenting, Sara’s ready to help other families find their stride. She’s a huge believer that family is a partnership, and she’s not afraid to share what she’s learned along the way—whether it's through laughter, tears, or a little bit of both!
Her home has always been full of love, laughter, and a little bit of chaos (in the best way possible)! She and her husband, Chris, have built a life together in Atlanta and have recently entered the world of empty-nesting—where she’s discovering new adventures and a fresh season of life with her partner in crime. They have two amazing kids, Ryland and Addi, and a bonus daughter Alexa. If Sara is not around the table or traveling with her family, you will find her in the kitchen making delicious sourdough creations for Gourmet Brown Bag or serving on staff with her local church.
Now, as she navigates this next chapter, she’s ready to take all the lessons she’s learned about marriage, parenting, and faith to help others create their own meaningful family stories.
Professionally, Sara’s heart has always been about serving others! She graduated from Liberty University with a nursing degree and spent years in labor and delivery. As she was raising kids, she’s volunteered in pregnancy centers, coached kids’ sports teams, led Bible studies, and mentored young women. Now, she’s ready to take all the lessons she’s learned about marriage, parenting, and faith to help others create their own meaningful stories. Sara recently launched her coaching platform to help parents raise strong leaders, women discover their passions, and share stories and encouragement with her community.