Hidden in Plain Sight: Understanding Human Trafficking in Mississippi

Human trafficking rarely looks like it does in the movies. More often, it begins with a relationship built on vulnerability, grooming, manipulation and control. On this episode of the Robertson and Easterling Podcast, Matt and Mandalin sit down with Amanda Dollar, Executive Director of the Mississippi Coalition Against Human Trafficking, to discuss what trafficking actually looks like in Mississippi. Amanda explains how trafficking can happen within families, romantic relationships and online connections, and why poverty, substance abuse and other vulnerabilities can put both children and adults at greater risk. She also shares warning signs that parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and community members should recognize. The conversation explores why victims often do not identify as victims, the challenges they face when trying to leave, and the resources available across Mississippi to help survivors find safety and rebuild their lives. This episode is an important reminder that human trafficking can be hidden in plain sight. Knowing what to look for may help someone recognize what others have missed and help a victim find a way out.

In this deeply personal episode of the Robertson and Easterling Podcast, Craig sits down with his new friend Dr. Obie McNair, to explore a remarkable Mississippi life shaped by race, education, medicine, adversity, and an enduring faith in God. Dr. McNair takes listeners back to his childhood in Jackson and his experience as one of only five black students integrating Hardy Junior High School, where he endured isolation and open racism before continuing his education at Forest Hill High School.  His journey eventually led him to Tougaloo College and then to Tufts University School of Medicine after he was not accepted by the University of Mississippi Medical Center.  He later trained at Emory and Howard University before returning home, becoming Mississippi's first board-certified African American pulmonologist and spending decades caring for patients in underserved communities in Jackson. But this conversation is about more than an extraordinary medical career. In 2019, a seemingly ordinary step out of a cold plunge caused Dr. McNair's femur to break, ultimately revealing stage-four kidney cancer that had spread to his bones. Nearly seven years later, after exhausting multiple treatments, he continues to face cancer with remarkable clarity about life, death, purpose and what matters most. Dr. McNair speaks candidly about mortality, his family, his patients and the faith that now shapes how he sees everything. His message is simple and powerful: life is short, grace is real, and God has been present through every chapter of his story.

In this episode of The Robertson + Easterling Podcast, attorneys Craig Robertson and Matt Easterling discuss paternity and filiation, two critical concepts that establish the legal relationship between a father and child under Mississippi law. With more than half of Mississippi children now born to unmarried parents, understanding how paternity is established has never been more important. Craig and Matt explain the legal process of filiation, the rights and responsibilities it creates, and its impact on child support, custody, visitation, inheritance, and parental decision-making. They also address common misconceptions about biological versus legal fatherhood and provide practical guidance for parents navigating these issues. Whether you're a mother seeking support, a father wanting to protect your parental rights, or simply interested in family law, this episode offers valuable insight into one of the most important legal foundations of parenthood. 

Mississippi custody law just changed in a significant way. On April 8, 2026, Governor Tate Reeves signed House Bill 1662, creating a rebuttable presumption that joint custody with equal parenting time is in the best interest of the child. In this episode of the R+E Podcast, Matt Easterling and Sarah Didlake sit down with former Chancellor Ed Patten to break down what that actually means—and what it doesn't. Does this create automatic 50/50 custody? How will judges apply a "rebuttable presumption" in real courtrooms? And what happens to the traditional best interest analysis? Drawing on decades of experience from the chancery bench, Judge Patten offers a practical, real-world perspective on how this law will play out for families across Mississippi. The conversation goes beyond headlines to explore litigation strategy, settlement dynamics, and the new approach to child support in equal parenting time cases, making this essential listening for parents, lawyers, and anyone working with families.

In this episode, Craig sits down with retired Chancellor Ed Patten for a thoughtful, behind-the-scenes look at a career spent at the intersection of law and real life. Judge Patten's path to the bench wasn't linear—he began as a pharmacist before earning his law degree from Ole Miss and building a successful legal practice in Hazlehurst, eventually serving five terms over more than two decades as Chancellor of Mississippi's Fifteenth Chancery Court District. In the first part of our conversation, Judge Patten reflects on his upbringing, his transition into law, and what led him to the bench, while offering a clear picture of what a chancellor actually does and the weight of decisions that shape families, estates, and futures. In the second segment, we explore his transition into mediation and how his role has shifted from decision-maker to facilitator, breaking down the critical differences between having your case decided by a judge versus resolving it through negotiation. Along the way, Judge Patten shares practical insight, hard-earned wisdom, and a grounded perspective on conflict, responsibility, and what ultimately leads to better outcomes for the people involved.

Divorce and family conflict can push people into survival mode. A text message, tense conversation, or co-parenting issue can quickly trigger stress that makes it hard to think clearly or respond calmly. In this episode, divorce attorney Craig Robertson and R+E client advocate, former client, and meditation practitioner Mac Chaney are joined by yoga and meditation teacher Amy Wilson to discuss practical ways to calm the nervous system and create space between what happens and how you respond. Amy teaches at Glow Yoga Studio in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and has more than 900 hours of training in Vinyasa and Hatha yoga, including study with Sri Dharma Mittra at Dharma Yoga in New York City and immersive meditation training with Hridaya Yoga in France and Mexico. Together they explore how stress affects the body during divorce, why breathwork can shift you out of fight-or-flight, and how meditation helps develop the pause between stimulus and response. Amy also introduces the yogic concept of the koshas, the idea that we are layered beings—body, breath, mind, and deeper awareness—and explains how working with the breath can help move us out of reactivity and back into clarity. The episode concludes with a short, guided meditation designed for anyone navigating the emotional intensity of divorce or family conflict.  

In this episode of the Robertson + Easterling Podcast, Craig Robertson sits down with Jennifer Guthrie—Gulf Shores City Councilwoman, entrepreneur, and founder of Glow Yoga Studio—to talk about the kind of healing that doesn't show up in a court order: calming your nervous system, rebuilding resilience, and learning to be present when life feels heavy.  Jennifer shares her journey from Division I athletics and a high-pressure career path to discovering yoga to heal chronic migraines, and explains why yoga is far more than stretching. Together they unpack the "eight-limb path" of yoga (including breathwork, focus, sensory awareness, and meditation), and translate it into practical tools you can actually use—especially during seasons of stress, anxiety, relationship strain, or major transition. You'll also hear simple, accessible breathwork like box breathing (used by Navy SEALs) and why consistent practice can change how you respond to pressure in everyday life.  Whether you're navigating divorce, burnout, or just the grind of modern life, this conversation offers language and strategies to help you feel steadier, think clearer, and reconnect with who you want to be—on and off the mat.

In this episode of the Robertson + Easterling podcast, Craig Robertson is joined by new podcast sponsor Ethan and Stephanie Kelly of Providence Capital Management for a practical, wide-ranging conversation about estate planning, wealth management, insurance and retirement strategies. This discussion is designed for anyone who wants a clearer understanding of how financial decisions made today shape long-term stability—whether you are navigating a major life transition like divorce or simply trying to be more intentional about your future. Together, they break down complex topics like estate planning instruments, as well as a discussion about retirement and beneficiary designations in a way that is approachable and grounded in real life. Ethan and Stephanie bring a fiduciary perspective focused on clarity, coordination, and thoughtful planning as opposed to fear or urgency. This episode is not about reacting to crisis. It is about understanding the systems that protect your family, your assets, and your long-term goals without government interference, and learning how legal and financial planning works best when aligned.

In this special companion episode to the free eBook published as public service of the Mississippi family law firm of Robertson + Easterling, Craig Robertson and Matt Easterling sit down with their client advocate, Mac Chaney, to walk through concepts introduced in The First 30 Days: A Practical Guide to the Hardest Month. The eBook moves day by day through the earliest stage of divorce, exploring what actually helps when emotions are high, decisions feel urgent, and clarity is hard to find. Mac brings a steady, compassionate voice shaped by both personal experience and her work guiding clients through one of the most difficult seasons of their lives. Together, they discuss how to slow the process down, stabilize emotionally, protect children, organize information, and approach legal decisions with intention rather than panic. This episode is not a checklist or legal advice, but a thoughtful, honest discussion about navigating the first month divorce is on the table with clarity and care. The free eBook can be downloaded from the First 30 Days tab on the R+E website.

The final session of Quiet in the Chaos invites you to rest in the imagery of a flowing river — steady, cleansing, and always renewing. Meditation is not about forcing the mind to be still, but about noticing what is present and allowing it to pass through without resistance. In this practice, you'll be guided to release what no longer serves you into the current of Love, making space for fresh possibilities. As the river carries away what you no longer need, you'll step forward with renewed clarity, peace, and openness to life's unfolding.