
Hosted by Craig Robertson and Matt Easterling · EN

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.

In Part Two of our Quiet in the Chaos meditation series, we deepen the practice by exploring the image of a mighty oak tree — rooted, steady, and nourished by what is life-giving. Meditation, whether drawn from Zen traditions of present-moment awareness or the contemplative stillness of Christian prayer, invites us to be grounded in the here and now. Like a tree whose roots hold firm through shifting seasons, you'll learn to remain steady even when life's winds blow hard. This session will help you strengthen your inner stability, reconnect to what sustains you, and carry that grounded strength into your daily life.

At Robertson + Easterling, we care about our clients' emotional health as much as their legal needs. In the first of our three-part series Quiet in the Chaos, we introduce the healing power of meditation — the ancient spiritual practice of focusing your attention and calming the mind to cultivate greater awareness, presence, and emotional balance. It can involve observing the breath, repeating a meaningful phrase, or simply noticing thoughts and sensations without judgment. Over time, meditation can reduce stress, improve clarity, and foster a deep sense of peace and connection. In this first session, you'll learn to anchor yourself when life feels turbulent. Guided by your breath, you'll practice noticing thoughts, emotions, and body sensations without being swept away by them — much like finding safe harbor in the middle of a storm. Whether you're navigating family conflict, uncertainty, or change, this meditation offers a calm center you can return to anytime.

In this deeply moving episode of the Robertson and Easterling Podcast, Craig Robertson sits down with Richard and Kim Johnson, parents of Katie — a vibrant, talented 22-year-old whose life was tragically cut short by fentanyl poisoning. Through tears and courage, Richard and Kim recount Katie's adventurous spirit, her struggles with anxiety during the isolation of COVID, and how one counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl ended her life instantly. They share their journey through grief, their family's path toward healing, and their newfound mission to raise awareness through Walk for Lives, a nationwide movement uniting families affected by fentanyl. The conversation exposes the devastating reach of this epidemic — the leading cause of death among Americans ages 18 to 45 — while offering hope through faith, advocacy, and honest dialogue. This episode is not just about loss, but about love, purpose, and turning unimaginable pain into life-saving action. Learn more or donate at walkforlives.org

Craig Robertson and Matt Easterling sit down with therapist Stephanie Hathorn of The Shepherd's Staff to explore her late-in-life ADHD diagnosis and its profound impact on her self-understanding, her clients, and the journey through midlife. Sharing her story with warmth, humor, and honesty – including experiences from being struck by lightning to navigating anxiety, motherhood, and life transitions – Stephanie discusses how ADHD manifests differently in men and women, the link between attention, anxiety, and creativity, and how what some call a "disorder" can become a superpower. The conversation dives deep into embracing self-awareness, shifting from doing to being, and finding meaning beyond achievement – offering insight for anyone wondering why their mind races, stillness feels impossible, or the second half of life feels so different from the first. This episode blends insight, laughter, and encouragement, reminding listeners that growth doesn't stop at 40 and our quirks can become our greatest gifts.