In this episode, LA County communications leader Brenda Duran joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how to manage communications and public relations in the AI era through trust and authentic storytelling.

Tune in to learn more!

Meet Our Guest:

Our guest is Brenda Duran, director of external affairs at the Los Angeles County Justice, Care and Opportunities Department. An award-winning public affairs and communications executive with more than 12 years of experience, Brenda specializes in crisis communications, community engagement, and building trust through authentic storytelling. A former journalist, she brings a unique perspective on how public institutions can communicate with transparency, empathy, and impact.

Five things you’ll learn from this episode:

1. The rise of AI in public relations

2. Building trust in a digital-first world

3. Leading communications during high-stakes moments

4. The power of authentic storytelling

5. The future of communications leadership

Quotables

“[AI] is not there to replace anything; it's more to enhance what we're already doing.” — Brenda Duran

“Trust isn't really built in with one campaign. It's earned through repeated reliable communication over time.” — Brenda Duran

“AI definitely cannot replace some fundamental things like strategic thinking, relationship building, emotional intelligence, ethics and cultural understanding. Those are things that no machine will ever be able to take from us.” — Brenda Duran

“We need to become AI literate, but you have to also remain human-centered.” — Brenda Duran

“We still have to be trusted strategic advisors, lead with strategy, lead with empathy and humanity, and just make the right choices of what's good and what's ethical for the marketplace.” — Jason Mudd

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.

Guest’s contact info and resources:

@bduran5 on Instagram

Brenda Duran on LinkedIn

Brenda Duran’s website

From newsroom to PR: Journalists making the switch

Transition from journalism to PR

Additional Resources:

AI in PR: Transforming communication strategies

The emerging role of AI in public relations

How to speak with clarity and authority during a crisis

Axia’s AI visibility services

Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast.

Find out more about Axia Public Relations.

If you like this episode, you're going to love this:

The best argument for PR? Surprisingly, it's AI

When a crisis hits, say this or stay silent

Effective crisis communications

Recorded: July, 2026

Support the show

On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.
On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.