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Want to see what credibility looks like under pressure? We sit down with broadcaster and FEMA reservist Leyla Gulen to unpack the real work behind “overnight” stories, the human stakes of crisis communications, and why attention without accuracy is a losing game. Layla traces her arc from ballet hopeful to radio grinder to TV anchor in Los Angeles and San Francisco, revealing the invisible disciplines that build trust: relentless fact-checking, writing to match an anchor’s voice, and delivering clarity on impossible timelines. When she moved to Charleston, those habits met a city where reputation travels fast and relationships carry weight, reshaping how tough truths are told without turning personal.

We dive into the influencer era and draw a sharp line between virality and veracity. As a co-founder of Tide Point PR, Layla favors senior, crisis-tested strategy over churn. She explains how to steer clients away from performative stunts and toward messages that survive scrutiny. Then the conversation heads straight into the field, where Layla’s FEMA deployments bring communications into disaster zones. She breaks down common myths about FEMA, the life-safety work that starts immediately, and the application steps that trip people up—plus how disaster recovery centers and hotlines actually help. The throughline is empathy: respect for place, patience with process, and thick skin when public narratives get loud and loose with facts.

Amid AI’s rise and shrinking attention spans, Leyla's north star stays steady: human connection and the craft of a story told well. If you care about journalism, public relations, emergency response, or simply want a better filter for what to believe online, this conversation offers practical guardrails and grounded inspiration. Listen, share it with someone who cares about credible communication, and leave a review with your take: what makes you trust a message?

Support the show

Title Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing Association

Presenting Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Annual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research Authority

Quarterly Sponsor: King and Columbus

Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen

Produced and edited: RMBO Advertising

Photographer | Co-host: Kelli Morse

Score by: The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenu
Studio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew Chase

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