Allyson de la Houssaye, Storyteller/Community Connector/Arkansas Enthusiast
About Allyson:
Allyson is the founder of AWAL Productions, a media company specializing in storytelling solutions across news, documentary, and branded content. She began her production career in talk shows and has since built a diverse portfolio spanning corporate and creative media, including National Geographic, The History Channel, A&E, NBC, The Weather Channel, GE Healthcare and Walmart. Allyson is a Governor-appointed Commissioner Chair for the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council and Chair of the Bentonville Parks and Recreation Board. She is also a co-founder of Women of OZ NWA, a nonprofit committed to empowering more women to ride mountain bikes. With a deep background in storytelling and the outdoor industry, Allyson is proud to call Arkansas home.
Where do you reside?Â
Bentonville, AR.
Where are you from originally? Tell us about your journey to NW Arkansas.
Originally a Navy kid, I moved coast to coast but settled in Chicago for most of my adult years. In 2013, after a career in television that spanned cable broadcasting, talk shows and sports news, what started as a job relocation for my husband quickly turned into a life relocation—I fell in love with the people, the landscape, and the opportunity to build something meaningful in a place with momentum.
What are some of your favorite things about the region?
The trail system is world-class—from gravel in the Ozarks to paved paths through town. I love grabbing a drink at Airship at Coler after a ride, catching a show at The Momentary, and floating just about any creek in the summer with my husband, three kids and French Brittany.
Someone that has never been to the region is coming for 24 hours, what should they do, where should they go?
Start with coffee and culture—try Airship or Onyx, then head to Crystal Bridges or Momentary. Take a mid-morning ride or walk through the Slaughter Pen trails, grab lunch at Yeyo’s, and end your day with sunset at the Tower Bar and a show at The Momentary, followed by Oven and Tap for the best edamame and fried mozzarella in the state.
How would you describe living in Northwest Arkansas? What advice would you have for someone relocating here?
Living here feels like possibility with a side of fresh air. It’s a place where community matters, where you can build something and still be home in time for dinner. My advice? Dive in. Say yes — and you’ll find your people.
What is your hope for the future of the region?Â
That we grow with intention. And that storytelling continues to shape how we see ourselves and how others see us as a state. That we preserve the magic while making room for more people who want to enjoy this slice of heaven in Arkansas.
Describe Northwest Arkansas in a few words.
Creative. Connected. Evolving.
What do you do in your free time?
Enjoy all the things Bentonville and the area have to offer. You can never say you are bored here, small town with big town amenities.
Tell us something about yourself that folks might not know.
I am incredible at parallel parking. Feel free to come watch. My first job as a professional was finding people to be on the Jerry Springer Show.
What causes are you passionate about? What inspires you?
I’m deeply passionate about the outdoors and storytelling. I think it is an important time in our state to rewrite the narrative. Our most beautiful assets are the outdoors, and I want to help tell that story and what that can do to change a community and a state.
Any projects or initiatives you’re currently working on or supporting that you would like to tell us about?Â
Right now, I’m producing Ridge to River: The Arkansas Traverse, a documentary that explores what happens when a group rides 472 miles across the state on bikes—and what it reveals about our past, present, and future. It just premiered at the Bentonville Film Festival and will have more screenings this fall.
Any other projects that you want to put on our radar?
At AWAL, we are launching content for the Active Commuter Academy this summer in partnership with Velocity NWA and Walmart Moves, helping residents feel safer and more confident navigating the region by bike and alternative transportation. Stay tuned for online resources and community events like Ride to Work Wednesdays.
