In this episode, we confront one of the most culturally significant topics in Northwest Arkansas: the role of Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt in shaping not only the economy, but the entire identity of the region. These companies have brought immense opportunity, visibility, and resources to Northwest Arkansas. But they’ve also concentrated power in unprecedented ways, influencing housing, labor, immigration, policy, and public life.
To explore this history with clarity and care, we’re joined by Olivia Paschal, a Ph.D. candidate in history at the University of Virginia. Olivia’s work traces how these companies rose from the Ozarks and became defining forces in American capitalism. A native of Rogers, her work is rooted in both lived experience and deep academic research. Together, we unpack the values, policies, and conditions that allowed these corporations to flourish here, and the questions we must ask if we want to build a region where everyone can belong.
https://www.theunderview.com/episodes/the-underview-companies-olivia-paschal-northwest-arkansas
About the underview:
The underview is an exploration of the development of our Communal Theology of Place viewed through the medium of bikes, land, and people to discover community wholeness.
Website: theunderview.com
Follow us on Instagram: @underviewthe
Host: @mikerusch
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