Allyson Rice on Book Bans, Storytelling, and the Power of Student Voices

In this episode of the Girls That Create podcast, host Erin Prather Stafford talks with Allyson Rice, part-owner of the female-owned production company Atomic Focus Entertainment and a lead producer of the documentary Banned Together.

The film follows three high school students who are challenging the removal of 97 books from their school libraries—books that reflect a range of identities, perspectives, and lived experiences. As book bans continue to impact schools and communities across the country, Banned Together offers a look at what it means for young people to raise their voices and push back.

Rice discusses the making of the documentary, why this issue matters to her as a creator and parent, and how storytelling can support civic engagement and awareness.

More about Allyson Rice

Before Atomic Focus, Rice was the Assoc. Director of Creative Development and a Producer for the STAGE Network (streaming), where she helped develop both scripted and unscripted content. She also wrote, produced, directed, and performed in the award-winning independent rap music video Fine, I’ll Write My Own Damn Song.

Rice originally spent over 15 years as an actress in the theatre and on TV (Family Ties, the Wayans brothers’ 413 Hope Street, Time Cop, and 7 years on As the World Turns). She then spent a decade leading personal growth retreats around the country. Rice is the author and narrator of the award-winning novel and audiobook The Key to Circus-Mom Highway. She has created a line of women’s coloring books (original art and writing) and was the co-creator of The Creative Prosperity Playdeck, an inspirational card deck for unblocking your creative flow.