Valley 101
Whether you're a longtime Arizona resident or a newcomer, chances are there's something you've always wondered about the Valley. From The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com comes Valley 101, a weekly podcast where our journalists find answers to your questions about metro Phoenix and beyond. From silly to serious, you tell us what to investigate. You can submit questions at valley101.azcentral.com or reach us on social media @azcentral. Amanda Luberto is the producer of this show.
1
How hot is too hot to hike?
How hot is Valley 101 looks into the debate over whether trails should be closed in the summer heat.
20 min
2
Why do homes in Phoenix have air conditioning u...
As air cooling technology evolved, so did efficiency. Where an AC unit is located can be a marker of when a home in Arizona was built.
12 min
3
How did Flagstaff become the world's first inte...
Arizona’s dark sky cities are turning the state into a top astrotourism destination. Valley 101 explores why visitors prefer traveling here after dark.
17 min
4
What are the weirdest laws in Arizona?
From pigs to hinnies, Valley 101 answers the question about which of Arizona's laws are the weirdest.
14 min
5
What's changed in my 35 years at The Arizona Re...
Bill Goodykoontz, media columnist and Valley 101 host for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, talks about changes in his 35 years in Arizona.
17 min
6
Are Phoenix drivers really the worst?
AZ drivers are often ranked among the worst in America. Valley 101 shares wild driving stories and discusses the state's plans to improve road safety.
24 min
7
What was it really like for the first female ne...
Mary Jo West, the first woman to anchor the news in Phoenix, talks about her career on Valley 101, including the harassment she suffered and more.
17 min
8
Why is the ASU journalism school named after Wa...
Walter Cronkite's name is on ASU's journalism school. Why?
14 min
9
Why is Wallace and Ladmo so important to Arizona?
Arizona kids will remember the magic of "Wallace and Ladmo." Never before heard interviews with the cast reveal why the magic stuck around.
56 min
10
How has the Phoenix Film Festival stuck around ...
The Phoenix Film Festival, the largest film festival in Arizona, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025.
13 min
11
Why is flight school so popular in Arizona?
A history of aviation in the Valley began to unravel around WWII. Almost a century later, pilot school continues to soar to new heights in Arizona.
16 min
12
Do people still move to Arizona for the climate?
Climate has long been one of Arizona's 5 C's, along with citrus, cotton, copper and cattle. With climate change is it still? Valley 101 looks into it.
16 min
13
What is the most iconic spring training food?
It's spring training time for baseball. With the Cactus League in full swing, Valley 101 explores most iconic baseball foods
13 min
14
Does Sedona actually have vortexes?
The red rocks of Sedona are known for their powerful energy vortexes. But are they real?
11 min
15
How do you say Casa Grande?
How do you pronounce Casa Grande? Or Mogollon? It can depend on where you're from.
15 min
16
Who was Arizona civil rights leader, Annie Watk...
She helped start the NAACP in Flagstaff and taught Black voters how to have their vote count. But her story is lost to time.
15 min
17
Can it snow in Phoenix?
It sounds like a dumb question, but as Tom Frieders of the National Weather Service explains, the answer is tricky.
10 min
18
Why are there fish in the canals?
The canals through metro Phoenix are home to a very important fish. Valley 101 talks to a scientist about how their diet ensures we have water access.
12 min
19
What is the deal with those scorpion suckers?
Do Arizonans actually eat scorpion lollipops? Oh yeah
16 min
20
What makes a restaurant essential?
In honor of the 100 essential restaurants list, Chris Bianco of Pizzeria Bianco talks about what makes metro Phoenix restaurants essential.
10 min
21
What's coming to metro Phoenix in 2025?
What big developments are coming to metro Phoenix in travel, dining, sports and Broadway Curve construction
14 min
22
Happy Holidays from Valley 101!
1 min
23
ASU Gammage celebrates 60 years in the Valley
Frank Lloyd Wright's seminal theater in Tempe opened its doors 60 years ago. Valley 101 talks with ASU Gammage's director about its history and magic.
16 min
24
Why are tamales a Christmas tradition?
Tamales are one of the big holiday traditions in Arizona. Winner of our tamale competition explains why.
9 min
25
How was Tempe Town Lake made?
Here's how Tempe Town Lake came to be 25 years ago
11 min