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. This show is hosted by Bill Goodykootz and produced by Amanda Luberto.

News
History
276
How did Christown Spectrum get its name?
In this week's episode find out about Chirstown's namesake and the cultural impact the mall had on Phoenix residents.
10 min
277
How the Rio Salado Project connects the Valley ...
Started in 1966 as a class project, the Rio Salado Project aims to connect the Valley via the Salt River
15 min
278
FAQs about Arizona highways answered
Listen to this week's episode of the Valley 101 podcast to hear about the history of toll roads in Arizona, the future of Interstate-11 and how Look 202 South Mountain has impacted the Valley.
14 min
279
Memorial Day special
A few episode suggestions for over the Memorial Day weekend
4 min
280
A Valley bucket list for tourists and locals a...
Listen to this week's episode of the Valley 101 podcast to hear our bucket list of cool places to explore in the Valley.
16 min
281
Valley 101 remembers history of lost all-Black ...
A vibrant all-Black community once stood in this desolate area of West Phoenix before a series of floods destroyed the town. Hear the history of Allenville, Arizona.
21 min
282
Native American food in Arizona: The history of...
Listen to this week's episode Valley 101 as we dive into the Native American food scene in the Valley.
11 min
283
Valley 101 tells you how to best prepare for ba...
13 min
284
There's no such thing as the city of Anthem. We...
Part of Anthem is in the city of Phoenix, while the rest is in unincorporated Maricopa County
11 min
285
What's the history of the Beet Sugar Factory in...
How did a Beet Sugar Factory help develop Glendale? Listen now to find out.
10 min
286
Why are the streets downtown Phoenix named afte...
Some of the street names in downtown Phoenix pay honor to U.S. Presidents. Here's why.
12 min
287
What is xeriscaping? And what are its benefits?
12 min
288
What legacy did Betty and Jean Fairfax leave be...
Betty and Jean Fairfax were well know within the education community. Listen to this week's episode of Valley 101 to learn why.
17 min
289
How did Arizona become a hub for the LDS Church?
Arizona has the 4th largest population of LDS members in the US. The reason dates back before it was even a state.
16 min
290
Why aren't sirens used during dust storms?
13 min
291
What's a vanity license plate? How many are on ...
Arizona's vanity license plate program started in 1989. Now the program raises millions of dollars for charity. Listen to this week's episode to find out how.
10 min
292
Why is recycling different city to city?
12 min
293
How did the Phoenix Bakery, one of the city's o...
13 min
294
What's the story behind Phoenix Sky Harbor's fl...
The story dates back to 1937 when most states mandated a 3-day waiting period for couples wishing to wed. But Arizona didn't.
11 min
295
Who was Paul W. Litchfield and how did he help ...
Paul W. Litchfield brought the Goodyear Tire and Rubber company to Arizona a few years after statehood. That led to the growth of the West Valley. Listen now to hear about his legacy.
16 min
296
Meet Richard E. Harris, the first Black reporte...
26 min
297
How do you safely hike with dogs in Arizona?
15 min
298
What's the story behind Arizona's clever highwa...
11 min
299
Is there a roller derby scene in Metro Phoenix?
The roller derby scene in Arizona is fairly new, but its community is strong. Listen to this week's episode to learn about roller derby in Arizona.
20 min
300
Why does Phoenix have so few cemeteries?
Arizona has at least 850 cemeteries, not including privately owned or municipal. But where are they? Why don't we have more headstones?
16 min