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.
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How did Phoenix get controversial giant pots as...
The public art project Wall Cycle to Ocotillo created controversy in Phoenix in the 1990s. Listen to Valley 101 podcast to learn why.
16 min
352
Where do real Christmas trees in Arizona come f...
Are there Christmas tree farms here? Should we feel guilty about cutting down trees?
19 min
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What's the cake-shaped castle by Loop 202 freeway?
20 min
354
Why is cotton one of Arizona's 5 Cs?
The significance of the cash crop can be traced back to World War I.
15 min
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Why is citrus one of the 5 Cs of Arizona? What ...
The 5 C’s were a way to highlight the industries that created Arizona’s economy. Listen to Valley 101 to learn how this impacted the state.
13 min
356
Six common light rail questions answered
Why'd we get a light rail? Was it financially smart? Does it bring crime?
25 min
357
What are the most haunted places in Phoenix?
Ghost hunting with a paranormal investigator
16 min
358
Why are there antique dolls in the basement of ...
The dolls weren't there when the building opened up in 1947. So how did they get there?
17 min
359
Who is Winnie Ruth Judd, Phoenix's infamous mur...
Explore the murder that put Phoenix on the map in the 1930's and learn how Winnie Ruth Judd escaped so many times from the state hospital.
20 min
360
Does Phoenix have a startup scene like Silicon ...
Some call Phoenix the "Silicon Desert."
18 min
361
What's that dome-shaped church always under con...
Plus, why is the church leader, Naasón Joaquín García, facing felony sex-abuse charges in California?
29 min
362
What was life like for Japanese Americans in Ar...
In part two of our exploration of this chapter in history, we'll look at post-war life for Japanese Americans.
31 min
363
What was life like in the Japanese-American inc...
To find out what life was like in Arizona's incarceration camps, we talked to someone who grew up in one.
33 min
364
How have Latinos shaped Phoenix? Exploring Ariz...
Three short stories that illustrate Latinos' impact in the Valley
21 min
365
Exploring Phoenix sports fandom: Which team do ...
Cardinals, Coyotes, Diamondbacks – oh my!
20 min
366
Is Phoenix's air quality bad? How does it affec...
How pollution in Phoenix is evaluated, plus how it's changed over time.
20 min
367
Are palm trees native to Arizona? Why does Phoe...
12 min
368
Javelina in Arizona: Are they pigs? Are they da...
Did you know some people hunt and eat javelinas?
14 min
369
Why does I-10 go through a tunnel in downtown P...
Going underground wasn't always the plan. We almost had a sky highway.
16 min
370
What's the story behind Legend City, Arizona's ...
This 87-acre theme park located between Phoenix and Tempe from 1963 to 1983 brought so many memories.
19 min
371
Why didn't Arizona use Frank Lloyd Wright's pla...
The famed architect had a vision for our state's capitol, but it never came to be.
23 min
372
How are electric scooters changing metro Phoenix?
They appeared in spring 2018 and have been controversial ever since.
15 min
373
Why doesn't Phoenix have a Chinatown or Little ...
Other big cities developed ethnic enclaves. Did we?
21 min
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Lightning round: 4 popular questions about Phoe...
Camelback Mountain, Grand Avenue, Hotel Westward Ho and more
17 min
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What is the affordable housing crisis in Phoenix?
Eviction and homelessness rates are rising in Maricopa County, and it's tied to a lack of affordable or low-income housing.
26 min