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.
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What is the delta variant of COVID-19? Are vacc...
Daily cases of COVID-19 are on the rise again, in part because of the delta variant, which is more contagious than previous strains. Listen to Valley 101 for full details.
16 min
202
Why is the Valley expanding out, not up?
Why home builders in the Valley keep expanding outwards, instead of upwards
13 min
203
Valley 101 explores the history behind Mesa's i...
In this week's Valley 101, we share why Mesa utilizes its own electrical center and how that came to be.
12 min
204
Jagger Eaton, Olympic bronze medalist sits down...
Listen to hear from Jagger Eaton on his Olympic experience.
10 min
205
From backyard pools to Tokyo Olympics, the hist...
History shows Arizona had a thriving skateboarding community even before skateboarding really became an Olympic sport. Listen now to hear all about it.
20 min
206
Does Arizona have its very own Bigfoot? Valley ...
Valley 101 looks into the existence of the Mogollon Monster, a mythical creature similar to Bigfoot that roams the woods of the Mogollon Rim in Arizona.
17 min
207
'Fluke' avocado tree survives more than 100 yea...
Listen to Valley 101's latest episode on the Aravaipa Avocado tree. There is an avocado tree that lives northeast of Tucson. How is it able to grow in Arizona?
10 min
208
BONUS: Valley 101 shares what covering the 1993...
The Phoenix Suns are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993. Hear what covering the team was like back then and what the atmosphere was like.
15 min
209
What is "Sonoran sushi" and what is its history?
A Mexican and Japanese food fusion is popping up thought the state. Listen to today's episode to learn how this happened.
16 min
210
Valley 101 highlights some of Arizona's LGBT+ i...
Arizona has a rich history of LGBTQIA+ icons from the 1890s to today.
19 min
211
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
212
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
213
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
214
Memorial Day special
A few episode suggestions for over the Memorial Day weekend
4 min
215
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
216
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
217
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
218
Valley 101 tells you how to best prepare for ba...
13 min
219
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
220
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
221
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
222
What is xeriscaping? And what are its benefits?
12 min
223
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
224
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
225
Why aren't sirens used during dust storms?
13 min