Valley 101

Valley 101

The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com

Episodes 389
Avg. Duration 18m
Activity Highly Active
Since Feb 2019
Latest Episode Jun 2026

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Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
100%
Hosting
feeds.megaphone.fm

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About This Podcast

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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Recent Episodes

How extreme are Arizona wildfires?

Jun 08, 2026 19m

To a lot of people, most refer to this time as summer. Arizonans though, think of it as another season: wildfire season. The past year in Arizona has been very dry, and with little rainfall, we could…

Are monsoons still a thing in Arizona?

Jun 01, 2026 13m

Usually an Arizona summer means a season of monsoons, but the last few summers have been very hot and dry with less and less rainfall. Are monsoons still a thing in Arizona?    On this week’s…

Are Arizona lakes safe to swim in?

May 25, 2026 13m

It's no surprise that in Arizona, it's getting hot, and what better way to cool off then to take a trip to the lake? But what lakes are safe to swim in? On this week's episode of Valley 101, a…

What is Valley Fever?

May 18, 2026 16m

There’s a lot of things to be cautious about in Arizona; the sun, the monsoons, the snakes, oh and did we mention Valley Fever? But what exactly is Valley Fever, how do you catch it and what happens…

Why does Papago Park look like another planet?

May 11, 2026 13m

In Papago Park, the rocks look almost out of this world, adding charm to one of Phoenix’s most iconic landscapes. On this week’s episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and…

Who is Arizona's mother?

May 04, 2026 14m

Mother’s Day is coming, and Arizona has plenty of women who could be considered its “mother.” From pioneers to cultural icons, the list is long. But one name keeps coming up. This week on Valley 101,…

Do people still use swamp coolers in Arizona?

Apr 27, 2026 9m

Back in the day, realtors gave you a checklist to fill out: pool or no pool; two bedrooms, three bedrooms, four bedrooms; one story or two story. A strange choice? Swamp cooler or no swamp cooler.…

Why has Castles N' Coasters lasted while other parks fail?

Apr 20, 2026 14m

Castles N' Coasters in the longest-running theme park in Arizona. It will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2027. Through the brutal Arizona summers, it's still stuck around. What is the theme…

Why doesn't Route 66 go through Phoenix?

Apr 13, 2026 17m

Route 66, the highway that runs 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica. And a chunk of it runs through Arizona. In Bobby Troup's hit song "Route 66", it mentions "Flagstaff, Arizona/Don't forget…

Why does a 'Real Housewives' husband own an Arizona law firm?

Apr 06, 2026 15m

People look to reality TV for a lot of things. Escape, entertainment, fun, maybe a touch of schadenfreude. There are a list of things you should not look for in reality TV and legal advice is at the…

Why is there a pool at Chase Field?

Mar 30, 2026 14m

Baseball is back! One distinguishing feature of Chase Field is the outfield pool. But how did it get there? And who made that decision? This week on Valley 101, experts join us to answer the…

How was The Wave discovered?

Mar 23, 2026 16m

If there is one geological formation Arizona is known for, it is without a doubt ... the Grand Canyon. But it's not the only too-awesome-to-comprehend natural formation out there. There is also the…

How many people live in Phoenix?

Mar 16, 2026 16m

People are often shocked when you tell them that Phoenix is the 5th largest city in America. You can pick nits about metropolitan statistical areas, but it's clear that Arizona is not the Old West…

What time is it actually in Arizona?

Mar 09, 2026 16m

What time is it in Arizona might seem like a trick question if you don’t live in Arizona. But when you do, you know what time it is, because the state doesn’t mess around with Daylight Saving…

Is Cine Capri the best movie theater in Phoenix?

Mar 02, 2026 19m

In this day and age, there are so many options on where to see a movie. If you want dinner and a show, there's a theater. If you want arthouse, there's a theater. The Valley even has 4 regulated IMAX…

Were there Black cowboys in Arizona?

Feb 23, 2026 20m

People's impression of cowboys is largely due to Hollywood. Actors like John Wayne, Gary Cooper and Clint Eastwood cemented the image of the rugged, handsome, White cowboys throughout their…

Why is the Nancy Guthrie case uniquely Arizonan?

Feb 16, 2026 34m

One of the interesting things about the Guthrie story is that it is so deeply rooted in Arizona. Obviously it's taking place here; Guthrie's home is north of Tucson, and the desert landscaping has…

When did Arizona become a state and what took so long?

Feb 09, 2026 17m

When did Arizona become a state? The answer is easy enough to find. What’s more interesting is how Arizona became a state, and even more interesting than that, what took so long. This week on Valley…

Did a murder lead to a wishing shrine in Tucson?

Feb 02, 2026 17m

In an unassuming dirt patch in Tucson's Barrio Viejo sits a shrine that is said to grant wishes. But this altar is not like most. It sits at the site of a brutal murder that happened when a love…

How does a restaurant stay essential?

Jan 26, 2026 15m

The Arizona Republic has once again come up with a list of 100 Essential Restaurants in the Valley. Like every year, there are some iconic must-visits alongside some new places. Discovery is a big…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Valley 101 have?

Valley 101 has published 389 episodes since February 2019, covering topics in History, News.

Is Valley 101 still active?

Valley 101 is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 18m.

How do I contact Valley 101 for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Valley 101, including email and social media links.

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