Valley 101

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, a podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we explore who Arizona's mother is. Submit your question⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about Phoenix! Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Watchlist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, our Friday media...

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. Does anyone still have a swamp cooler? And what are they? On this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral, we talk to John Shurr, a realtor and Michael Morris, the o...

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 park's secret to success? In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we answer the question: What's made Castles N' Coasters the longest-running amusement...

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 Winona/Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino." But what about Phoenix? This week on Valley 101, we talk with historians and tour guides to hear the crazy stories about priests and lumberjacks, but most import...

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 top! This week on Valley 101, we talk with a reporter at the Arizona Republic to answer the question: Why does a 'Real Housewives' husband own an Arizona law firm? ⁠Submit your question⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

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 question: Why is there a pool at Chase Field? ⁠Submit your question⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about Phoenix! Subscribe to ⁠The Watchlist⁠, our Friday media newsletter. Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

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 Wave, the unbelievable sandstone rock formation more formally known as Coyote Buttes North. On this week's episode of Valley 101, we look into the history of the Wave — it's about 200 million years old,...

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 outpost people thought it was back in the day. So how many people actually live in Phoenix?  This week on Valley 101, a podcast about metro Phoenix and beyond, we talk with the Republic's development rep...

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 Time. However, Arizona did observe Daylight Saving Time once upon a time. And you know what those words mean. There’s a story behind all that. This week on Valley 101, we ask the question, “What time is it in...

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 theaters. But one place in particular has created an experience for Phoenix movie goers since the 20th century. This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we explore...

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 films. While it made for good movies, it's not entirely accurate to how the West looked at the time. There's plenty of history on vaqueros, or Mexican cowboys, in the West, but one demographic left their prints...

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 played a part in how the case is progressing It just feels like an Arizona story. Because it is. This week on Valley 101, longtime the Republic reporter who has been covering the story, talks about the G...

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 101, a podcast about metro Phoenix and beyond, we look at two different approaches to the question: When did Arizona become a state? And what took so long? ⁠Submit your question⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about Pho...

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 affair went wrong in 1800s Tucson and is said to be the only true shine to a sinner. This week on Valley 101, a podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, you'll hear the true crime story that lead...

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 part of the fun. But some places have been on the list for years. This week on Valley 101, we talk with the Chicago Hamburger Company about what makes a restaurant a staple and how it stays essential to...

For some people, a license plate can be something more. It's a way for some drivers to express themselves, whether through witty (and not so witty) words and names and such, or through a speciality plate. You have doubtless seen both. And in Arizona, there are over 100 ways to express yourself with a specialty plate. This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we...

Most of us have seen parts of Arizona. Some of us have even seen most of Arizona. But Joan? Joan has seen all of Arizona top to bottom. In 2025, the Arizona Republic's climate reporter rode her bike along the Arizona Trail, spanning the whole state North to South, observing and documenting how climate is impacting the state. This week on Valley 101, Joan shares the story of her trip, what she lear...

Phoenix is constantly expanding. It seems like there's a new construction project popping up every day, and it looks like that's not about to change in 2026. To kick off the new year, Valley 101 explores what's to come with the help of the development reporter for the Arizona Republic, Corina Vanek. Find out what projects she's keeping an eye on and if the classic company town will be resurrected...

It's that time of year when every state kicks off the new year with its own "ball" drop. North Carolina has the pickle drop. Florida has the shrimp drop. Arizona is no different. The pinecone drop has been an annual tradition in Flagstaff since 1999, but why a pinecone? Valley 101 investigates this unique tradition with the help of its founder, Sam Green. Find out why the pinecone is the staple of...

For most of the country, Christmas time means snow. And it took host Bill Goodykoontz a while to adjust to a warm holiday season. But then Corona came along. And not how you're thinking. This week, we wish you a happy holidays and share a special memory that helped Bill grow accustomed to his new winter weather. Submit your question⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about Phoenix! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

The struggle to park in any busy city can bring stress to commuters and visitors alike. Downtown Phoenix is no different. We've heard the same thing from Phoenicians all the time: There are no parking spots in downtown. This week, Valley 101 explores whether that is true with the help of city representatives and an urban planning expert. Find out why there seem to be fewer and fewer spots and how...

Arizona Highways has chosen its Best Picture of 2025, and surprise, it isn't of the Grand Canyon or Monument Valley - although one of those panoramas did place. This week on Valley 101, host Bill Goodykoontz is taking on a podcasting challenge: use audio to describe a photo. Bill talks to Arizona Highway's photo editor and the big winner about the uniqueness of the photo and the patience it took t...

It might surprise you to know that a good amount of movies have been filmed in Arizona over the decades. And more than just westerns! But what is the "best" movie? That is subjective: a movie you love, someone else might hate and vice versa. So we called in for backup. This week on Valley 101, a podcast about metro Phoenix and beyond, we're joined by a former critic and current communications mana...

It's Thanksgiving week, and Arizonans have food on their mind. Stores are starting to sell out of food. It's the last rush before the big meal. Something that people like to talk about during this season is food rankings. One of the biggest food debates is: What is the best Thanksgiving side? This week on Valley 101, we dive into the rankings with the help of Arizona Republic's dining and food rep...

Love it or hate it, Christmas music has started playing on radio stations and in grocery stores. Beth McDonald hosts "Beth and Friends" on KEZ 99.9 FM. She's been playing Christmas music for 41 years. In the past, she would start after Thanksgiving. This year, she started music on November 5. This week on Valley 101, we explore why Arizonans are asking Beth McDonald to kick off Christmas music ear...