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.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 411 episodes
- Is Route 66 still the Mother Road? · 13 minRoute 66 is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The historic road has changed a lot over the years, but its stories and communities keep its legacy alive. This week on Valley…
- Are Arizona's elections safe? · 13 minArizona used to be an afterthought when it came to elections, but now the state has more eyes on it then ever. The 2026 midterm election is around the corner, and we have to…
- Is Arizona haunted? · 17 minWhen you think of scary places, a spooky oak tree or a cemetery might come to mind. But is Arizona a haunted state? The summer heat might be terrifying but there are actually…
- Is Four Peaks Brewery really haunted? · 19 minFor people looking to go beyond the brews, Four Peaks Brewery's 8th Street Pub in Tempe offers another annual tradition: their Haunted Brewery Tours. The ale house is thought to…
- What can Arizona's Route 66 dive bars teach us? · 13 minSome of the best stories along Route 66 can be found inside its dive bars. From local legends to a bar with decades of history, these places have plenty of stories to tell. This…
- What is it like to be famous and Hispanic in Arizona? · 17 minHispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate Hispanic culture and identity, but it isn't always easy, especially in the current political and social climate. But what is it…
- Is Scottsdale the perfect place for a reality show? · 15 minWhat happens when you combine Scottsdale, youth baseball and reality TV? You get "Team Moms: Baseball", a new show from Kim Kardashian and the producers of 'Love Island USA'…
- When does fall start in Arizona? · 14 minFall officially arrives at the end of September, but in Arizona, it doesn't feel that way. So when does fall actually start in the valley? This week on Valley 101, we look at…
- Why didn’t any Arizona restaurants earn Michelin stars? · 13 minThe Michelin guide has finally come to Arizona. And not a single Arizonan restaurant received a star. Though many still appeared in the guide, a few even received their own…
- Are backyard pools still a luxury in Arizona? · 12 minTo survive an Arizona summer, most Arizonans escape the head by taking a vacation, staying inside or cooling off in a pool. These days, having a pool at home can feel like a…
- What's with the dead bodies in Lake Mead? · 12 minDead bodies are among the many things being revealed as Lake Mead's water levels continue to drop. So why are bodies being found in Lake Mead? And how many are connected to…
- Are javelinas Arizona's wild pig? · 18 minIf you have been to Arizona, chances are you’ve had a javelina encounter, maybe crossing the street or even hanging out in a backyard. They look a little like pigs, seem to be…
- What happened to Salad and Go? · 15 minSalad and Go was founded in Gilbert in 2013 and quickly became a go-to spot for quick, affordable salads. On Aug. 4, 2026, the chain announced it was filing for Chapter 11…
- How did Rocky Point become Arizona's beach? · 11 minThere is one thing most Arizonans can agree on, we need a beach. While it’s a borderline impossible thought, we are fortunately able to head down to Puerto Peñasco in Sonora…
- What is the mysterious pyramid in Papago Park? · 13 minMost people know Papago Park for the hole in the wall, or the famous Phoenix Zoo, but overlooking it all, on top of a hill, is one of the strangest landmarks in Arizona: a white…
- Is there an Arizona accent? · 10 minSometimes, you can instantly tell where a person is from by the way they speak. A southern drawl or a California vocal fry can give someone away. If you're around it all the…
- Is Arizona a red state? · 12 minElection season is about to heat up in Arizona, and everywhere else in the country. If your mailbox isn't clogged with campaign mailers already, count yourself among the lucky…
- Is Cheese 'n Stuff really Uptown Phoenix's favorite sandwich? · 25 minJust off the corner of Camelback Road and Central Avenue is an old-school deli that's been there for almost 100 years. Cheese 'n Stuff first opened its doors in 1949 — less than…
- What makes an Arizona summer complete? · 18 minArizona summers are known for their crazy high temperatures. The heat can make you want to stay inside, but where’s the summer fun when you’re trapped indoors? On this week’s…
- Is metro Phoenix LGBTQ+ friendly? · 22 minLGBTQ+ rights have changed significantly over time, but progress has not always been a straight line. Something that helps the community is living in a place that is LGBTQ+…
- How can 78 degrees feel so different in Arizona? · 11 minIn Arizona, 78 degrees can feel perfect in the winter and surprisingly cool in the summer. So why does the same temperature feel so different depending on the season? On this…
- What was Arizona like when Juneteenth happened? · 13 minJuneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It’s history is often associated with the South, but what was Arizona like when Juneteenth happened? On this…
- How extreme are Arizona wildfires? · 19 minTo 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…
- Are monsoons still a thing in Arizona? · 14 minUsually 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…
- Are Arizona lakes safe to swim in? · 14 minIt'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…
- What is Valley Fever? · 17 minThere’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…
- Why does Papago Park look like another planet? · 14 minIn 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…
- Who is Arizona's mother? · 14 minMother’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…
- Do people still use swamp coolers in Arizona? · 10 minBack 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…
- Why has Castles N' Coasters lasted while other parks fail? · 15 minCastles 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…
- Why doesn't Route 66 go through Phoenix? · 17 minRoute 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…
- Why does a 'Real Housewives' husband own an Arizona law firm? · 15 minPeople 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…
- Why is there a pool at Chase Field? · 15 minBaseball 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…
- How was The Wave discovered? · 16 minIf 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…
- How many people live in Phoenix? · 16 minPeople 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…
- What time is it actually in Arizona? · 17 minWhat 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…
- Is Cine Capri the best movie theater in Phoenix? · 19 minIn 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…
- Were there Black cowboys in Arizona? · 20 minPeople'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…
- Why is the Nancy Guthrie case uniquely Arizonan? · 35 minOne 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…
- When did Arizona become a state and what took so long? · 17 minWhen 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…
- Did a murder lead to a wishing shrine in Tucson? · 18 minIn 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…
- How does a restaurant stay essential? · 15 minThe 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…
- Why does Arizona have so many specialty license plates? · 13 minFor 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…
- What is it like to bike across Arizona? · 25 minMost 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…
- What are the upcoming projects in the Valley for 2026? · 16 minPhoenix 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…
- How did the Flagstaff Pinecone Drop become an Arizona tradition? · 15 minIt'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…
- Happy Holidays from Valley 101! · 5 minFor 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…
- Does downtown Phoenix have enough parking? · 20 minThe 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…
- Who won Arizona Highway's Best Picture of 2025? · 13 minArizona 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…
- What is the best movie made in Arizona? · 44 minIt 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…
