Valley 101

Latest Episodes:

How heat domes help generate Arizona's monsoons Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

With Phoenix already experiencing temperatures over 110, many of us are wondering "when will the monsoons start?"

Officially, monsoon season kicks off June 15. But most of us want to know when the rains will come. That depends on how hot it gets. While we might be suffering under a heat dome, the high temps are drawing up moisture from south of the border. And that's what we need if we're going to see rain.

The podcast team sits down with state climatologist Erinanne Saffel to find out how, where, and when monsoon rains will come to Arizona.

Are you a fan of Valley 101? Support our work by subscribing to azcentral.com. Also, if you have a question for the team about the Valley, send it to us at valley101.azcentral.com. Your question just might be the subject our next episode.

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An ode to Arizona columnist Clay Thompson, the original Valley 101 respondent Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

One of the most recognizable writing styles in Arizona history came from Clay Thompson.

The Iowa transplant captured the hearts of readers with his Valley 101 column in the Arizona Republic for almost 20 years. Punctuated by the iconic Rodin statue, "The Thinker," Thompson wrote thousands of quippy columns and answered questions from readers about everything from cactuses to hiccups.

Thompson's writing style was recognizable and even bordered on snarky, calling his bosses "masters" and referring to readers as "you people."

About a year after he passed, this podcast was born to carry on the great work that he created. It was formed to help newcomers and natives alike better understand what makes Arizona so unique. Similarly to podcasting, Thompson had a way to speak directly to an audience.

As Valley 101 rounds closer to its 300th episode, Julia Wallace, Ed Montini and Arizona Republic reporter Richard Ruelas reflect on what made Thompson special and highlight the service he did for Arizona journalism.

In this episode you can hear readings from "Great Big Book of Life," "Occupy Gooberville" and "Try Not to Worry About It," collections of his columns.

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Where to cool off this Memorial Day May 27, 2024

Show notes

Happy Memorial Day!

The podcast team is enjoying the holiday weekend. So we want to reshare one of our most popular episodes to kick off the summer: five of the best places to beat the heat in the Valley.

hosts Kaely Monahan and Amanda Luberto hash out their top picks for spots to beat the heat. Plus they explore pools of the past and the new water attractions coming to Phoenix.

Let us know if you visit any of these spots, found new ones, or miss some old ones!

Submit your stories and Arizona questions to valley101.azcentral.com.

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Protect your home from wildfires with these practical and affordable tips May 20, 2024

Show notes

Wildfire season historically starts just before monsoon season. However, the period during which a wildfire can occur is now widening and bringing with it more severe blazes near the Valley. In Arizona, wildfires were once expected from late April into the monsoon season. Now fires can start from late February or early March into September.

Climate change is linked to higher-severity fires, and insurance shouldn't be your only protection. Having a safety plan, fortifying your home, and making small but meaningful changes can mean the difference between a house surviving a blaze or burning down.

In this episode of Valley 101, producers Kaely Monahan and Katrina Michalak, explore the ways Arizonans can prepare for wildfires and help fight the bigger challenge of climate change – while debunking some misconceptions about wildfires.

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Tell us your Arizona 5 C's stories May 13, 2024

Show notes

The 5 C's are something all Arizona children learn at one point or another. Cotton, citrus, cattle, copper, and climate have long been advertised as positive reasons to come to Arizona. Each of these "C's" represents an important aspect of Arizona's economy. Or at least they did.

Perhaps more important than the 5 C's themselves is the cultural role they play. Even now, students in classrooms across the state are learning about the 5 C's.

In this episode of Valley 101, we ask you what the 5 C's mean to you. Perhaps you have a memory of orange orchards in bloom or driving by miles of cotton fields.

Producer Kaely Monahan sits down with climate reporter Joan Meiners to discuss a large project our environment team is working on. And we want to include you.

Share your Arizona 5 C's memories with us in this survey.

Listen to our previous episodes on the 5 C's here.

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What kind of bees are in Arizona? More than 1,300 types. Here's why May 06, 2024

Show notes

It's not often you see a "bee delay" at a baseball game.

But that's exactly what happened at the Arizona Diamondbacks-LA Dodgers game on April 30. A swarm of honeybees decided to make camp on the netting behind home plate at Chase Field.

It became a hero moment for beekeeper Matt Hilton. He even has his own baseball card now.

But Arizona's native bees would never swarm like those honeybees. In fact, Arizona doesn't have any bee species that build a hive or make honey. And that's because the Western Honeybee, also called the European Honeybee, is an invasive species.

Worldwide, there are around 20,000 described bee species. Across the U.S. there are roughly 4,000 known species. And Arizona, more specifically the Sonoran desert, is home to at least 15% of bee species.

"Pretty much anytime you try to do a survey anywhere in Arizona, you find new species all the time compared to any other sampled region on the planet," said Tanner Bland, the Tucson Bee Collaborative program coordinator. "Currently the Sonoran desert seems to be the most biodiverse (bee) region on the planet."

The majority of Arizona's bees are solitary individuals that don't build hives. And they sometimes come in brilliant colors including reds, purples, greens and blues.

Hear all the bee facts in this episode of Valley 101.

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Why doesn't Phoenix have a Disneyland? Apr 29, 2024

Show notes

With summer around the corner for Arizona residents, the opportunity presents itself to spend more time at amusement parks and on thrilling rides. However, the theme park scene in the metro Phoenix is scarce — and there are only 10 operating roller coasters across the entire state.

With a growing population in the Valley and potential space, why doesn't Arizona boast its own version of a Disneyland?

This week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, pays a visit to both the past and the future to explain the different variables that factor into developing a theme park in the Valley, and how challenges inhibit Arizona's creation of a Disneyland-esque park all its own.

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What can I recycle in metro Phoenix? Depends on where you live. Apr 21, 2024

Show notes

Happy Earth Day from Valley 101. Today we're resharing our episode on recycling in the Valley. You might have noticed that not every city recycles equally.

Different cities within the Valley have different rules. Why is that? Why is there not an across-the-board set of items you can and can't recycle?

In this episode of Valley 101, Amanda Luberto breaks down the reasons why where you live affects how and what you can recycle.

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Cine Capri was an iconic movie experience in Phoenix, so what happened? Apr 15, 2024

Show notes

When the Cine Capri theater opened in the mid-1960s, going to the movies was a glamorous event.

It was for families, but it was also for lavish decor and a deserved night out. Before the multiplex, one movie a night would be on display.

It was a high time for films. And here in Phoenix, George M. Aurelius wanted to expand his theater business as that type of theater was going out of style.

They were ready to design a state-of-the-art facility that would blend in well in Uptown Phoenix and also adapt to the changing film distribution style happening at the time.

This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we draw back the curtains on the history of the Cine Capri theater, how it adapted in the 2000s and its current status as home to the Phoenix Film Festival.

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Are my solar eclipse glasses legit? Apr 08, 2024

Show notes

While exciting, one should never look directly at the sun, even during a solar eclipse. Instead, make sure you pick up some approved solar eclipse glasses. In recent years, there has been a rise in counterfeit eclipse glasses being sold.

So how do you know if the ones you have are real?

In this episode of Valley 101, producer Kaely Monahan sits down with the Republic's Ultimate Arizona reporter, Tiffany Acosta to chat eclipse safety, viewing spots, and more.

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