Valley 101

Latest Episodes:

Happy Holidays from the Valley 101 team! Dec 27, 2021

Show notes

Happy holidays, listeners! The Valley 101 team is off for the rest of the year. Today we have a few past stories to highlight to continue the holiday spirit. We look forward to answering more questions and telling more stories in 2022. Feel free to follow the podcast on twitter @ a-z-c-podcasts and subscribe wherever you get your shows.

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Holidays in the desert: The tale of Christmas, Arizona Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

On the southern edge of Gila County, snuggled into a valley surrounded by in the mountains, there is a town called Christmas. Now, the town of Christmas is a ghost town, but in the 1930s it had about 1,000 residents and a very popular post office.

While people from all over the world would visit the post office to get the highly desired postmark at the holidays, the residents of Christmas lived there because of the copper mining.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we are joined by retired geologist David Briggs to tell you the history of the Christmas mine and the coveted post office in its town.

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Untraditional Holiday Food Traditions Dec 13, 2021

Show notes

Festive feasting is one of the highlights of the holiday season. Many people in the U.S. traditionally enjoy a juicy ham or golden turkey and popular culture has reaffirmed those dishes.

But there are those who enjoy foods that speak of their heritage and family traditions. Festive foods are a big part of holiday gatherings. It just wouldn’t be the holidays without that one special dish you have only this time of the year.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, producer Kaely Monahan asks some of Phoenix’s foodies to share their untraditional food traditions.

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What gems, rocks and minerals can you find in Arizona Dec 06, 2021

Show notes

Have you ever been on a hike, a walk or a stroll in the Arizona mountains and came across an interesting looking rock? Did you take out your phone and browse the internet to find out what kind of rock you found?

If so, you just might be a rockhound.

Rockhounding is the recreational study and collection of rocks, minerals and gems. Some rockhounds, or amateur geologists, find that Arizona's vast mountain ranges and developed mines are great places to explore for interesting and unique rocks.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we share what you can find, where to look for it, and the regulations you need to know while rockhounding.

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ZooLights: Transforming from wild land to wonderland Nov 29, 2021

Show notes

Still picking at Thanksgiving leftovers, we here at AZ Central’s Podcast team turn to the end of year holidays. Hanukkah has begun, and Christmas is just around the corner. Unlike much of the country, we celebrate our holidays in light jackets and flip flops. No snow for us in the Valley of the Sun.

But we’re still able to get into the holiday spirit just as easily as our wintery neighbors with our local traditions – snow or not!

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, our producer Kaely Monahan went on a search for some holiday cheer, Phoenix style. So, gather up the kids and hot chocolate, for a Christmas tale unlike the others you have heard as we take a walk into the world of ZooLights.

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Before the Pilgrims, there was Fray Marcos de Niza Nov 22, 2021

Show notes

Most of us are familiar with the story of Thanksgiving. In 1620, a ship called The Mayflower traveled from Plymouth, England to the New World in search of religious separation and a fresh start. In 1621, they enjoyed a bountiful meal after the harvest with the Wampanoag tribe, expressing their gratitude for helping them learn to survive in their new home.

Many of us might believe that this was the first interaction between European settlers and Indigenous peoples who lived in what is now America. But long before the Pilgrims set foot on Plymouth Rock, there was an explorer who walked the Arizona land and interacted with its people.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we share with you the story of the Franciscan friar, Marcos de Niza, and his relationship with the Indigenous peoples of the Southwest.

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Why do saguaros only grow in the Sonoran Desert? Nov 15, 2021

Show notes

When you think of Arizona, what comes to mind? Sprawling deserts or urban sprawl? The Grand Canyon or the mighty White Mountains? Hollywood has painted our state as a wild, uncivilized frontier filled with dangers and adventure.

Rugged landscapes split by sharp mountains and dotted with scraggly brush, and the sentinel of the desert. The saguaro cactus.

Found only in the Sonoran Desert, the saguaro cactus has a shallow but wide root network – snaking outwards in the hunt for water rather than burrowing deep into the earth. Its roots are often as wide as the cactus is tall creating a firm base to stabilize its towering height. The saguaro's thick, waxy, green skin helps retain water and they hold their breathe all day to make sure they don't lose moisture. They are an Arizona icon and provide essential resources for desert dwellers.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we venture out into the desert to discover why saguaros only grow in the Sonoran Desert.

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Where are all the water towers in Phoenix? Nov 08, 2021

Show notes

Arizona is known for being a transplant state. For some, it was the attraction of the warm winters and beautiful mountain views that brought them to the Valley. For others, well, maybe it was their job or simply they just needed a change.

Regardless, a lot of people who now call Arizona home didn't grow up in the Valley of the Sun. And maybe after a while you begin to realize, you're not in Kansas anymore.

Like a listener who submitted a question to the Valley 101 team. He said that he’s lived in other states before moving to Arizona. He wondered why those places used water towers in their communities, but they weren't common in Phoenix.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we investigate why metro Phoenix lacks water towers and search for a town that still uses a water tower today.

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How Arizona became a golf destination Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

In Arizona, there are over 300 golf courses and more than 200 of them can be found in metro Phoenix. According to a study commissioned by the Arizona Alliance for Golf, in 2019 more than 10 million rounds of golf were played in the state.

The state is largely seen as a golf destination, but how did that happen?

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, producer Maritza Dominguez breaks down how golf's popularity grew in the Valley.

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West Nile virus in Arizona Oct 25, 2021

Show notes

The number of West Nile virus cases in Arizona continues to grow, making 2021 a record year for cases. As the number of probable and confirmed cases rise, Maricopa County is working on prevention methods.

Cases of West Nile can range from mild to severe. This year, the number of severe cases is also on the rise.

So what is West Nile virus, and how is it being prevented and researched?

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, producer Alexandra Watts answers questions about West Nile virus in the state and why the number of cases is increasing this year.

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