Valley 101

Latest Episodes:

How do you safely hike with dogs in Arizona? Jan 25, 2021

Show notes

Winter in Arizona means peak hiking season. The weather is beautiful, the landscapes are breathtaking and, because of COVID-19, the fact that you can socially distance in the open air while getting in some exercise is an added perk.

But if you take your dogs with you, there are some things you need to know. Maybe you’re new to the Valley and your transplant dog isn’t used to the desert terrain. But even if you’re a long-time resident, we’ve got some tips that you might not know.

Consider this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, a toolkit for how to safely hike with dogs here.

Producer Taylor Seely speaks with Bretta Nelson, a spokesperson for the Arizona Humane Society. Plus, an only-in-Arizona style story about running into a herd of cows while hiking from Valley resident Debi Palestina.

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What's the story behind Arizona's clever highway signs? Jan 18, 2021

Show notes

There are the normal highway signs, ones that feature messages about travel times or road conditions.

Then there are the funny ones. Ones that say things like, "Cut off? Don’t get bad blood. Shake it off” in reference to a Taylor Swift song. Or “Aggressive driving is the path to the dark side,” a nod to “Star Wars.”

Arizona isn't unique in having signs like that. The trend started with the Iowa Department of Transportation, but Arizona Department of Transportation spokesperson Doug Pacey thinks we may have perfected them.

In today's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we're exploring the history of these signs and what it takes to write them. You'll also hear from Mitzie Warner, a Chandler resident who won a safety message writing competition.

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Is there a roller derby scene in Metro Phoenix? Jan 11, 2021

Show notes

If you fell down the TikTok rabbit hole in 2020, odds are you probably came across one or two videos of people roller skating. It's a trend and hobby people took up to get outside during the pandemic.

Valley 101 listener Antonio Moody is a teacher and heard about the exact same trend from his students. Some of them even thought of taking up roller derby. Moody asked the podcast team if there was a roller derby scene in Metro Phoenix.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, producer Maritza Dominguez digs into this community.

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Why does Phoenix have so few cemeteries? Jan 04, 2021

Show notes

If you're a transplant to Arizona from New England, you may have been surprised at the seeming absence of cemeteries in the Phoenix area. After all, they feel like they're located at every corner in some northeastern states.

That's how Christopher Bunce felt when he moved to the Valley in January of 2020. So he submitted a question to Valley 101, our newsroom podcast dedicated to helping Phoenicians better understand the place they call home. He asked, "Why does Phoenix have so few cemeteries?"

Bunce thought it perhaps was because Arizona is a younger state. Cindy Lee, vice president of the Pioneers' Cemetery Association, offers a few other reasons in this week's episode.

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Happy holidays from Valley 101 Dec 28, 2020

Show notes

Hey Valley 101 listeners! We're taking a week off for a little rest and relaxation. Thank you for all of your questions this year! We look forward to answering more of them in 2021. Let us know what's on your mind at valley101podcast.azcentral.com or on Twitter @Valley101pod.

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What's the story behind Arizona's largest Christmas tree? Dec 21, 2020

Show notes

For almost 20 years, the Outlets at Anthem decorated with the largest Christmas tree in Arizona. This year is no exception. Their 70-foot tall white fir tree weighs four tons after it's decorated.

How did that tradition start? And how does the mall know that its tree is the tallest in the state?

Podcast editor Katie O'Connell found out during this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com where we answer the questions you ask about metro Phoenix.

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What makes Arizona such a hot spot for snowbirds? Dec 14, 2020

Show notes

Every winter, Arizona sees an influx of retirees that from out of state. They come to enjoy our mild sunny winters and to escape their snowy season. Many come from Midwestern states like Minnesota or Wisconsin.

But what brings snowbirds to Arizona specifically? And once they're here, what's their economic impact on the Valley? In this week's episode, producer Maritza Dominguez digs into this phenomenon.

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What was Barry Goldwater's legacy in American politics? Dec 07, 2020

Show notes

Barry Goldwater was a businessman, a Phoenix city councilman, and a prominent U.S. Senator from Arizona. He loved flying his plane across the state's diverse landscapes, and most would say he was a pretty good photographer.

In the biggest race of his life, the 1964 presidential election, Goldwater lost significantly to Democrat Lyndon Baines Johnson. LBJ walked away with 61.1% of the popular vote and 486 electoral votes, leaving Goldwater with 52.

So why has Goldwater been called the face of modern conservatism? Why have some historians credited him for paving the way for Republican Party icon Ronald Reagan?

That's the subject of this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, that answers questions you ask about metro Phoenix. Producer Taylor Seely journeys through Goldwater's life with historians Michael Rubinoff and Brooks Simpson, stopping in at key moments in Goldwater's timeline that help explain his impact on contemporary U.S. politics.

In this episode you'll hear:

How growing up in Arizona and taking over the family business amid President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal programs shaped Goldwater's political ideology.
Why Goldwater got involved in politics in the first place, starting with Phoenix City Council.
What made Goldwater unique for his time, and how his political brand redirected the Republican Party's ideological trajectory.
How Goldwater's conservatism compares to the conservatism of today.

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Why do houses in the Valley have pools, but not basements? Nov 30, 2020

Show notes

Cooling off during the summer months is no easy feat.

While people in other parts of the country may retreat to the cooler depths of their basements, that's not an option here in Phoenix. Rather, it's not a popular option.

Instead, folks across the Valley take a dip in a pool to find some relief.

But why is that? Why do houses here tend to have pools instead of basements? Podcast editor Katie O'Connell found out the answer in this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com.

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FAQs about Phoenix Sky Harbor answered Nov 23, 2020

Show notes

For the first time, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport ranked number one in J.D. Power's 2020 North America airport satisfaction study. This made Valley 101 listener Gregory Yost wonder: why? What made the airport so satisfying to customers?

This wasn't the first question about Phoenix Sky Harbor submitted to the team. Producer Maritza Dominguez teamed up with travel reporter Melissa Yeager to answer your questions about the local airport. They also answer questions about the safety of flying amid a global pandemic and why Sky Harbor doesn’t offer more international flights.

In this episode you'll hear from:

Michael Taylor, a representative with J.D. Power
Brian Znotins, the vice president of network and schedule planning with American Airlines
Kacey Ernst, a University of Arizona professor in the College of Public Health and an infectious disease epidemiologist

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