Valley 101

Latest Episodes:

Why is flight school so popular in Arizona? Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

It is not a secret that Arizona averages more than 300 sunny days per year. It is part of the reason why people move here in the first place. Yes it's hot -- like really hot -- but there are no tornados, hurricanes and most importantly, snow. (for the most part)

But that's not the only reason why Arizona has become a hot spot of future pilots. And it's long history with aviation goes beyond the current rise. The state had the first international airport of the Americas dating all the way back to 1928.

This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we tried to answer the question: Why is flight school so popular in Arizona?

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Do people still move to Arizona for the climate? Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Climate has always been a big deal in Arizona. In a good way, once upon a time, not in a record-heat kind of way.

This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we answer the question: Can people still move to Arizona for the climate and clean air? More importantly, should they? We spoke with a couple of people who know a lot about climate, and climate change: Joan Meiners, a reporter for The Arizona Republic who wrote an excellent story about climate and its role among the five C's; and Amber Sullins, chief meteorologist at ABC 15 in Phoenix.

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What is the most iconic spring training food? Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

The days of cheap seats with a beer and a hot dog in the grass beyond the outfield at a spring training game are long gone. The cheap seats at least, the beer and a hot dog are still there.

But now they've been supplemented by a manner of gourmet options.

This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we talk about the most iconic spring training foods. We spoke with the Arizona Diamondbacks radio announcers Chris Garagiola and the recently retired Greg Schulte, and Teresa Strasser, who wrote “Making It Home: Life Lessons from a Season of Little League."

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Does Sedona actually have vortexes? Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

It’s an easy one-liner to say there are places in the desert that make you feel like you’re on Mars, but the bright red rocks and unique formations in Sedona do feel like you're on another planet.

In the last few decades, Sedona has gotten attention from visitors as one of the premiere places to go for spiritual healing. The new age movement brought flocks of people to its buttes, canyons and trails. This is because of its four famed vortexes.

But what even are they and does Sedona really have them?

This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com about metro Phoenix and beyond, we explore the world of vortexes, if Sedona's claim to fame is real and how it's all impacted longtime Arizona travel writer Roger Naylor.

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How do you say Casa Grande? Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

The pronunciation of "Casa Grande," an Arizona city, has sparked popular debate. Some pronounce it with a distinct "e" sound at the end ("Casa Grande"), while other drop the "e" and say "Casa grand."

This week on Valley 101, a podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com about metro Phoenix and beyond, we talk with former 12 News anchor Vanessa Ruiz and artist and co-owner of True West magazine Bob Boze Bell on the correct pronunciation.

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Who was Arizona civil rights leader, Annie Watkins? Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Like the rest of the county, the 1950s in Arizona were a deeply divided time. Education, housing and public places like hotels and restaurants everywhere were segregated by race.

It might not be the first place people think of when it comes to the civil rights movement, but Arizona had key leaders that drew that attention of national voices like Martin Luther King Jr. Most work was all being done in the Valley. Up north, a recent graduate of the teaching college at Northern Arizona University would change life for Black residents of Flagstaff forever.

Annie Watkins discovered that ballots from Black voters were being thrown away so she turned her education skills into a different sort of teaching. And this was just the beginning of her legacy.

This week on Valley 101, a podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com about metro Phoenix and beyond, we share the life and legacy of Annie Watkins, from her time in Louisiana to an exhibit honoring her strides in integrating Flagstaff.

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Can it snow in Phoenix? Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

It's not as dumb of a question as you might think it is. Once you may have looked out your window and saw the strangest thing. White flakes, falling from the sky! What on earth could this be?

If you’ve lived in metro Phoenix all your life this may take a little explanation.

This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we spoke with Tom Frieders, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix, who answers the question, can it snow in Phoenix?

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Why are there fish in the canals? Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

Not only does the water of the SRP canals help people live in the desert, but it also employs a very important contributor to the community: the white amur fish. Now, you might not immediately think of fish as being important to living in the desert, but this specific kind of grass carp plays a key role in ensuring the water flows smoothly throughout the canals.

Since the canals are surrounded by a major metropolitan area, they tend to end up with some blown-in debris and garbage from city life. This led one of our listeners to ask if it's safe for the fish to be in the canals, and who takes care of the trash that finds its way into them.

This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we hear from a senior environmental scientist from SRP who explains the important job the white amur fish does for metro Phoenix.

Click here for the map of the canal dry-up schedule.

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What is the deal with those scorpion suckers? Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

If you've ever stopped at an airport convenience shop or gassed up at a truck stop or shopped at a gag-gift store, you've seen them: scorpion lollipops.

While they definitely fall into the category of curious novelty, they're also a big business, especially in Arizona. A lot of them are sold in the state, almost certainly more than you would think.

This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we spoke with Larry Peterman, the founder of the fantastically named Hotlix, a California candy company that makes them, and Reia Li, who wrote a story about the suckers in The Arizona Republic.

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What makes a restaurant essential? Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

Metro Phoenix is a vastly underrated dining oasis, with plenty of good food, from fine dining to fine burger joints. Each year, the Arizona Republic releases a list of 100 essential restaurants in the Valley. And by "essential" we don't mean just the places that taste the best, though of course with food taste is pretty essential. These are places that taste good and are also important to the community.

But what does "essential" mean to one of the biggest advocates for Phoenix's dining scene? And how does a restaurant get on the list in the first place?

This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we talked with iconic Phoenix restauranteur Chris Bianco, who has two restaurants on the list, and with Felicia Campbell, the Republic's food, dining and nightlife editor, who helped answer the question.

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