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PODCAST

Valley 101

The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com

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

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All Episodes

15:43

BONUS: Coronavirus FAQs answered

Valley 101 ·

2020/03/19

Stories about the new coronavirus are inescapable right now. The Valley 101 podcast team understands that can be overwhelming and difficult to parse through. So this week we're releasing a 15-minute bonus episode answering the essential frequently-asked questions about COVID-19. In this episode, health-care reporter Stephanie Innes tells you what you need to know to keep yourself and your family safe and informed during the outbreak. Here's what we answer: What's the difference between the

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19:42

What is valley fever? And what are its symptoms?

Valley 101 ·

2020/03/16

Each year when monsoon season hits, so do the headlines about valley fever. But what is valley fever? The answer lies in our soil. There's a type of fungus that lives in the first few inches of the soil in the southwest. When that fungus dries, it turns into microscopic spores. When those spores are swept up in haboobs, we run the risk of breathing them in, which could lead to an infection in our lungs. And it's not just humans who are at risk. Our pets can develop valley fever too. In this week's

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14:30

What's a haboob and when did we start using that word?

Valley 101 ·

2020/03/09

During monsoon season, from June to September, large dust storms often overwhelm Arizona. The storms grow more severe when the preceding spring and winter seasons are dry, which allows dirt to loosen. When dust storms hit certain criteria, they're considered "haboobs." Haboob is an Arabic word that essentially means big, blasting winds, according to Andrew Deemer, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Phoenix and former linguist. In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast that

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11:59

What buildings are the most iconic in the Phoenix...

Valley 101 ·

2020/03/02

For this week's episode, we're tackling a more subjective question, "What buildings would you say are the most iconic in the Phoenix skyline?" There are a few ways to approach this question, from either an aesthetic standpoint or by evaluating a building's history. But, thanks to the help of some expert sources, we've crowned one building the winner. Listen to this week's episode, produced by podcast editor Katie O'Connell, to find out which one. In this episode you'll hear: Alison King,

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12:55

Does light pollution threaten the night sky and human...

Valley 101 ·

2020/02/24

The creation of the light bulb in 1879 would forever shape our homes, streets and offices. But by the 1950s, light pollution became a concern, as it effects both natural ecosystems and human health. In fact, studies have shown that light pollution can be linked to breast cancer. Today, the future of Arizona's dark sky could be threatened by light pollution. It's an issue dark sky advocates are working to ease. This week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and

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22:02

Why do so many Arizona mountains have letters on them?

Valley 101 ·

2020/02/17

There are at least seven mountains in Maricopa County with letters whitewashed on the side. Have you ever wondered why they were put in? Or when? We'll give you one hint: It comes down to more than just community pride. This week, Valley 101 digs into the history behind the "

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18:23

Why are there rumors about a U.F.O. crash landing at...

Valley 101 ·

2020/02/10

Anne Ferraioli grew up in Phoenix, but she said she never paid much attention to Dreamy Draw Dam. Then she noticed there wasn't any water in it. And when she started looking into it, the results were surprising. Ferraioli found article after article about a possible U.F.O. landing site at the dam. What she didn't find was much information about its actual history. Given the curious results, Ferraioli asked the Valley 101 podcast to dig into Dreamy Draw Dam's history. Podcast editor Katie

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18:07

What's it like to be homeless in Maricopa County?

Valley 101 ·

2020/02/03

The stories of how someone became or experiences homelessness are incredibly varied. Lawrence Small, 41, has been homeless for two months after experiencing domestic violence. But this isn't his first time experiencing homelessness. He was also homeless in Seattle when he was 34 years old. "Seattle is different from Phoenix," Small said. "Seattle, they help homeless people out there. The housing, jobs. Phoenix don't do it." Homelessness continues to rise across the Valley. In 2019, there were at

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9:08

Lovebirds in Arizona: How did they get here? Are they...

Valley 101 ·

2020/01/27

The next time you're beneath a palm tree, see if you can spot a small green bird with a peach-colored face hanging out in its fronds. Those are feral rosy-faced lovebirds. Metro Phoenix is home to roughly 2,000 of them, although they're originally from Africa. A wild lovebird population started growing here in the mid-1980s. Their appearance created confusion and curiosity among local residents, especially those in the birding community. So just how did they get here? This week's episode of Valley

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12:30

Why can't planes fly when it's too hot in Phoenix?

Valley 101 ·

2020/01/20

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport grounded flights due to extreme heat for the first time in 1990. It happened again more recently in 2013 and 2017. But why can't planes fly in certain temperatures? Turns out, it has to do with performance data provided by plane manufacturers and airline safety procedures. For more on what exactly that means, listen to this week's episode of Valley 101 podcast. In this episode, you'll hear: What it was like in 1990 when Phoenix Sky Harbor grounded

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21:42

Who are some celebrities from Arizona?

Valley 101 ·

2020/01/13

Celebrities. You love 'em or you hate 'em. Or, you love to hate 'em. We on the Valley 101 podcast team have a few we just absolutely gush over. We're sure we're not swayed by the fact that they're from Arizona. This week, Katie O'Connell, Maritza Dominguez and Taylor Seely each share their favorite celebrity with local ties, plus stories of how the Valley inspired or shaped them. In this episode, you'll hear: How growing up in Arizona David Hallberg into a resilient world-class ballet

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21:17

What’s it like to be an adult with autism in metro...

Valley 101 ·

2020/01/06

Autism is often seen as a “kid’s disorder,” meaning the focus is on helping children – but where does that leave autistic adults? We talked with leaders in the Valley’s autism community about the “services cliff” people with autism often experience at the age of 21 and what Arizona is doing about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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2:19

Happy New Year from Valley 101 (but we're off this week)

Valley 101 ·

2019/12/30

We spent most of 2019 exploring the Valley thanks to your questions. We'll be back in 2020 with more. Submit your question today at valley101podcast.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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21:12

Copper, cattle and climate: Why are these included in...

Valley 101 ·

2019/12/23

Citrus, cotton, copper, cattle and climate — these are the five Cs of Arizona. They're the five economic drivers that transformed Arizona from a small cowboy town to a growing metropolis. In this episode, you'll hear: How copper helped grow the population in Arizona, and how it's still a major industry in the state. How the cattle industry grew in Arizona and why it's still a major industry despite its downturn post-peak downturn How Arizona has leveraged its climate to attract tourists in the

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21:07

In 'Wallace and Ladmo,' Phoenix had one of the most...

Valley 101 ·

2019/12/16

Did you know that Phoenix had one of the most successful local children's shows of all time? "The Wallace and Ladmo Show" ran from 1954 to 1989, collecting fans like Steven Spielberg and Alice Cooper along the way. What made the show a success was its dark humor. Yes, it was a kids' show, but it featured characters like Aunt Maud, who liked reading tragic stories to children. Or Marshall Good, an unemployed "cowboy" from New Jersey who had never ridden a horse. Kids may have tuned in for the

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16:11

How did Phoenix get controversial giant pots as a...

Valley 101 ·

2019/12/09

In the 1990s, Phoenix was in a public controversy over the public art project called Wall Cyle to Ocotillo. The country was going through a recession and the local residents were mad. Mad about the taxpayer money spent on the art, mad about the look of the pots, and mad the city choose out-of-state artists. Eventually the public argument died down, but the curiosity about the project didn't. Almost thirty years later, Phoenix residents still have questions. This week on Valley 101, a podcast from

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19:44

Where do real Christmas trees in Arizona come from?

Valley 101 ·

2019/12/02

Metro Phoenix isn’t exactly the idyllic location for Christmas. There’s no snow for building snowmen, the sweaters are often more for aesthetic than necessity, and the hot cocoa? Well, let’s just say Starbucks still keeps their plastic cups fully stocked. But at the very least, locals can create their own holiday wonderland by decorating their homes, hanging twinkle lights, and ornamenting a Christmas tree. Those opting for a real Christmas tree may find themselves wondering: If we live in a

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20:54

What's the cake-shaped castle by Loop 202 freeway?

Valley 101 ·

2019/11/25

It looks like a tiered wedding cake and is even painted a soft yellow like buttercream. Listen to learn its century-old history (and how to get tour tickets). Click here to see photos and video from inside Tovrea Castle. Note: Those are only for subscribers to azcentral.com. You can subscribe at azcentral.com/join. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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15:48

Why is cotton one of Arizona's 5 Cs?

Valley 101 ·

2019/11/18

Last week, our Valley 101 podcast explored Arizona's five Cs, focusing on citrus and its decline. This week, podcast editor Katie O'Connell digs in on another crop: cotton. The plant was included in the five Cs after its boom in World War I, but it's struggled in recent decades. To uncover more on cotton and its role in our state's identity, Katie spoke to Ron and Russ Rayner, a father-son duo who operate farms in the West Valley. Their consensus was clear. Cotton is still a vital part of the

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13:05

Why is citrus one of the 5 Cs of Arizona? What led to...

Valley 101 ·

2019/11/11

If you grew up in Arizona as a young kid, chances are you learned about the five Cs of Arizona in school. But if you didn’t, maybe you’ve heard about them and wondered how they came to be. What are those five Cs? How did Arizona even get this alliteration? This week on Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we dive into the history of the five C's and answer the listener-submitted question, "what happened to derail the citrus industry in Arizona?" We also dig deeper into

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