Valley 101 Podcast
1) Is Cine Capri the best movie theater in Phoenix?
In this day and age, there are so many options on where to see a movie. If you want dinner and a show, there's a theater. If you want arthouse, there's a theater. The Valley even has 4 regulated IMAX ...Show More
2) Were there Black cowboys in Arizona?
People's impression of cowboys is largely due to Hollywood. Actors like John Wayne, Gary Cooper and Clint Eastwood cemented the image of the rugged, handsome, White cowboys throughout their films. Wh...Show More
3) Why is the Nancy Guthrie case uniquely Arizonan?
One of the interesting things about the Guthrie story is that it is so deeply rooted in Arizona. Obviously it's taking place here; Guthrie's home is north of Tucson, and the desert landscaping has pl...Show More
4) When did Arizona become a state and what took so long?
When did Arizona become a state? The answer is easy enough to find. What’s more interesting is how Arizona became a state, and even more interesting than that, what took so long. This week on Valle...Show More
5) Did a murder lead to a wishing shrine in Tucson?
In an unassuming dirt patch in Tucson's Barrio Viejo sits a shrine that is said to grant wishes. But this altar is not like most. It sits at the site of a brutal murder that happened when a love affa...Show More
6) How does a restaurant stay essential?
The Arizona Republic has once again come up with a list of 100 Essential Restaurants in the Valley. Like every year, there are some iconic must-visits alongside some new places. Discovery is a big par...Show More
7) Why does Arizona have so many specialty license plates?
For some people, a license plate can be something more. It's a way for some drivers to express themselves, whether through witty (and not so witty) words and names and such, or through a speciality p...Show More
8) What is it like to bike across Arizona?
Most of us have seen parts of Arizona. Some of us have even seen most of Arizona. But Joan? Joan has seen all of Arizona top to bottom. In 2025, the Arizona Republic's climate reporter rode her bike ...Show More
9) What are the upcoming projects in the Valley for 2026?
Phoenix is constantly expanding. It seems like there's a new construction project popping up every day, and it looks like that's not about to change in 2026. To kick off the new year, Valley 101 exp...Show More
10) How did the Flagstaff Pinecone Drop become an Arizona tradition?
It's that time of year when every state kicks off the new year with its own "ball" drop. North Carolina has the pickle drop. Florida has the shrimp drop. Arizona is no different. The pinecone drop ...Show More