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293 episodes
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Valley 101 The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com
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4.7 • 266 Ratings
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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 @azcpodcasts. Producers of the show are Amanda Luberto and Kaely Monahan.
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How many 'childless cat ladies' live in Arizona?
Vice President nominee JD Vance rubbed some Americans the wrong way when a clip from a 2021 interview surfaced recently. He derided some voters as "childless cat ladies" in a now infamous quote, Vance said the country is run "via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too."
While the comment could be brushed off as political rhetoric, it intrigued The Republic's data reporter, Caitlin McGlade. She wondered just how many childless cat ladies reside in Arizona. Turns out, it's not a small number.
In this episode of Valley 101, we go behind the data with Caitlin and discover just how big a demographic these cat ladies are and whether or not they could be a tipping point in November's election.
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Where does Arizona's political extremism come from?
After the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and after digging into Arizona's prominent role in the plot to overturn the 2020 election, Republic reporters repeatedly heard questions we couldn't quite answer.
What is going on in Arizona?
Why does this state seem to have people willing to push the political envelope further than almost anyone else?
Hosts of Rediscovering season 4, The Roots of Radicalism, join Valley 101 to discuss why extremism is the focus of their four part investigation and how radicalism became so common in the state. Listen to all episodes of Rediscovering season 4 now wherever you listen to podcasts or by going to the season's landing page on azcentral.
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The efforts to grow the film industry in Arizona
In the world where business and film collide, many states have lucrative film tax incentives that attract big production companies to their sites. Arizona's previous tax program closed its curtains in 2010, but a new initiative, the Arizona Motion Picture Program, went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, that reinstated film tax credits if a production meets certain criteria.
Despite the absence of bigger production companies in the Valley, the community of independent filmmakers is going strong. There are many opportunities in the state to showcase one's work, including through various IFP programs and other events, like the Phoenix Film Festival.
This week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, explores the latest developments that have taken place behind the scenes in Arizona's film industry – and why residents won't see the immediate effects.
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Should Arizona be using its limited water on growing weed?
Something Arizonans hear a lot is that we're running out of water. While the state has enough water to not induce complete panic yet, conservation methods are being put into place and Arizona's long-term water supply is being considered more often by policymakers.
The state's water supply comes from three sources: surface water, reclaimed water and groundwater.
These sources are then broken down into three sectors: municipal, industrial and agricultural. Municipal goes toward homes, business buildings and is mainly drinking water. Industrial helps supply things like dairy, mining and golf courses. And agriculture, using about 72% of the water allocation, is used for farming.
But if water is such a precious resource in Arizona, is it really a smart idea to use it to grow marijuana?
This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we talk with Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, to give us a sense of where our water is being used. Then, Jake Ritter of Aeriz, a cannabis brand, shares how their grow is using as little water as possible.
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Is Arizona's Black history being erased?
While it may not be the state first thought of when considering Black history, Arizona has a diverse and rich history of African American stories dating back to the 1800s. Yet most of the archives, stories and icons are not being preserved or celebrated.
Today, about 5% of Arizonans are Black and some community leaders and activists are working to ensure the buried history is uncovered. From academics to faith leaders, a new generation of voices are speaking up about the truth in Arizona's Black history.
This week on Valley 101, Pastor Warren Stewart of the First Institutional Baptist Church, equality consultant Channel Powe, Assistant Archivist of Black Collections at ASU Jessica Salow and ethnic studies professor Anthony Pratcher II are joined together in a round table discussion on the under-acknowledgement of the state's Black history.
Valley 101 is an Arizona Republic and azcentral.com podcast about metro Phoenix and beyond.
Some past Valley 101 episodes about Black history and leaders in Arizona:
Lincoln Ragsdale Sr revolutionized Phoenix
Ayra Hackett: founder of the first Black woman-owned newspaper
Phoenix's history with redlining
Richard E Harris: Arizona's first Black reporter
Arizona's fight for MLK Day recognition
For more, please check out our archives.
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Should all fireworks be legal in Arizona?
Across the nation, Fourth of July is marked by friends and families gathering to watch firework displays – or in some cases, set off their own light shows. Under Arizona law, only some types of fireworks can be legally used and sold during certain times of the year. But some illegal fireworks still make their way into the sky, and it's sparked a debate between Valley residents on what the law should be.
This week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, explores firework regulations in Arizona and the differing perspectives residents hold on the devices, as well as safety tips and injury prevention.
Curious about other happenings in the Valley? Check out our newsletters. Whether you're a political hound, food fanatic, or sports fan, we got the perfect letter to keep you in the loop on all things Arizona. Check it out!
And remember to submit your questions about the Valley and Arizona to Valley101.azcentral.com. Your question just might be the subject of our next episode.
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Customer Reviews
Lived in Phoenix for 70 years. Still learning new and interesting things
A
Nice mix of news and features
Valley 101
Just the right thing for an expat Arizonan
Wonderful Snapshots of a Wonderful Place
I grew up in Phoenix and long since moved away. These little snippets feel like coming home and remind me of what a wonderful and unique place we have in the Valley of the Sun. Keep up the great work!