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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... more

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Artwork for Valley 101

Latest Episodes

Arizona used to be an afterthought when it came to elections, but now the state has more eyes on it then ever.

The 2026 midterm election is around the corner, and we have to know: Are Arizona elections safe?

This week on Valley 101, we talk to Step... more

When you think of scary places, a spooky oak tree or a cemetery might come to mind.

But is Arizona a haunted state? The summer heat might be terrifying but there are actually plenty of ghosts haunting the desert.

This week on Valley 101 we sit down... more

For people looking to go beyond the brews, Four Peaks Brewery's 8th Street Pub in Tempe offers another annual tradition: their Haunted Brewery Tours.

The ale house is thought to be one of the most haunted places in the Valley. But is it the paranorm... more

Some of the best stories along Route 66 can be found inside its dive bars. From local legends to a bar with decades of history, these places have plenty of stories to tell.

This week on Valley 101, our host, Bill Goodykoontz, takes a roadtrip to le... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Stephanie Murray
National politics reporter for The Arizona Republic and co-host of The Gaggle
The Arizona Republic
Episode: Are Arizona's elections safe?
Debe Branning
Paranormal investigator, author of books about haunted places, and director of MVD Ghostchasers
MVD Ghostchasers
Episode: Is Arizona haunted?
Eddie Fontanez
Arizona Republic reporter who writes about food, dining and Halloween
The Arizona Republic
Episode: Is Arizona haunted?
Carter Nacke
Resident ghost expert and pub events manager at Four Peaks Brewing
Four Peaks Brewing
Episode: Is Four Peaks Brewery really haunted?
Drew Gill
Investigator and cameraman for the Phoenix, Arizona Paranormal Society
Phoenix, Arizona Paranormal Society
Episode: Is Four Peaks Brewery really haunted?
Vanessa Ruiz
President of Bare Fruit, nonprofit fundraising consultant
Bare Fruit
Episode: What is it like to be famous and Hispanic in Arizona?
Armando Hernandez
Restauranteur, chef, and entrepreneur
Chivas Hospitality / Tacos Chivas
Episode: What is it like to be famous and Hispanic in Arizona?
Dina Kaur
Reality show expert at the Arizona Republic
Arizona Republic
Episode: Is Scottsdale the perfect place for a reality show?
Paola Boivin
Pioneering women's sports journalist, professor at Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Episode: Is Scottsdale the perfect place for a reality show?

Host

Bill Goodykootz
Host of Valley 101 (journalist for The Arizona Republic / azcentral.com) with deep ties to regional storytelling and local history.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 346 ratings
  • Excellent storytelling!

    I love the diversity of the content and every episode is really educational and engaging. I’ve lived in Arizona for 33 years and have learned so many things from this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MelissaDflip
    United States5 months ago
  • Good info for travelers

    My family all live in AZ , so it’s fun to visit and have some knowledge of the things that make AZ special. Well researched and well presented material.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bburg lady
    United States6 months ago
  • Phoenician In the Jungle

    Every episode truly brings me joy to listen to. Growing up in downtown Phoenix (Central Park!) and now living in São Paulo Brazil, every episode here just makes me happy to learn more about Home. Gives me that loving nostalgia that reminds me that Arizona really is an amazing place. Thank you everyone and keep up the amazing work you do day in and day out. You’re really appreciated down south of the equator here!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bebes360
    Brazila year ago
  • Excellent episode

    I loved the episode about best Arizona movies. Agree with the pics and also have a few new movies to check out!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hannahdancer2
    United Statesa year ago
  • Excellent journalism

    This is an information based podcast. It is unbiased and does not humor conspiracy theories. These journalists have integrity and it shows. Plus it's very entertaining!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kaiser Soso
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners feel production and narration could be more polished for broader appeal.
Audience appreciates the mix of history, culture, and current events and the newsroom credibility.
Consistent emphasis on Arizona-specific topics makes it a go-to for residents and newcomers alike.
Shows strong local focus with accessible storytelling and credible guests.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Are Arizona's elections safe?
Q: How do we make people trust something that has demonstrably been trustworthy? How do you make them believe that?
Murray says there is no simple answer, but transparency, public access to election procedures, ballot-tracking texts, and reporting on how votes are handled can help build trust.
Are Arizona's elections safe?
Q: Are Arizona elections safe?
Stephanie Murray says they are safe: extensive reviews have found no evidence of widespread fraud, though elections are not perfect.
Is Arizona haunted?
Q: So, if Arizona is haunted, then who are some of the most famous ghosts in the state?
Branning names reported spirits at the San Carlos Hotel, the Gila County Jail in Globe and the Copper Queen Hotel in Bisbee. She questions the Copper Queen's Julia Lowell story, saying the name may have been invented for a hotel event.
Is Arizona haunted?
Q: What is a ghost exactly? What makes something haunted?
Branning describes a ghost as energy left behind by a person after death, which people may sense, see or hear.
Is Four Peaks Brewery really haunted?
Q: How can you prove that there are ghosts at Four Peaks, or do they just make for a good excuse to get people to the brewery in October?
Drew Gill says his team investigates without advance information, reviews audio and video, follows up with owners about findings, and tries to debunk evidence before concluding a place is haunted.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Valley 101

What is Valley 101 about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show tackles questions about the Phoenix metro area with a journalistic lens, mixing history, culture, science, and current events. Recent episodes span Rocky Point tourism and cross-border dynamics, local landmarks like Papago Park, linguistic quirks and accents, Arizona politics and civic life, and practical topics from weather and climate to public health and water safety. Guests range from university researchers and city officials to local business owners and subject-matter experts, creating a blend of archival context, on-the-ground experience, and expert analysis. The format often blends personal anecdotes with data-driven insights, making complex regional topics approachable for a broad audience. A notable strength is the show's... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Valley 101?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Valley 101:

1. The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast
2. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
3. The Daily
4. Up First from NPR
5. Here & Now Anytime

How many episodes of Valley 101 are there?

Valley 101 launched 8 years ago and published 410 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Valley 101?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Valley 101?

Recent guests on Valley 101 include:

1. Stephanie Murray
2. Debe Branning
3. Eddie Fontanez
4. Carter Nacke
5. Drew Gill
6. Vanessa Ruiz
7. Armando Hernandez
8. Dina Kaur

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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