Arizona has been the backdrop to many movies. From John Wayne westerns to a wacky adventure with Bill and Ted, our state is tinged with the sparkle of Hollywood. One of the romanticized spots in our state is Route 66 and it was the main inspiration for Disney-Pixar's "Cars."

In this episode of Valley 101, we follow the sites that made Radiator Springs.

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The Arizona Republic podcast team is out for the holiday weekend. Instead, we have a trailer for Season 3 of Rediscovering, an investigative podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, available for you to listen to.

Rediscovering: Killed Through the Border Fence features the story of a cross-border shooting that would upend lives and change the way the U.S. Border Patrol operates forever.

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As you drive around the Phoenix area, you'll notice some special scenery. 

t's the environment that makes this city remarkable, from the different varieties of cactuses and the surrounding desert mountains to relics of our history and reflections of the cultures that have thrived here.

One person in particular ensured that the Phoenix area was home to buildings significant and beautiful that reflected the terroir around them. 

That person was Frank Lloyd Wright.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we plot out a treasure map of architectural gems by the genius himself and share how his dedication to the desert landscape inspired the work he did here.

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Phoenix has blue skies for days. About 300 of them, actually. Arizona ranks as the sunniest region in the whole United States. And that makes for great flying conditions. It also explains, in part, why there are so many flight schools in our state. 

But what about when the storms do roll in? How do pilots navigate monsoonal weather? And how do these storms affect operations at Sky Harbor Airport?

In this episode of Valley 101, producer Kaely Monahan is joined by Tim Holt, Dean of the College of Aviation, at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, and her father, now retired airline pilot, Michael Monahan, to discuss aviation in Arizona.

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Cotton, cattle, climate, copper, and citrus. These have been the driving forces of Arizona’s economy for generations. Flora and fauna and industries that do very well in our arid desert. 

While the 5 C’s won’t quickly become the 5 C’s and an O, there is another overlooked product that has nonetheless taken root here.

Olives.

Olive trees are among some of the oldest agricultural trees in the state from the Valley all the way down to the University of Arizona in Tucson. 

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we explore the ways olive trees and their fruits have thrived in the desert for over 100 years.

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A rebroadcast of a 2019 episode:

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 cartoon, but high schoolers and their parents got the more offbeat jokes. 

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast from The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, podcast editor Katie O'Connell explores the history of this Valley original.

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One of the most popular ways to beat the heat is with a scoop of ice cream. Whether it's a classic flavor like chocolate or something more adventurous like olive oil, there's always something for everybody.

For some people, ice cream may not be an option. They may have learned of a recent allergy or have decided to become vegan. But plenty of shops around the Valley serve ice cream that anybody, regardless of their allergies or diets, can safely eat.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we visited ice cream shops in the Phoenix area that cater to customers with dietary restrictions.

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More than 300 people died last year from heat-related complications. Data collected over the past 50 years shows the average temperature in Phoenix has increased 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

On top of that, there are more days per year when the temperature climbs above 110 degrees in the Valley of the Sun. And the night temperatures have jumped 5.5 degrees, which means it's not cooling off when the sun goes down.

How does this extreme heat affect us? In this episode of Valley 101, we hear from medical professionals, social service workers and city officials about how metro Phoenix is battling high temperatures. 

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It's officially the dog days of summer.

Not only does it feel like it because Phoenix has seen triple-digit temperatures since early May, but according to the Farmer’s Almanac, the “dog days of summer” run from July 3 to Aug. 11.

It is hot, with no sign of slowing down soon.

While it feels slightly unbearable outside and you might be wondering why you live in Phoenix anyway, this is also the perfect time to pack the car, hit the road, get out of the city and reconnect with nature. Because not all of Arizona feels this hot all summer.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we are joined by Arizona Republic cultures and outdoors reporter Shanti Lerner for recommendations on where you can go to keep things cooler.

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People have wondered if we're alone in the universe for centuries. Although men have landed on the moon and probes have been sent outside the solar system, there is still so much to explore.

The mysteries of outer space have drawn many people to search for evidence of alien life. But not all researchers focus on looking through a telescope. Plenty others spend their time watching the sky and documenting unidentified flying object sightings. As it turns out, Arizona is a hot spot for UFOs and those who believe in them.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we explored the unfamiliar world of UFOs and spoke to different people looking to answer the question: "are we alone in the universe?" 

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