{"podcast":{"title":"Valley 101","slug":"valley-101-459144","podcast_index_feed_id":459144,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/valley101","website_url":"http://valley101podcast.azcentral.com","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/5c528a2e-296b-11e9-b17f-8bb3f2a521b2/image/8d768e92d8892e8a06209bcce4fda661.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"azcentral podcasts","episode_count":395,"summary":"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 Luberto.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-21T02:19:37.317415+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/valley-101-459144"},"episode":{"title":"How did the Flagstaff Pinecone Drop become an Arizona tradition?","slug":"how-did-the-flagstaff-pinecone-drop-become-an-arizona-tradition","published_at":"2025-12-29T12:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/valley-101-459144/how-did-the-flagstaff-pinecone-drop-become-an-arizona-tradition","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/valley-101-459144","url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/AZUSA2205722441.mp3","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/AZUSA2205722441.mp3","summary":"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 has been an annual tradition in Flagstaff since 1999, but why a pinecone? Valley 101 investigates this unique tradition with the help of its founder, Sam Green. Find out why the pinecone is the staple of Northern Arizona's new year, why it's lasted so long and how a trash can scandal changed the celebration. Submit your question⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about Phoenix! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Guests: Sam Green Host: ⁠⁠Bill Goodykoontz⁠⁠ Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amanda Luberto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices","meta_description":"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.…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":871,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/valley-101-459144/episodes/how-did-the-flagstaff-pinecone-drop-become-an-arizona-tradition/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/valley-101-459144/how-did-the-flagstaff-pinecone-drop-become-an-arizona-tradition.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}