Erin O'Toole
Host & Senior Producer, In the NoCoEmail: erin.otoole@kunc.org
As the host of KUNC’s news program and podcast In The NoCo, I work closely with our producers and reporters to bring context and diverse perspectives to the important issues of the day. Northern Colorado is such a diverse and fast-growing region, brimming with history, culture, music, education, civic engagement, and amazing outdoor recreation spots. It’s a privilege to find and share the stories and voices that reflect why NoCo is such an extraordinary place to live.
One of the things I love most about public radio is that it embodies and encourages many of the values I hold dear: integrity, civility and curiosity. I’ve been with KUNC since 2009, minus a brief break where I focused exclusively on a Denver-based podcast. I’ve served in a number of roles here: Morning Edition Host, Assistant News Director, and as host and senior producer for Colorado Edition. My work has been recognized by the Associated Press, the Colorado Broadcasters Association, PRNDI, RTNDA, and the Society for Professional Journalists.
I began my career at a country radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I was a traffic reporter, newscaster, sidekick, and finally a morning show host (yes, it’s true that my name was Coyote Kim!). I later relocated to southern California where I served as Morning Edition host and reporter for KVCR in San Bernardino. I was selected as a USC/Annenberg Health Journalism fellow in 2008.
When I'm not at work, you can usually find me hiking with my two dogs, noodling around on my bass, cooking, or enjoying the sunshine and a cold brew on a patio somewhere.
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Recent rainstorms have brought some needed relief to the Front Range. But because of dismal snowpack last winter, the storms are not enough to pull Colorado out of the lingering drought. -
Researchers point to some striking differences in how aspens fare during a wildland blaze. A CSU researcher who led a recent study explains what makes them different. -
Some Colorado business leaders say the state is falling behind – and losing its reputation for being a great place to start or grow a company. Governor Polis says he’s working to turn the trend around. A conversation about Colorado’s flagging business climate, and what might fix it. -
Women in Colorado won the right to vote in 1893 – nearly three decades before the 19th Amendment that made women’s suffrage the law across the United States. So how did it happen – and what did women in Colorado do with their new political clout? A new exhibit at History Colorado examines that question. -
Warren Miller created hundreds of ski films over his decades-long career. His work highlighted the culture of skiing and snowboarding around the world. A new exhibit at the Colorado Snowsports Museum in Vail honors Miller’s life and legacy. -
For a marmot living in the Rocky Mountains, summer is the time to fatten up and get ready for hibernation. But this year's warmer, earlier spring has made it tough for marmots to get enough calories. A team of marmot scientists near Crested Butte is launching the first-ever Fat Marmot Week to raise awareness about these unique, chunky mammals. -
R. Alan Brooks is a Denver-based graphic novelist, whose work touches on modern-day politics and culture – including the award-winning comic he writes for The Colorado Sun. Hear more about his work, and how he uses comics as a means to unpack current events and culture. -
The railroad helped transform the American West – and immigrant labor was essential to building the railroads. Thousands of workers were brought in from Mexico between the late 1800s and World War II – but their contributions aren't always remembered. An exhibit at the Colorado Railroad Museum highlights the history and culture of these railway workers known as traqueros. -
The soldiers who fought some of World War II’s most pivotal battles trained for combat high in the mountains, at Camp Hale near Leadville. But after the war, many of them continued to make history. A look at how some veterans from the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division went on to transform outdoor recreation in Colorado. -
During World War II, the U.S. Army built a unique training ground in the mountains near Leadville. Thousands of soldiers trained for combat in extreme alpine conditions – and helped secure key victories in the war. As Colorado marks its 150th birthday this year, a museum exhibit explores the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division.
