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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Before the unrest around ICE raids in Minneapolis, states like Colorado had seen a surge in immigration detentions in the year since President Trump returned to office. Today on In The NoCo, a conversation with a lawmaker who’s pushing for stronger regulations on how ICE agents conduct themselves. -
The Trump administration is seeking to dismantle NCAR, one of the world’s leading climate research centers that’s based in Boulder. Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse says it’s part of a broader war on science – and a political fight the Trump administration is picking with Colorado. Today on In The NoCo, Rep. Joe Neguse talks about his strategy to protect NCAR. -
For decades, marijuana has been classified as a Schedule I drug, illegal at the federal level. But that could be about to change – which would mean big changes for Colorado’s cannabis industry. A tax law expert breaks down some seismic changes that could be on the horizon for cannabis companies. -
Forest bathing can be a powerful way to reduce stress and connect with nature. Here’s where to beginThere are lots of techniques people use to de-stress these days. But one unusual way to unplug is the practice of “forest bathing.” Users immerse themselves in nature and tap into all five senses as a way to slow down and reset. And there's no bathtub needed.We get some advice for how to try forest bathing for yourself. -
People who decide to get in-patient help for substance abuse or mental health issues often face a dilemma: While they get treatment, who will care for their pets? Today we hear about a Colorado program that offers foster care for pets of people in recovery. -
The Front Range is partway through what’s been an unusually warm and dry winter. Whatever you think of this weather, the trees in your yard are probably suffering. Today on In The NoCo, expert advice from tree specialists at CSU Extension on how to help your trees make it through the winter in good shape. -
Last fall, a search and rescue group solved a lingering mystery: They figured out what happened to a Colorado woman who went missing while hiking one of the state's highest peaks 20 years earlier. And the technology they used could help shape the future of search and rescue operations -
It’s an unusual sight west of Fort Collins, in areas scarred by the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome wildfires: Several artificial beaver dams are helping to restore wetlands damaged by the blazes. We talk to a Colorado State University researcher about how – and why – the manmade beaver dams help to heal that ecosystem. -
Colorado composer Nathan Hall mixed music with archaeology as he dreamed up his latest album. The music focuses on hand-carved stone instruments called lithophones. They were carved several thousand years ago and discovered near what’s now Great Sand Dunes National Park. -
Camping has become so popular in recent years that it’s harder to snag a campsite in the peak summer months – which might make you consider the quieter, less crowded experience of camping in winter. We hear from Patricia Cameron, an expert and guide who says with a little extra planning – and the right mindset – winter camping can open up a whole new way to experience the outdoors.
