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.
-
Nordic combined is an extreme winter sport that has been an Olympic event since 1924. But earlier this week, the International Olympic Committee announced it’s eliminating the sport from the 2030 Olympics. Hear why that’s heartbreaking news for some Colorado athletes, and what that means for the future of the sport. -
Colorado just hit a major clean-energy milestone: In the first three months of this year, more than half of its electricity came from renewable sources like wind, solar and geothermal. It’s a significant step toward the goal of 100 percent emission-free by the year 2050. So, how might the state get closer to 100%? -
A recent fossil discovery in Colorado may offer clues about how — and where — early mammals lived on Earth after the extinction of dinosaurs. Scientists found tiny teeth belonging to a mouse-sized distant relative of humans. Hear what scientists found, and why the discovery is so revealing. -
There’s a debate in several Front Range cities over the use of Flock cameras. Law enforcement uses the cameras to quietly capture license plates and other information as you drive by. Critics say they're an abuse of civil liberties. We hear why the cameras are concerning — and why more cities may stop using them. -
Colorado celebrates its 150th birthday this year. But the journey to statehood was complicated. The new season of KUNC’s award-winning podcast The Colorado Dream examines important movements and moments in Colorado’s history — including what it took to become the Centennial State. -
Wildland firefighting is dangerous and often deadly work. That fact was driven home in recent days after three firefighters died fighting a blaze on the Colorado-Utah border. So what tools do firefighters use to protect themselves when a blaze is out of control – and how do these tools help in the worst of scenarios? -
Are moose a native species in Colorado? The answer to that question is more complicated than you might expect. So a University of Colorado scholar dug into centuries of newspaper records and animal remains to find out. We hear about what he found, and what it means for the thousands of moose that live in Colorado now. -
Colorado leaders recently got the green light from federal regulators for a bold plan: They want to lower the cost of prescription drugs in the state — by importing them from Canada, where the prices are far cheaper. A look at how the project could lower the cost of what’s in your medicine cabinet, and what its odds of success might be. -
A recent decision to allow the use of motorized chainsaws in wilderness areas has some environmental groups concerned. They say it defeats the purpose of preserving wilderness in the first place. So, will Coloradans hear chainsaws and other motorized devices next time they hit the trail for a day in the wilderness? -
Farms on Colorado’s Western Slope are famous for Palisade peaches and other fruits and vegetables. But Colorado is also famous for its wild weather, which can wipe out crops. Today we look at a unique partnership that helps get crops to farmers markets– even when a spring freeze left some farms without much to harvest.
