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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Bladder cancer affects thousands of people in the U.S. each year – and it’s difficult to treat. But scientists at CU Boulder may have found an innovative way to deliver chemotherapy to patients with bladder cancer. It’s inspired by the gripping power of gecko feet. -
Driving through the mountains on I-70 can be difficult for anyone – but for drivers behind the wheel of a giant semi, one mistake can have devastating impacts. We talk with the owners of a trucking school in Colorado that that teaches commercial truck drivers how to safely navigate mountain highways. -
Fifty years ago, over 10,000 Vietnamese refugees settled in an area of southwest Denver that became a hub for Asian life and culture. A new exhibit at History Colorado highlights the past and the future of Denver’s Little Saigon neighborhood. -
Since Colorado began its wolf reintroduction program two years ago, wildlife officials have worked to find non-lethal ways to stop wolves from attacking livestock. One promising strategy encourages more ranchers to use very large dogs called Turkish Boz Shepherds to guard their flocks and keep wolves away. -
Using powerful electrical charges to increase rainfall — and help farmers grow crops. That’s the concept behind a new “cloud seeding” project set to happen soon in Weld County. If it’s successful, it could mean farmers across the state will get a little more water for their crops. -
In 2025, witches and witchcraft appear to be having a moment. More Coloradans are saying they align with pagan, wiccan or other new age beliefs. So, with Halloween around the corner, we talked with a CSU professor who studies the history of witchcraft – and what it can tell us about the modern world. -
Health officials trying to prevent outbreaks of measles in Colorado have an unusual tool at their disposal: treated sewage. Monitoring wastewater for the measles virus can help health providers get a handle on cases before they spread. -
How does a community heal from the shock and grief of a mass shooting? Journalist Erika Mahoney explores that question in a deeply personal new podcast series called ‘Senseless.’ Erika’s father died in the 2021 mass shooting at a Boulder King Soopers. We hear why she made the podcast, and how she moved forward after the tragedy. -
For 30 years, incarcerated men at a Canon (“canyon”)City prison cared for and trained wild mustangs, getting them ready for adoption. But now, the federal government says it is ending this unusual program, saying it costs too much. We learn more about the program’s impacts, and what’s next for Colorado’s wild horses. -
A History Colorado exhibit offers a powerful look at the role women have played in grieving familiesA spooky program from History Colorado in Denver takes visitors back in time to experience death and mourning in the Old West. “Victorian Death Experiences” explores the traditional role that women have played when a loved one dies.
