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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After years of record-setting tourism, Colorado’s mountain towns have seen a drop in the number of visitors this year – especially international travelers, who tend to stay longer and spend more than day-tripping vacationers. We hear more about what’s behind the decline, and the impact on local businesses. -
Earlier this week, the internet collectively gasped and recoiled as photos went viral of rabbits in Fort Collins with features on their heads that resemble horns or tentacles. Join In The NoCo host Erin O'Toole in a Q&A with Kara Van Hoose, a spokeswoman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. -
An unusual phenomenon has been all over the news and social media this week – rabbits near Fort Collins have been spotted with odd, black growths that look like horns on their faces. Images of the so-called ‘demon bunnies’ are everywhere. So what causes the strange-looking growths, and how are wildlife officials responding? -
If you have a drip tray under your fridge that’s filled with orange goo, a CSU scientist might be interested in hearing about it. A researcher there collects samples from people’s appliances like air conditioners and hot water heaters – and says the organisms could hold solutions to climate change and pollution. -
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. We explore how the tiny lizards may have inspired a better form of cancer treatment. -
Since the pandemic, Colorado teachers say many of their students don’t have as much resilience to push through tough challenges in the classroom. It’s a concept they refer to as grit. Some educators are using strategies to help build back that sense of determination in their students. -
Back in the late 1970s, President Jimmy Carter’s administration backed the design and construction of some unusual homes along the Front Range. They were solar-powered and energy efficient – very cutting edge for the time. One of those homes is still used today as a model for green construction. -
Colorado is known both for its love of dogs and a long history of legal cannabis. But over the last decade, these appear to have merged into a trend that’s worrying to veterinarians: More dogs are accidentally eating marijuana. We hear more about the problem, and what to do if your dog is affected. -
Being stopped by the police can be stressful. And for people with conditions like autism spectrum disorder or Tourette’s syndrome, the encounter can be especially tense. The Blue Envelope program uses a simple tool to help people with disabilities feel safer in an encounter. -
Millions of years ago a species of dinosaur performed mating rituals that looked a lot like dancing. And scientists say Colorado is home to one of the largest areas where those dances took place.
