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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In the early part of the 20th century, Lincoln Hills was a retreat in the mountains west of Denver, created for Black American families to spend time in the outdoors. A newly expanded exhibit at History Colorado in Denver explores the legacy of this resort during an era of segregation. -
Dark sky communities help people observe the vast wonders of space right above their heads by reducing the amount of light pollution that reaches the sky. Breckenridge recently became the first ski resort town in Colorado to attain 'dark sky' status. So: are mountain communities like Breckenridge bracing for a wave of astro-tourism? -
Scientists who study the deepest parts of the ocean may soon harness unusual new technology that’s being developed at CU Boulder. Researchers there fit tiny electric devices onto live jellyfish, so scientists can steer them into remote places where humans can’t easily go. We hear more about this research into robotic jellyfish. -
A new film in theaters today tells a story about the Colorado River we don’t often hear – that of the plants and animals that rely on its water. The film also incorporates Indigenous perspectives. The director of the film set out to make a vivid portrait of life in the Colorado River Basin. -
Eggs prices are still high at grocery stores leading more people around Colorado to invest in their own chickens. Having backyard chickens is a satisfying way for people to get eggs, but there are a few things you have to plan for before starting your own brood. -
For people who want to enjoy a beautiful garden without most of the work that goes into it, there's a new trend that’s all over social media. Chaos gardens let you create a colorful flower bed without a lot of design or maintenance. But is it really as easy as TikTok makes it look? A sustainable landscape expert weighs in on the trend. -
Loveland kindergarten teacher and author Ellen Javernick has published over 20 children’s books. They teach life lessons for young kids and aim to get them thinking about how their actions impact other people. Her newest book, “Awesome of the Day” reflects how, at 87, she continues to energize the kids around her. -
A group of researchers at CSU are celebrating a decade of raising a herd of genetically pure bison. Those bison have been transferred over the years to tribes and wildlife organizations around the West. -
Medical marijuana holds serious promise as a treatment for cancer and its symptoms. That’s the conclusion of a sweeping study from an organization based in Evergreen that reviewed thousands of research papers. The findings showed cannabis was a powerful tool for helping patients manage pain from cancer treatment – and was even helpful in shrinking tumors in a laboratory. -
If you had pets growing up, your body might be better equipped to respond to stress as a result. A new study out of the University of Colorado shows that pets help our immune systems by exposing them to helpful microbes. And those microbes reduce inflammation caused by stress.
