Erin O'Toole
Host & Senior Producer, In the NoCoEmail: erin.otoole@kunc.org
As the host of KUNC’s new 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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The trails on a few of Colorado most popular fourteeners are getting a facelift this summer. Crews lift heavy boulders, create stairways, and sleep on the mountain for days at a time. The redesigned trails will make them more sustainable for future hikers. -
Many Coloradans love the idea of having their own vegetable garden — but the sunny, dry climate on the Front Range can make growing your own veggies a challenge. Today on In The NoCo, we hear from a gardening expert with CSU extension about how to get started, and how to help your plants thrive all summer. -
A new state program helps aspiring teachers get their licenses by becoming apprentices. Participants can work in classrooms and get paid for those hours while taking education classes on the side. Advocates think the program could help address Colorado’s shortage of public school teachers -
A lot of us rely on nutrition labels to help us know what we’re getting at the grocery store. But at your local dispensary, the THC labels on some cannabis products may not be nearly as reliable. That’s according to a new study from the University of Colorado. We hear from one of the CU researchers about why this is happening, and what the industry can do to fix the issue. -
Each year, the Butterfly Pavilion works with citizen butterfly observers to track the state’s butterfly populations. And the data they’ve collected shows that butterflies are declining in Colorado. -
Many of the musicians who take jobs in some of the country’s best orchestras get their start right here in Colorado. Each summer, the National Repertory Orchestra brings about 80 young musicians to Breckenridge, and helps them practice the art of playing in a symphony. We hear about the orchestra's demanding performance schedule, and hear the musicians in action, on today's In The NoCo. -
A record number of “helicopter hoists” have been performed this year to rescue people stranded on high mountain peaks. Many of them have been from peaks at 14,000 feet of elevation or higher. The hoists require dangerous maneuvering of helicopters near rocky cliffs. -
Federal funding for public broadcasting is a focus this week for lawmakers in Washington D.C. A vote in the Senate to eliminate that funding could happen at any time. Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper spoke with In The NoCo about the discussions he’s having this week with his colleagues on Capitol Hill. -
Remember the "balloon boy" story? One day in 2009, emergency crews chased a silver balloon that looked like a flying saucer as it floated high above Northern Colorado – because they thought a 6-year-old boy was inside. The story is viewed as a notorious hoax. A new documentary from Netflix takes a fresh look at what happened. -
Tubing is a popular summer activity on the Yampa River in Steamboat Springs. But this year’s tubing season could be one of the shortest in recent memory, due to warm temperatures and low stream flows in the river. We learn why this is happening on In The NoCo.
