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.
-
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. -
Colorado composer Nathan Hall mixed music with archaeology as he dreamed up his new album. The music focuses on hand-carved stone instruments called lithophones. They were carved several thousand years ago and discovered near what’s now Great Sand Dunes National Park. Learn more about new music played on ancient instruments. -
A Colorado law can restrict access to firearms for a person who’s struggling. And under that program, teachers can report a student who’s struggling. But there’s little evidence that any teachers are using that tool to prevent violent incidents – like the recent shooting at Evergreen High. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser talks about a plan to change that. -
Fall is a great time to enjoy camping and hiking in Colorado. But fall is also a time when many wild animals are either fattening up for winter or looking for a mate – which can make a run-in with an elk, moose or bighorn sheep especially dangerous. Hear tips from a wildlife expert on how to stay safe in the outdoors this season. -
Taylor Swift’s new album arrives Friday -- and if you can’t get enough Taylor Swift right now, In The NoCo found a local story about her that might surprise you. It’s about a course at CSU that uses Swift’s lyrics to teach students the art of translating English into Spanish. We talk to the professor who created the course, and hear some Spanish-language versions of Swiftie favorites.
