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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Scientists say a warming climate is making extreme weather events like flash floods, heat waves, and hurricanes more intense. But how certain are they that climate change contributed to a specific disaster? -
Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of using artificial intelligence to create art. But a Boulder-based poet has recently been working to teach AI to write its own poems. And he says the process reveals a lot about how we view creativity. -
A court case in Denver looks at whether the hospital should be held in contempt if physicians who specialize in gender-affirming care refuse to offer hormone therapy and other treatments. The doctors say they face threats and intimidation from federal officials. -
Scientists in Boulder are testing out an unusual method to measure what plants are thriving in the city, as well as what pollutants might harm the environment. The pollen collected will be tested to help gauge biodiversity in the city. -
Bear encounters are at record highs this year in Colorado. That’s mainly because their natural food sources, like berries, are in short supply due to drought conditions. So they head to town looking for food – which creates another set of problems. -
This summer was brutal for Front Range lawns. But according to experts from CSU Extension, tackling a few tasks this fall is a great way to help prepare your yard for next year. -
The price for a one-day lift ticket for skiers and snowboarders has grown by hundreds of dollars in recent years. Now a group of skiers has filed a class-action lawsuit that compares ski resort companies to a cartel – arguing that they’ve been collaborating to artificially raise the cost of a day on the slopes. -
Over the past few years, a group of zoos and aquariums have teamed up for an unusual rescue project: They work together to save and grow threatened coral from an underwater zone off the coast of Florida. A marine biologist in Colorado is leading an important part of that preservation work, even though she’s hundreds of miles from the ocean. -
A tiny nuclear reactor could be a reality soon at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora. The Pentagon has proposed installing a “microreactor” there to power the base. We talk with an expert on nuclear materials to learn more about how a microreactor would work, and whether it’s a safety concern. -
E-bikes and e-scooters are popping up on more streets and bike trails lately. But traumatic injuries from e-bike crashes are also on the rise – a trend that has doctors at Children’s Hospital Colorado concerned. We dig into the statistics, and why it’s happening.
