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 Colorado public schools, more students with autism are being served by special education programs. In the state's largest district, the numbers have increased by 75 percent. So how's that playing out in the classroom? -
It’s fall in Colorado, which means mountain roads are filled with leaf-peeping tourists. And it's no surprise that many folks think about planting a colorful aspen tree in their own yard. But horticulture experts say aspens can be more trouble than you’d think. -
A new library in Thornton allows patrons to check out more than just books. The unusual library was designed to help everyone enjoy access to the outdoors with rentable outdoor gear, and places to hike near the branch. -
The Colorado Rockies just finished another losing season. But thousands of fans keep showing up to home games at Coors Field. What’s the story behind that dedicated fan base – and is that unflinching loyalty making the problem worse? -
A bill proposed by Sen. John Hickenlooper would require hospitals to be more upfront with how much they’ll charge for a medical procedure. The goal is to use transparent pricing to bring down the cost of healthcare. -
What does it mean to live a meaningful life? A Colorado author explores that question in her new novel, with a character stuck in a mysterious realm between life and death – and given the choice to take a different path. -
A study by the American Psychological Association says kids have a harder time absorbing lessons when the indoor temperature climbs to about 73 degrees. A look at how heat affects kids’ brains, and what school leaders along Colorado’s Front Range can do to help. -
Estes Park filmmaker Nick Mollé spent decades making documentaries about the outdoors. But after a cancer diagnosis, friends and family stepped in to finish his final project about the Colorado River. -
Most years, the Dillon Water Taxi ferries passengers across the largest reservoir in Summit County. But the severe drought this summer made that work impossible. So the water taxi’s captain launched a new business to make ends meet. -
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?
