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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Across Europe, millions of people harness solar energy by using small, plug-in solar panels that can fit on a porch or a balcony. These devices aren't widely available in the U.S. right now. But state lawmakers hope to change that. Hear why some Colorado legislators are pushing for plug-in solar. -
Wage garnishment is a tool that debt collection agencies can use to recoup unpaid medical debt. But critics say that taking a portion of someone’s paycheck to pay medical debt affects low-income patients disproportionately. A new bill at the state house could ban the practice of wage garnishment in Colorado – but some warn that could have a negative impact on healthcare for everyone. -
A bird species called the lesser prairie-chicken once roamed the Great Plains, including parts of Colorado. They once numbered in the millions – but now only an estimated 30,000 of the birds remain. So why did the bird lose its federal protections – and why do bird lovers find the lesser prairie-chicken fascinating? -
Greeley voters last week said “no” to a plan for a large sports and retail complex on the city’s west side. We wondered what the vote says about changing attitudes toward growth and development on the Northern Front Range. Today on In The NoCo, we explore why voters in Greeley pushed back. -
Climate change, and warmer winters, will have a major impact on Colorado’s ski industry. But Colorado’s major ski companies take different approaches when it comes to advocating for policies that might curb climate change. -
The Western U.S. is seeing an increasing number of wildfires that spread quickly and cause more destruction than a typical wildfire. And experts say so-called "fast fires” – like the 2021 Marshall Fire that burned around a thousand homes in Boulder county – are likely to increase in the coming years. A wildfire expert from CU Boulder explains what makes fast fires so dangerous, and how communities might respond differently to them. -
Damage from hailstorms is one factor driving up the cost of homeowners’ insurance in recent years in Colorado. And a new report from the state’s Division of Insurance finds that the threat of hail increases costs all across Colorado – not just along the Front Range. Today on In The NoCo: Why hail is behind higher premiums – and what state lawmakers might do to help. -
Colorado’s once-booming craft beer scene has been in decline over the last few years, with around 140 breweries and taprooms closing. But one CU professor says it’s actually a sign that the industry is maturing – and he has some ideas on how local breweries might thrive in this new era. -
Winter’s long nights and cooler temperatures can bring on the winter blues – even in a mild winter like this one. But research finds that spending even 20 minutes a day outside can help. And keeping a nature journal is a great reminder to tune into your surroundings with all five senses. -
You may think of funk music as pure fun. But it has a much deeper history and cultural meaning. A CU professor digs into the overlooked history of funk, and why it spoke to changing times.
