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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Visitors to national parks this summer may notice striking new signs asking people to report any “negative” depictions of historic events or figures they encounter. Advocates for national parks worry that this will lead to censoring less flattering parts of U.S. history. We hear about how this order could impact Colorado’s national park sites, like the Amache internment camp or the Sand Creek Massacre historic site. -
Vegetables that ripen whenever you’re ready to eat them? Scientists at CSU want to make it a realityImagine being able to tell the vegetables in your garden when to ripen. Researchers at Colorado State University say they’re developing genetic “toggle switches” for plants that would let people control when and how their crops grow. -
The firefighting foam used by airports has long contained toxic “forever chemicals.” Denver International Airport recently completed a huge project to clean up those chemicals from runways and airport firefighting equipment. You can hear why the cleanup was needed – and what might happen next with all that toxic waste, -
Fifty years ago, a Boulder County clerk made history when she issued a marriage license to a gay couple, decades before the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. Those who knew her say she wasn’t trying to be an activist – she just wanted to do the right thing. We’ll hear from a friend and colleague of the late Clela Rorex on In The NoCo. -
A new business is getting attention from renewable energy advocates and Gov. Jared Polis for its unusual plan to deliver electricity in Colorado. The company would use giant batteries on trains to haul renewable energy from solar and wind farms to the cities and towns that need it. We hear more from the entrepreneurs behind the company Sun Train. -
The Stanley Hotel has been a cultural landmark in Estes Park for over a century. The hotel was sold in May to an unusual team of investors and a state cultural office. We hear about how this partnership came together, and what the future holds for this piece of Colorado history. -
A new bill co-sponsored by Sen. John Hickenlooper is designed to speed up wildfire prevention efforts across the country. But a few measures in the bill have some environmental groups concerned. -
A group of researchers at CSU are celebrating a decade of raising a herd of genetically pure bison. Those bison have been transferred over the years to tribes and wildlife organizations around the West. We hear from the researcher who’s been leading this project and raising the herd. -
The ACLU of Colorado thinks the state’s history of camping culture should protect people experiencing homelessness when they sleep outdoors. Currently, the city of Boulder can ticket or jail people for using shelter in public places. But the ACLU of Colorado wants a judge to end that policy. -
Commercial air travel might be the safest way to get around – yet millions of Americans have a fear of flying. With the summer travel season about to get underway, we sat down with an MSU Denver psychologist who specializes in helping people who are afraid to fly. She offered some strategies to help you or a loved one take that flight you’ve been fretting over.
