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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Every year around this time, hordes of tiny, winged creatures begin to invade the Front Range. That's right – it's miller moth season! And while many of us find them annoying, they’re also fascinating. We asked an insect expert to unpack some of the mysteries of the miller moth. -
It’s easy to find the history of the men for whom some of Colorado’s highest mountains are named. But when it comes to places named for women, like Mount Ida, or Mount Lady Washington – it’s tough to figure out just who those women were. We talk with a Colorado author who set out to discover some of that history. -
You may have heard about a recent trend in yard care called “No Mow May.” The idea is to support bees and other pollinators by letting dandelions and clover grow in your yard through this month. But "No Mow May" might not be such a good idea in Colorado. We find out why from a CSU plant expert. -
Summer is just around the corner. And going for a bike ride may be on your list of things to do. But that may also mean you need to do a little maintenance on it. You’ll hear some great tips on how to do that yourself. -
A program that offers mental health resources and support to farmers and ranchers in Colorado is on hold, after the Trump administration froze funding for it. We discuss the impact the program has had in the agriculture community, the unique stresses that farmers and ranchers face -- and what happens next. -
The threat of tariffs is creating uncertainty for many Colorado companies – including small businesses that make or sell outdoor recreation gear. We hear about how tariff turmoil is affecting these companies’ bottom line – and how they’re coping with it. -
Medical marijuana holds serious promise as a treatment for cancer and its symptoms. That’s the conclusion of a sweeping new study from an organization based in Evergreen that reviewed thousands of research papers. The findings showed that cannabis was a powerful tool for helping patients with pain from cancer treatment – and that cannabis was even helpful in shrinking tumors in a laboratory. -
The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs says thousands of Indigenous American and Alaska Native women have been missing or murdered in recent years, and many of those cases remain unsolved. A Berthoud writer set out to raise awareness about this real-life crisis using fiction. We talk with her about her new horror novel. -
In an era of artificial intelligence and cloud computing, data centers are an important part of the economy. Some Colorado lawmakers say the state needs more of them – and that they could generate jobs and tax revenue. But data centers also consume huge amounts of energy and water. So do the future benefits outweigh the costs? We dig into that question on In The NoCo. -
A program that lets Colorado high school students shape state law nearly came to an end recently as lawmakers wrestled with a tight budget. Leaders ultimately decided the program deserves to continue. We talk about the story behind the unusual Colorado Youth Advisory Council – and the state laws these students have managed to create in recent years.
