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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Colorado composer Nathan Hall mixed music with archaeology as he dreamed up his latest album. The music focuses on hand-carved stone instruments called lithophones. They were carved several thousand years ago and discovered near what’s now Great Sand Dunes National Park. -
Camping has become so popular in recent years that it’s harder to snag a campsite in the peak summer months – which might make you consider the quieter, less crowded experience of camping in winter. We hear from Patricia Cameron, an expert and guide who says with a little extra planning – and the right mindset – winter camping can open up a whole new way to experience the outdoors. -
The FDA recently announced it would remove warning labels from many products for treating menopause. A clinician from the CU Anschutz Medical Campus says it’s a positive change that will help many women lead happier, longer lives. -
How sales tax revenue from outdoor gear might become the next funding stream for wildfire preventionWildfires in Colorado have become more frequent and more intense. But funding to reduce the impacts of fire hasn’t been keeping pace. Which is why some conservation groups have proposed using sales taxes collected on outdoor gear sales to pay for wildfire prevention efforts. We hear more about the idea – and how it might show up on your ballot later this year. -
The recent fatal mountain lion attack on New Year’s Day may have people wondering how state wildlife officials manage Colorado’s population of these animals – and what precautions we can take to avoid a dangerous encounter with a mountain lion. We get some answers from a Colorado Parks and Wildlife expert. -
Ahead of the state’s 150th birthday year, curators at History Colorado had an unusual idea to commemorate the event. They decided to track down the oldest known photograph taken in Colorado. The image they uncovered, taken in 1853, is striking – and it reveals fascinating details about the history of the West. -
Howelsen Hill is a small ski area in Steamboat Springs – just a fraction of the size of Colorado’s largest ski resorts. But it’s had an outsized impact on the state’s ski culture, and it's been the training ground for many Olympians since it opened in 1915. As part of our weeklong look at the people and places that shaped Colorado, hear about Howelsen Hill and its founder, Carl Howelsen. -
Lincoln Hills was a retreat in the mountains west of Denver, created in the early 1900s for Black American families to spend time in the outdoors. An exhibit at History Colorado in Denver explores the importance of this resort during an era of segregation. As Colorado celebrates its 150th birthday year – we explore this fascinating piece of the state’s history. -
Colorado celebrates its 150th birthday later this year – and throughout 2026, the KUNC newsroom will feature fascinating stories from the state's history. We kick things off this week on In The NoCo with the story of a massive ice palace in Leadville. It drew tourists from around the world in the late 1800s. -
The Arapaho language is at risk of disappearing, as fewer members of the tribe have learned to speak it. But a team of language experts at CU Boulder is working to preserve the Arapaho language – and help future generations learn it too.
