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 ڱ 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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Kids who were babies at the height of the pandemic are starting preschool and kindergarten with more behavior problems than before COVID. And those behavior patterns can be a sign of developmental delays. On today’s In The NoCo, we hear more about why some of these kids are struggling – and what schools and teachers are doing to help.
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Farmers and ranchers face stressful challenges every day: From hail and drought to financial pressures. A new film explores those issues, and looks at why farmers don’t always ask for help. “Legacy” screens this weekend at the Breckenridge Film Festival. We talk with the film’s director talks about possible solutions for this silent epidemic.
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As a child, Armando Silva used his drawing to connect with friends. As an adult, he’s become one of Colorado’s most prolific muralists. And he hopes his new festival in Greeley will inspire more artists and art lovers when it debuts next week. Today on In The NoCo, he shares the ideas behind the new WeldWalls art festival.
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If you watched the presidential debate this week, you likely heard former President Trump mention gang violence at an apartment complex in Aurora. But the facts are more nuanced – and they reveal something about the intensity of immigration as an issue during an election year. We dig into the story with The Colorado Sun's Jennifer Brown.
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Homeowners in Colorado have been watching their insurance costs climb in recent years. You might chalk that up to damaging wildfires and hailstorms that are so common here. But new technology may be the bigger culprit. On today's In The NoCo, we explore the real reason your homeowner’s insurance may be going up soon.
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Some city leaders say Boulder has too many parking spaces. And while that might not line up with your experience trying to park at Pearl Street mall, transportation experts say some Front Range cities have too many empty parking spots that could be used for things like housing or parks. On today’s In The NoCo, we’ll hear from one Boulder City Council member who says it’s time to stop requiring builders to create so much parking.
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Columbus B. Hill was a legendary figure in Colorado’s barbecue history. Back in the late 1800s, his food was so good, it was served to thousands of people at the state Capitol. But these days, not many people know his name. Today on In The NoCo, Denver author Adrian Miller shares the story of the "best barbecue man in the West.”
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Athlete Drew Petersen says he found an unusual lifeline when he was suffering from depression: He set out to run a 100-mile ultramarathon in Colorado’s high country. Petersen documented the physical and emotional struggles in a new film called Feel It All. Hear the story behind that film, which is screening at several festivals around the state, on today's In The NoCo.
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Colorado’s Republicans are divided, with two people claiming to be the chairman of the state GOP. And with a presidential election just two months away, the timing couldn’t be worse. So how did they get here? We’ll unpack that today on In The NoCo.
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About 1 in 7 students in Colorado attends school four days a week, rather than five. But a new report suggests that a four-day schedule may negatively impact students’ academic achievement. On In The NoCo, we talk with one of the report’s authors about what they learned.