Kai Ryssdal

Host and Senior Editor

Kai is the host and senior editor of “Marketplace,” the most widely heard program on business and the economy — radio or television, commercial or public broadcasting — in the country. Kai speaks regularly with CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, startup entrepreneurs, small-business owners and everyday participants in the American and global economies. Before his career in broadcasting, Kai served in the United States Navy and United States Foreign Service. He’s a graduate of Emory University and Georgetown University. Kai lives in Los Angeles with his wife and four children.

Latest from Kai Ryssdal

Dec 25, 2009
Weekly Wrap
Megan McArdle of The Atlantic magazine and Mike Mandel, author of the textbook "Economics: The Basics" size up the week in business with Kai Ryssdal.
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Dec 24, 2009
How to pick a great wine from the seller
Want some nice wine to go with your holiday dinner? Wine can get expensive, even though it doesn't have to. Author Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl has some suggestions for the casual wine consumer in her new book, "Drink This." She gives Kai Ryssdal a taste.
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Dec 18, 2009
The best business books of 2009
Marketplace commentators name their favorite finance and business books from the past year. Plus, see Kai Ryssdal's list of top books and his interviews with their authors.
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Dec 18, 2009
The new face of homelessness
A lot of people have suffered reversals of fortune this year — some have lost jobs and homes. Kai Ryssdal visits the Union Station Homeless Services center to see how people are coping.
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Dec 12, 2009
Antiques offer clue on economic health
The basic premise behind the TV show "Antiques Roadshow" is that there's no accounting for taste. Kai Ryssdal reports on how the collectibles market can say a lot about the economy.
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Dec 5, 2009
L.A. Auto Show gets more compact
Nissan and luxury car makers are no-shows at this year's L.A. Auto Show, but the Los Angeles Times' Dan Neil tells Kai Ryssdal there's still plenty of innovation to behold.
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Dec 5, 2009
Weekly Wrap
Kai Ryssdal sizes up the week's events on Wall Street and beyond with Leigh Gallagher from Fortune magazine and The Atlantic's Megan McArdle.
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Dec 4, 2009
Asking for charity for the first time
Sherman Wilburn of Minneapolis has often given his time and money to others in need. Now he finds himself asking for help. He talks with Kai Ryssdal about the difficult times facing him and his family.
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Dec 4, 2009
Too much technology too fast
Douglas Coupland's first novel, "Generation X," got him credit for naming a whole generation. His new novel, "Generation A," comes full circle, taking readers through a world where interpersonal communication is a dying art. He talks with Kai Ryssdal.
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Dec 3, 2009
Going to school on Afghans’ problems
Decades of violent conflict in Afghanistan have left much of the country homeless, hungry and jobless. Greg Mortenson is trying to address those problems by building schools there. He joins Kai Ryssdal to talk about his efforts.
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