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

Aug 30, 2008
New Orleans port readies for storm
New Orleans is right in the middle of the area where Hurricane Gustav is projected to make landfall. Kai Ryssdal talks with Tom LaGrange of the Port of New Orleans about the preparations being made.
Read MoreDownload
Aug 29, 2008
MBA schools take new tack in studies
The Graduate Management Admission Council says MBA applicatons are up this year. Joel Podolny, dean of the Yale School of Management, discusses with Kai Ryssdal how students are now using the tools of the Internet to study business cases.
Read MoreDownload
Aug 29, 2008
After speeches, money does the talking
Political party conventions are as much about money as platforms and funny hats. Politico's Jeanne Cummings is in Denver for the Democratic convention. She talks with Kai Ryssdal about the event's bottom line.
Read MoreDownload
Aug 29, 2008
New Orleans girds for Gustav’s arrival
The approach of Tropical Storm Gustav is only adding to the stress level in the Gulf states. Reporter John Pope of the New Orleans Times-Picayune talks with Kai Ryssdal about the preparations underway.
Read MoreDownload
Aug 28, 2008
Gulf Coast waits for Gustav’s next move
The latest forecast calls for Tropical Storm Gustav to make landfall on the Gulf Coast Monday morning. Kai Ryssdal talks with oil worker Buddy Bollfrass about how oil companies are getting ready.
Read MoreDownload
Aug 28, 2008
New gadgets? Everybody in the pool!
Kai Ryssdal jumps into the pool with Kevin Pereira of G4's "Attack of the Show" to try out some of the latest technology that doesn't have any trouble getting wet.
Read MoreDownload
Aug 27, 2008
Seeding markets for food, fuel and feed
The rising price of corn has hit many consumers hard, but it's been good news for Monsanto, one of the world's largest providers of corn seed. Kai Ryssdal talks with the company's CEO Hugh Grant in the second of his Corner Office interview.
Read MoreDownload
Aug 27, 2008
It’s not what you drive, but how
When the flow of traffic just isn't in your favor, the thing to remember is that it's not really about you. It's likely your fellow drivers who are responsible. Tom Vanderbilt, who makes that point in his book, "Traffic," explains to Kai Ryssdal.
Read MoreDownload
Aug 26, 2008
Fruit company grew power, problems
Trouble's not new to Caribbean banana growers. Author Peter Chapman chronicles the rise and fall of the company at the center of a lot of that trouble, the United Fruit Company, in his book, "Bananas!" He talks with Kai Ryssdal.
Read MoreDownload
Aug 20, 2008
Using technology to grow more food
Hugh Grant is the head of Monsanto, which creates technology to increase harvests. It's also the world's biggest producer of genetically modified seeds. Grant talks about the controversial topic of technology and food.
Read MoreDownload