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

Apr 30, 2008
Fishing for crabs, dealing with danger
The Discovery Channel just started the third season of its hit show "Deadliest Catch," a wild ride with crab fishermen on the Bering Sea. Kai Ryssdal talks with the two stars, brothers Andy and Johnathan Hillstrand.
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Apr 29, 2008
Rising food prices leave millions hungry
Hundreds of millions of the world's poorest consumers are suffering greatly as the global cost of food has soared. Washington Post reporter Anthony Faioloa met some of them recently in western Africa. He talks with Kai Ryssdal about what he saw.
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Apr 26, 2008
The bottom line? Lighten up a bit
In their new book, "The Levity Effect," Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher contend that having a sense of humor in the office can actually help the bottom line. They shared that view with Kai Ryssdal.
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Apr 26, 2008
Week on Wall Street
Stockbroker and business analyst David Johnson chats with host Kai Ryssdal about what happened on Wall Street this week and what may lie ahead.
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Apr 26, 2008
Texas gov seeks relief on ethanol rules
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is asking the Bush administration to waive some federal requirements for renewable fuels that he says are hurting his state and adding to rising food prices. Kai Ryssdal gets reaction from Joseph Romm of the Center for American Progress.
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Apr 25, 2008
Senator: Time for Iraq to pay its way
While Congress considering a supplemental spending request Iraq and Afghanistan, Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson is among the lawmakers who say it's past time for the U.S. to stop paying for reconstruction. He talks with Kai Ryssdal.
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Apr 25, 2008
Iraq amassing funds as oil flows
Special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction Stuart Bowen has issued a report that says the country could net $70 billion in oil revenues this year — more than enough for Baghdad to begin paying its own way. He talks with Kai Ryssdal.
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Apr 23, 2008
Unlikely donors keep money flowing
Contributions continue to grease the political skids in Washington. Jeanne Cummings of Politico tells host Kai Ryssdal that some of the key players in the subprime mess still have enough loose change to lobby for their causes.
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Apr 23, 2008
Craigslist CEO keeps focus on service
Jim Buckmaster isn't much interested in maximizing profits. The chief executive of Craigslist says the rapidly growing website's business model is all about the social good. He talks with host Kai Ryssdal in our latest Conversations From the Corner Office.
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Apr 21, 2008
Craigslist is a public service, CEO says
Newspapers don't much like craigslist — How can they compete with a Web site that runs free classifieds? But Kai Ryssdale learns from craigslist's CEO that the company considers itself a public service, not a rival.
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