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 8, 2008
Zimbabwe economy needs foreign help
Whoever is declared the winner of Zimbabwe's presidential election will have his hands full dealing with the nation's shattered economy. Kai Ryssdal talks with economist Tony Hawkins in Harare, Zimbabwe, about the job ahead.
Read MoreDownload
Apr 5, 2008
Week on Wall Street
Kai Ryssdal chats with Kim Clark of U.S. News & World Report about what happened on Wall Street this week and what may lie ahead.
Read MoreDownload
Apr 5, 2008
Times change, roots of crises remain
The Great Depression of the 1930s came about from problems in the banking system. Today's economic woes are primarily rooted in investment banks and hedge funds. Kai Ryssdal looks at how the names have changed but the underlying problems are the same.
Read MoreDownload
Apr 4, 2008
Soros: Financial crisis worst since ’30s
Investor and philanthropist George Soros says the financial system as we know it is broken. He talks with Kai Ryssdal about his new book in which he offers what he calls a new paradigm for the financial markets.
Read MoreDownload
Apr 4, 2008
Are new suits a good fit for swimming?
Speedo's new LZR Racer swimsuit is going to be the hottest thing in the Olympic pool this summer. Some are crediting it for the world records that have been falling during qualifying trials this spring. Diana Nyad tells Kai Ryssal more about it.
Read MoreDownload
Apr 3, 2008
Bernanke foresees shrinking economy
Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress' Joint Economic Committee that he expects the economy to slow even further. And the housing crisis? It's not his problem.
Read MoreDownload
Apr 2, 2008
Letters from our listeners
Kai Ryssdal reviews your letters on issues ranging from corruption in Louisiana to electronic devices marketed to women and an assumption about our audience's demographics.
Read MoreDownload
Apr 1, 2008
‘Upfronts’ are changing channels
"The upfronts" — the events where TV networks tell advertisers what's on and advertisers plunk down billions to buy time — are going to be a bit different this year, beginning this week. Joe Adalian, the TV editor at Variety, explains to Kai Ryssdal.
Read MoreDownload
Apr 1, 2008
There’s the plan, then the execution
Treasury Secy. Paulson admits that, this being a presidential election year, nothing much is going to happen with his announced regulation plan anytime soon. Kai Ryssal talks about it with Joe Grundfest, who used to sit on the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Read MoreDownload
Mar 27, 2008
Deconstructing Henry
Treasury Secy. Henry Paulson spoke on financial policy today. Frankly, the speech was a bit dull. So we asked some experts to take it apart and tell us what was significant. Kai Ryssdal has more.
Read MoreDownload