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

Mar 5, 2008
Letters
Don't miss the missives from our listeners. This week our listeners weigh in on stories about compact fluorescent light bulbs and elephant sanctuaries.
Read MoreDownload
Mar 4, 2008
Corporations threaten democracy
Commentator Charles Handy says American corporations are run more like totalitarian states than pillars of democracy. He hopes they can restore their reputations as forces of economic good. Last in a series.
Read MoreDownload
Feb 29, 2008
Bush calls for more wiretapping power
At President Bush's press conference he talked about everything from fighting AIDS to stimulating the economy. But his most passionate topic was why Congress should pass the warrantless wiretapping program. Kai Ryssdal has more.
Read MoreDownload
Feb 28, 2008
Jack Daniel’s master distiller retires
After 40 years with the company, Jimmy Bedford is retiring from his position as the master distiller for Jack Daniel's. Kai Ryssdal talks with him about how he helped make the signature whiskey.
Read MoreDownload
Feb 28, 2008
Another rate cut ahead — maybe
Ben Bernanke went to Capitol Hill to once again express the critical state of the economy. He signaled that the Fed is still deciding whether to cut interest rates. Kai Ryssdal has more.
Read MoreDownload
Feb 27, 2008
Where does that $3 trillion go?
This year President Bush proposed a federal budget of more than $3 trillion. Kai Ryssdal talks to Scott Bittle, author of "Where Does the Money Go?," about how taking a closer look at the spending of federal dollars could help avoid future deficits.
Read MoreDownload
Feb 26, 2008
Bigger isn’t always better for business
Commentator Charles Handy says American businesses' desire to keep getting bigger leads to bureaucracy over humanity. Instead, he says, companies should strive to do more with less. (One in a series.)
Read MoreDownload
Feb 26, 2008
High prices eat into food relief efforts
As food prices continue to rise, humanitarian food relief groups including the World Food Programme are feeling the squeeze. Host Kai Ryssdal speaks with Bob Bell from the relief group CARE on what his group is doing to combat high costs.
Read MoreDownload
Feb 23, 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.
Read MoreDownload
Feb 23, 2008
Auto workers worry buyout won’t go far
GM, Ford and Chrysler have offered $100,000 buyouts to many of their hourly auto workers. But for some of those employees the money isn't worth the uncertainty of getting another job. Dustin Dwyer reports.
Read MoreDownload