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

Sep 12, 2007
We were hoping he’d say something . . .
Fed chief Ben Bernanke spoke to the Bundesbank in Berlin today. We were all ready for a statement, but he uttered not a word about the little financial crisis we're having.
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Sep 11, 2007
Dealing with slumping sales
The risks linked to anemia drugs lead to rough sales for drugmaker Amgen. Kai Ryssdal sat down with CEO Kevin Sharer and asked him how he handled the hard business of downsizing during tough times.
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Sep 11, 2007
Leading through a period of trial
The biotechnology company Amgen produces two drugs for anemia that have earned the company billions of dollars. But new findings could result in strong warnings being placed on the drugs. Amgen CEO Kevin Sharer talked about his company's situation with Kai Ryssdal.
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Sep 8, 2007
Big changes at the top for Chrysler
Cerberus, the private equity group that bought Chrysler, has hired some big-name talent to lead the automotive company. Kai Ryssdal talks with the New York Times' Micheline Maynard about the automaker's high-level changes.
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Sep 8, 2007
Week on Wall Street
Stockbroker and business analyst David Johnson talks with host Kai Ryssdal about what happened on Wall Street this week and what may lie ahead.
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Sep 7, 2007
Real money in fantasy football
The National Football League season begins tonight, which means millions of fans playing fantasy football leagues are back in action as well. Business-of-sports expert Diana Nyad talks with Kai Ryssdal about the reality involved.
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Sep 6, 2007
Finding big meaning in small trends
In 1996, pollster Mark Penn highlighted what he thought was an important Democratic constituency: soccer moms. Now, he's got a new book out. He tells Kai Ryssdal of a new trend — young people minding their knitting.
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Sep 5, 2007
Small dreams for college-bound students
Low-income students still face a big barrier to college — the cost has more than tripled over the past 25 years. And state and federal aid hasn't kept up. So, as Laura Leslie reports, some students may be learning to dream small.
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Sep 5, 2007
Letters from our listeners
Kai Ryssdal reviews some of the correspondence we've received on Picassos, the Mondavi wine-making family, teaching a man to fish, and Leona Helmsley's dog.
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Aug 25, 2007
Week on Wall Street
Stockbroker and business analyst David Johnson talks with host Kai Ryssdal about how the markets are adjusting to the credit crunch and what may lie ahead.
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