🌎 It’s World Press Freedom Day. Stand with Marketplace and our independent journalism. Donate now

Kai Ryssdal

Host and Senior Editor

SHORT BIO

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 Stories (5,782)

A change in the S&P 500 stock index

Dec 10, 2010
This final note on the way out, an observation about the ever-evolving state of the American economy. Standard & Poor's announced some changes...

Paper or plastic?

Dec 8, 2010
This final note today: Some solace the next time you get stuck behind somebody paying by check in the grocery store. Yes, Mom, I'm talking to you....

The white-collar struggle in "The Company Men"

Dec 8, 2010
A new film opening this weekend in select cities is offering a view of life that most everyone in America has seen in some way: layoffs. John Wells, the director and producer of "The Company Men," talks to Kai Ryssdal about what he discovered about the recession as he was making the film.

How toys are surviving the recession

Dec 3, 2010
It's holiday season in a down economy. If you wanted to get an indication of how America is doing right now, the world's biggest toy store might be the best place. Toys"R"Us CEO Jerry Storch talks about the role of toys in today's economy.

Tax cuts and the World Cup in Russia

Dec 2, 2010
Two final notes on the way out today: First, the House passed an extension of the Bush era tax cuts today for couples making less than $250,000....

Wikileaks's newest target

Nov 30, 2010
This final note today: Finally a business angle to the Wikileaks story. Forbes magazine posted an interview with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange...

On mailing champagne flutes

Nov 29, 2010
This final note today: A helpful tip as you get those holiday packages ready to ship off to relatives. Whatever you do, don't mark it "fragile."...

The value of a dollar

Nov 19, 2010
Kai Ryssdal talks to photographer Jonathan Blaustein about his "Value of a dollar" project, where he photographs a dollar's worth of various types of food.

Who's made the biggest gain in carmaker shares?

Nov 18, 2010
This final note today, a slightly different perspective on the news we started with: the GM IPO. GM shares, as we said, gained about a percent t...