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 (5,839)
Mattel's Bob Eckert on running the world's biggest toy company
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Kai Ryssdal
Feb 10, 2006
The toy industry's big trade show gets down to business in New York this weekend. Meanwhile, in our new series "Conversations from the Corner Office," Kai talks with Mattel's CEO Bob Eckert about the perks and responsibilities of running the world's biggest toymaker.
Southwest's Gary Kelly on building a corporate culture
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Kai Ryssdal
Jan 31, 2006
In the first installment of our new segment "Conversations from the Corner Office," Kai talks with Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly about building a corporate culture, and why the customer isn't necessarily always right.
How many people does it take to make radio?
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Kai Ryssdal
Jan 14, 2006
So it occurs to me…as we’re wait to check in for our flight to Chongqing…that you might not be aware of who’s here actually helping the show get on...
Piracy in China
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Kai Ryssdal
Jan 11, 2006
Ted Fishman has written about piracy in his book "China, Inc." He says Hollywood has reasons to complain about all those lost DVD sales, but it's the US economy that's taking the big hit. US companies can't compete with China's lowcost manufacturing, and because of piracy, some are afraid to sell goods in China.
"One Billion Customers"
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Kai Ryssdal
Jan 9, 2006
Kai Ryssdal talks with former Wall Street Journal reporter James McGregor about his book "One Billion Customers." They discuss China's economic transition and how the country's explosive growth is affecting the world.
All in a day's work...
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Kai Ryssdal
Jan 8, 2006
So the truth of the matter is I’m not sleeping very well. Seems like every morning I wake up at 3 or 3:15, toss and turn for a couple of hours,...
Just because you're not paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you...
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Kai Ryssdal
Dec 20, 2005
There’s something about our China project that’s been bugging me for a while. And I couldn’t really put my finger on in it until one night in...
Returning to China
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Kai Ryssdal
Dec 5, 2005
I never thought it would take me this long to get back to China. When we left in ’97 my wife and I were sure we’d be back here living and working...