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.
Episodes by Kai (5,973)
Latest Stories (5,794)
Hallmark movies may be "a little cookie-cutter," but audiences don't seem to mind
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Sean McHenry
Feb 12, 2024
"They are very cozy and comforting," said Danyel Smith of The New York Times Magazine. "Especially in these times."
How the infrastructure law will upgrade a neglected street in glitzy Las Vegas
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Andie Corban
Feb 8, 2024
"Marketplace’s" Kai Ryssdal visits a low-income district of the tourist mecca, where a federal grant will improve transportation and safety.
The "poison pill" that protects artists' work from AI scraping
by
Sarah Leeson
and Kai Ryssdal
Feb 5, 2024
"Everything is at stake," says Ben Zhao of the University of Chicago, who leads the development of two tools that support human creativity.
Space industry pollution above could have serious consequences for the environment below
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Sofia Terenzio
Feb 5, 2024
Damage to the ozone layer could raise the risk of skin cancer, cataracts and immune disorders, says science reporter Shannon Hall.
Biking in cities can be complicated, and map apps can only help so much
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Sarah Leeson
Jan 31, 2024
For cyclists, navigating town is a complex equation of infrastructure, hills, barriers and more. Apps like Google Maps are still figuring it out.
Teens have "kept the economy going," and their workforce numbers show it
by
Kai Ryssdal
, Sarah Leeson
and Sean McHenry
Jan 29, 2024
"About 37% of teens worked last year," says Abha Bhattarai of The Washington Post. "These teens are really excited," employers tell her.
How are Black communities in the rural South dealing with digital redlining?
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Richard Cunningham
Jan 26, 2024
Aallyah Wright of Capital B News traveled to Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia to see how people are coping with limited internet access.
FDR's New Deal transformed the economy. Could Biden do the same?
by
Kai Ryssdal
, Andie Corban
and Maria Hollenhorst
Jan 24, 2024
We look back at a moment in U.S. history when the federal government remade its relationship with the economy.
Google Search may be the most powerful arbiter of internet content
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Sean McHenry
Jan 22, 2024
Websites are making content "to try to game Google results," says Mia Sato of The Verge. What has that done to human creativity?
Why you'll have a hard time buying the "most American fruit"
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Sarah Leeson
Jan 19, 2024
Pawpaws are native to North America, but you're not going to find them in your local grocery store. Yasmin Tayag of The Atlantic explains why.