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 (6,080)
Latest Stories (5,820)
For aspiring CEOs, being a buyer rather than a founder is an increasingly attractive path
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Sarah Leeson
Mar 27, 2024
Raising "search funds" to find a business to buy may be an answer to a challenging startup landscape.
America's largest city has a trash problem. Can it be contained?
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Sofia Terenzio
Mar 21, 2024
Plastic trash bags, and the rats they attract, are very visible parts of the New York landscape. A plan to bring in bins may squeeze scarce space.
Wait, how much will the Inflation Reduction Act's climate provisions cost?
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Andie Corban
Mar 13, 2024
We break down the role of uncapped tax credits in the IRA's climate provisions with John Bistline of the Electric Power Research Institute.
Good luck booking that big birthday dinner
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Andie Corban
Mar 13, 2024
Alina Dizik wrote in The Wall Street Journal about why some restaurants don't want parties of six or more people.
This regional banker cheered by sector's resilience, disturbed by potential regulation
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Sean McHenry
Mar 12, 2024
Laurie Stewart of Sound Community Bank is confident a year after three banks failed, but credit risk and cyber threats are on her radar.
Reviews or "paid promotional content"? Amazon is paying users to make videos of its products
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Sofia Terenzio
Mar 7, 2024
The online retail behemoth is selling access to its sizable platform to gig workers, says Caroline O'Donovan of The Washington Post.
The IRS pilots its free tax-filing program
by
Kai Ryssdal
, Aleezeh Hasan
and Sean McHenry
Mar 6, 2024
The new program, called Direct File, has been rolled out in a dozen states. But how does it stack up to private tax-filing software?
Can AI patent an invention?
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Sofia Terenzio
Mar 5, 2024
The Patent and Trademark Office only recognizes human inventors. Regulators are trying to keep up with tech, says Fordham's Janet Freilich.
How NYT critic Morris looks at movie watching
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Sean McHenry
Mar 4, 2024
Cooper, Giamatti or Murphy? Morris weighs in on the range of talent up for Oscars and the "range of experiences" he seeks as a moviegoer.
This might be the economy that liberals wanted, but do most voters feel the same?
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Sean McHenry
Feb 27, 2024
If people don’t feel the strength of the economy, Democrats may have a problem this election season, says Victoria Guida at Politico.