Kai Ryssdal

Kai Ryssdal

Host, Marketplace

Kai Ryssdal took the reins as host of Marketplace in August 2005. He previously hosted the Marketplace Morning Report for more than four years.

Before joining Marketplace, Kai was a reporter and substitute host for The California Report, a news and information program distributed to public radio stations throughout California by KQED-FM in San Francisco.

His radio work has won first place awards from the Radio and Television News Directors Association and the national Public Radio News Directors Association.

After graduating from Emory University in Atlanta, Kai spent eight years in the United States Navy, first flying from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, and then as a Pentagon staff officer. Before his career in public radio, Kai was a member of the United States Foreign Service and served in Ottawa, Canada, and Beijing, China.

More from KCRW

The Santa Monica City Council recently voted to explore compensating the descendants of a Black man named Silas White for his plot of land on Ocean Ave.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

A sonic trip through the past, present and future of roots music.

from Jeremy Sole

The Japanese American community in LA’s South Bay is taking pride in Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers’ star Japanese players this season.

from KCRW Features

KCRW Music recently returned from the 2024 South by Southwest music festival. Here are some highlights from what we heard, saw, and experienced on the ground.

from Music News

This week, Denis McManus, professor of philosophy at the University of Southampton reflects on authenticity and the allure of being true to ourselves and suggests that while…

from Life Examined

It’s opening day for the LA Dodgers, who are feeling the pressure amid an ongoing investigation into star Shohei Ohtani and costly acquisitions during the off-season.

from KCRW Features

A new AI company called Suno wants everyone to be able to produce their own pro-level songs. What does that mean for artists?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Japanese-Canadian artist Saya Gray makes collage-style, abrasively pretty musical things.

from Morning Becomes Eclectic

Check out “Pattymanajaro” from new(ish) guitar-pop project Yasawa Group ahead of their debut show at the Paramount this weekend.

from FREAKS ONLY