Biography

Over the last 20 years, Kai has been the host and senior editor of Marketplace, the most popular program on business and the economy – radio or television, commercial or public broadcasting – in the country. He also co-hosts the podcast Make Me Smart.

Kai won an Emmy Award in 2012 for Outstanding Investigative Journalism on a PBS Frontline documentary about money in politics entitled Big SkyBig Money. His written work has been featured in The New York Times and The Atlantic. He is frequently called on as an event and panel moderator at such conferences as the Aspen Ideas Festival, Atlantic Ideas, Fortune Brainstorm, and Fast Company Innovation. Kai also speaks regularly with policymakers, including the Federal Reserve Chair, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Director of the White House National Economic Council. He interviewed President Obama twice in the Oval Office and once on a folding chair in the middle of the Nevada desert. 

Read More

Videos

Kai Ryssdal explains the Bond Market

Stronger Together: Expanding Worker Voice to Expand Economic Opportunity

Request Availability

Blog Posts

Why Top Event Planners Build Loyalty Loops (And You Should Too)

Build unwavering client loyalty through trust, engagement, and emotional connection—turning first-time buyers into forever advocates.

Read More

Best Artificial Intelligence Speakers for Healthcare Conferences (2026)

Discover the best Artificial Intelligence Speakers for Healthcare bringing innovation, ethics, and technology to modern medicine.

Read More

Purpose-Driven Leadership Lessons That Keep Elite Teams Aligned Under Pressure

Purpose-driven leadership expert Marc Koehler shares battle-tested strategies from nuclear submarines to transform how your team makes daily decisions.

Read More

Best Leadership Speakers for Real Estate & PropTech Conferences (2026)

Find the Best Leadership Speakers for Real Estate & PropTech Conferences. Book proven voices in AI, sustainability, and growth leadership today.

Read More

Why Your Event Network Matters More Than Your Runbook (The Hidden Success Factor)

Network strength decides event success more than any runbook—discover why trust between people creates unforgettable audience experiences.

Read More

Best Leadership Speakers for Construction & Infrastructure Conferences (2025)

Discover the Best Leadership Speakers for Construction & Infrastructure Conferences in 2025—experts in safety, culture, resilience, and operational excellence.

Read More

Related Economy Speakers

Contact Us Today

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Fill out the form so we can best understand your needs.
    A representative from The Keynote Curators will reach out to you.

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form