Kai Ryssdal

Emmy Award-Winning Journalist, Host and Senior Editor of American Public Media’s Marketplace, Co-Host of the “Make Me Smart” Podcast

Topics: Economy, Moderator, Host & Emcee, Communication, World Affairs, Media, Politics, Thought Leadership, Business

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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 Sky, Big 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.

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Blog Posts

Elevate Your Event With These Skills: Insights from Gabriella Robuccio

Think event planning is all about checklists and timetables? Think again. Emmy‑winning strategist Gabriella Robuccio shares more on The Keynote Curators Podcast.

Celebrating Juneteenth with These Transformative Keynotes

Learn how intentional Juneteenth programming paired with transformative keynote speakers can turn commemoration into sustained equity and inclusion.

AI, GEO, & SEO Marketing for Speakers: The 2025 Authority-Building Playbook

How Professional Speakers and Speaker Bureaus Can Leverage AI to Build Unshakeable Authority and Increase Visibility in the New Search Landscape

Rethinking Events: Bite-Sized Surprises and Live Interaction with Seth Godin

Seth Godin shares his strategies and suggestions for unforgettable events—from riff-based teaching to co-creation through communication and creativity.

Aligning Prosperity with Purpose: Money Lessons from Doug Lynam

Marine. Monk. Manager. Behavioral finance expert Doug Lynam helps you heal your relationship with finances, aligning prosperity with a deeper, personal purpose.

Expert Mental Health Keynote Speakers That Can Elevate Your Attendees’ Experiences

Learn how the right mental health keynote speaker can help transform your events by fostering connection, resilience, and lasting impact that last a lifetime.