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. 

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Videos

Kai Ryssdal explains the Bond Market

Stronger Together: Expanding Worker Voice to Expand Economic Opportunity

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Blog Posts

Confidence Without Vulnerability Creates Teams That Never Improve

Can ego and vulnerability coexist in teams that actually win? Most leaders think they have to choose. Either you build confident people who believe they're excellent, or you create humble people who accept feedback. Either...

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Financial Planning in 2026 Requires a Clear Strategy

Have you noticed that the internet has never given more financial planning advice than it does right now? That's actually the problem. Your feed has become a 24/7 trading floor of hot takes. "Buy this."...

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Crisis Leadership Lessons from September 11 Reveal Everyday Resilience

What if the most powerful crisis leadership lesson from September 11 isn't about the decisions made in underground bunkers, but about the farmers, truckers, teachers, and everyday workers who make heroic responses possible? After sharing...

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Best Artificial Intelligence Speakers for Cybersecurity Conferences (2026 Guide)

Quick Links Artificial Intelligence Speakers Healthcare Keynote Speakers Top Technology Speakers Innovation Speakers Leadership Speakers Future of Work Speakers Get Proposal (availability & fees) If you’re searching for the Best Artificial Intelligence Speakers for Cybersecurity...

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Communication Strategies from Sarita Maybin that Transform Workplace Conflict Into Collaboration

Why Your Team's Real Problem Isn't Strategy—It's Communication When was the last time a workplace conversation went sideways, not because of what was said, but how it was delivered? Most organizations pour resources into strategic...

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The 2026 Keynote Speaker Lineup That Creates Real Momentum

If you're looking for a sign to power start your 2026, here it is: this is the year you stop negotiating with your potential. January arrives packed with goals, spreadsheets, and ambitious plans. However, goals...

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