One summer’s evening in 2017, Kai Ryssdal’s familiar, sonorous voice filled my car. It’s a great voice, deep yet warm, amused and insightful. That voice and Ryssdal’s radio persona are so appealing that one of my colleagues named his son Kai.

I looked at the clock – yup, Marketplace time. Business and economics are not great interests of mine, but I’m always up for that show’s particular brand of econotainment. As I turned onto the freeway, Ryssdal started a story about American banking.

“You...