He was born into a working class family. His mother worked for Boeing as a general laborer, his father as a tool maker for Heath Tecna, a supplier to Boeing. Rydell had three older sisters, one of whom had Down Syndrome and died at age 3. He spent his second birthday in a hospital with his father, who was recovering from cancer-induced amputation of one of his legs.

At the beginning of second grade the family moved to Payette, Idaho for a new job. It lasted only eight months. The family then moved to Billings, Montana where his father began a new career in radio.

When Rydell was 16, his parents told him to find a job or move out; He did both. His baseball coach was the program director at KGHL, and offered him a job, with one condition: changing his last name to avoid confusion with his father's radio program. "Rick Rydell" was born.

Rydell first gained notoriety in radio in Spokane, Washington with following gigs in KXYQ and KMJK in Portland, Oregon, then a two-year stint in Cleveland at WNCX. Rydell was the anchor on morning show that launched Mike Trivisonno and Todd Brandt into radio fame.

He was fired in 1990 and moved to Anchorage, Alaska. There, he was hired at the classic rock station KBFX. He made the transition to talk radio in 2001.

Rydell's program focused on local and state politics and current events. It shot up from 17th to #1 in six months where it has stayed at, or near the top ever since. Rydell now broadcasts weekday mornings throughout Alaska on 650 KENI in Anchorage.

Rydell's program was named "Best Morning Show" by The Oregonian in 1988, "Best Comedy Series" in 1994, "Best Radio Show" in 2005, and "Most Uniquely Alaskan Radio Show" in 2006 by the Alaska Broadcasters Association. Rydell himself was named Alaska Republican Man of the Year for 2004 by the Alaska Republican Party.

• In September 2007, his first book, Alaska Happens, was published. A book of short stories about hunting and fishing in Alaska. adn.com | Alaska Ear : Alaska Ear.Alaska Happens became one of the best selling Alaska books at local book stores..

• September 2008, Blood on the Tundra. More Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife in Alaska, was published and released. A follow up to "Alaska Happens" and reported to have "a nostalgic tone to some of the stories" and "a sad farewell to the waning "golden age" of hunting in Alaska during the last half of the 20th century. adn.com | Alaska Ear : Alaska Ear.

• May 2009, began as a regular article contributor for Fish Alaska and Hunt Alaska magazines..

Rydell lives in South Anchorage with his wife Susan.

He has also worked as a mechanic, lead singer of multiple rock bands, a hunting and fishing guide, and as a contractor.