 Crysell started his career in radio working first for Radio Northland in Whangarei in 1990 and then for National Radio in Christchurch and Wellington.He was seconded to Radio Deutsche Welle in Cologne, Germany between 1992 and 1994 where he also worked as Radio New Zealand's Europe Correspondent.Crysell's also been a fencing contractor in Taranaki, a truck and bulldozer driver, prospected for gas and oil in the Western Australian desert, a roofer in Bavaria and a courier driver in London.