
The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly
When sports, business and culture collide, there’s often a deal to be made. Join Alex Rodriguez and Bloomberg correspondent Jason Kelly as they get the inside track from corporate titans, sports champions and game-changing entrepreneurs on investing, strategy, reinvention and the ones that got away. The Deal is a Bloomberg Podcasts and Bloomberg Originals series that’s passionate, relaxed, insightful and inspirational. If you think you know these icons, prepare to be surprised.
Hosts:
Alex Rodriguez is chairman and chief executive of A-Rod Corp, an investment firm that backs startups and partners with global companies across real estate, sports and entertainment. While best known as a fourteen-time All-Star and World Series champion with the New York Yankees, Rodriguez is now an owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx sports teams and an on-air analyst for Major League Baseball.
Jason Kelly is the chief correspondent of Bloomberg Originals. During his two decades at Bloomberg, Kelly has served as executive editor of Bloomberg Television, hosted Bloomberg Businessweek on television and radio, and also hosted Power Players and Next in Sports series. He’s also the author of two books, The New Tycoons, about the global private equity industry, and Sweat Equity, an inside look at the business of fitness.
Latest episodes

Jun 26, 2025 • 45min
Bill Belichick and Ray Dalio on What It Takes to Win
Bill Belichick, the legendary former NFL coach now leading at UNC, and Ray Dalio, the visionary founder of Bridgewater Associates, share their insights on winning. Belichick reveals how Dalio's book inspired his football principles. They discuss the core values of motivation, teamwork, and the necessity of embracing discomfort for growth. The duo reflects on the intricate relationship between coaching and leadership, emphasizing transparency and the importance of continuous learning as they transition from professional challenges to collegiate coaching.

14 snips
Jun 19, 2025 • 45min
How Blackstone’s David Blitzer Invested in Every Major Sport
David Blitzer, Chairman at Blackstone and co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, discusses his unique journey from a 'failed athlete' to owner of teams in all five major American sports leagues. He highlights how data and analytics enhance fan experiences and details his investments in youth sports, aiming to bridge the fragmented market. Blitzer also shares insights on the rising popularity of women's sports and innovative strategies to attract younger audiences, comparing choosing a favorite team to picking a favorite child.

Jun 12, 2025 • 25min
How Magic Johnson Went From NBA Legend to Billionaire
In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with Magic Johnson, the iconic point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. In their conversation, taped in front of a live audience at the Milken Global Conference, Johnson reveals what he’s learned from his “greatest deal,” becoming part of the Washington Commanders ownership group. He also explains why pitching himself as a partner to the Starbucks board was the hardest thing he’s ever done, and how much it meant to win an Olympic gold medal alongside Michael Jordan and Larry Bird.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 5, 2025 • 49min
How Susie Wolff Is Driving Change in F1
In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with Susie Wolff, the managing director of F1 Academy, about how she’s helping more female racers try to advance into the ranks of Formula One. In this conversation, Wolff tells the hosts how she got all ten F1 teams to support cars in F1 Academy, why she wanted to sign makeup brand Charlotte Tilbury and what she hopes viewers will learn from watching Netflix’s new docuseries, “F1: The Academy.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15 snips
May 29, 2025 • 48min
Inside the Commanders DC Deal with Owner Josh Harris
Josh Harris, owner of the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia 76ers, shares insights on groundbreaking stadium deals and team management. He discusses the ambitious plans for a $3.8 billion stadium in D.C. and highlights the intricate negotiations behind relocating sports teams. Harris dives into enhancing player experiences and the community impact of sports, while addressing financial strategies that improve team performance. He also reflects on the responsibilities of sports owners in a competitive environment and the growth of women's sports.

May 22, 2025 • 47min
Mellody Hobson's Game-Changing Investment in Women's Sports
In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, about her firm’s newly launched fund, “Project Level,” devoted to investing in women’s sports. In this conversation, which was taped in front of an audience at Bloomberg’s Invest conference, Hobson tells the hosts why she decided to personally invest in the Chicago White Sox and the Denver Broncos, how F1 racer Lewis Hamilton taught her to speak more positively to herself and what she learned from a specific seat at the table of the Starbucks Board of Directors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 15, 2025 • 25min
Why College Sports Will Never Be the Same, With Georgia Tech's J Batt
In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly sit down with Georgia Tech Athletics Director J Batt to discuss the current upheaval in college athletics. In their conversation, taped in front of a live audience during March Madness, Batt explains how his athletics department is helping students navigate new rules around “name, image and likeness,” the transfer portal and potential revenue-sharing opportunities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 8, 2025 • 42min
How McLaren’s Zak Brown Wins with a Pair of Rivals
In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk about McLaren Racing’s success at the Miami Grand Prix, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finishing first and second on the podium. Then, they speak with Zak Brown about how McLaren Racing came back from the brink of bankruptcy to be a winning team. Brown tells the hosts how he and his drivers deal with media scrutiny, why Netflix and Brad Pitt are crucial to Formula One’s growth, and he turns the tables for a lightning round of questions for A-Rod. You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 1, 2025 • 35min
How Jennifer Epstein Leveraged Celtics into Soccer, Plus a Miami GP Preview
In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk about the new Washington Commanders stadium deal and the upcoming Miami Grand Prix. Then, they speak with Jennifer Epstein about what it’s like to build a team from scratch with the NWSL’s latest expansion team: Boston Legacy FC. Epstein tells the hosts what she learned from her family’s ownership of the Boston Celtics, how she’s inspired by the passion of Boston sports fans, and why it’s too early to take a victory lap celebrating her investment in the NWSL. You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 24, 2025 • 34min
NFL CFO Christine Dorfler on the Draft, and Alex's NBA Playoff Report
In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk about the potential #1 pick in the NFL draft and Alex's report from sitting court-side in LA at a star-studded Timberwolves/Lakers Game 1 of the NBA playoffs. Then, they speak with Christine Dorfler about how she’s rising to the economy’s challenges as the NFL’s chief financial officer. Dorfler tells the hosts how a recession could affect the NFL’s media deal, why she sees so much potential in introducing private equity into team investments, and what she learned about resilience from being a military intelligence officer in the Army. You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.