Alex Rodriguez Says His New Podcast The Deal is About America’s ‘Fourth Sport’ — the ‘Business of Sports’ (Exclusive)

With 696 home runs in his 22-year baseball career, it’s safe to say that Alex Rodriguez knows a thing or two about sports.

But he also has plenty of business and media knowledge, having spent the past seven years as a sports analyst for FOX and ESPN. He was also a guest judge at Aquarium for sharkshe is currently co-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, and chairman of A-Rod Corp., his billion-dollar investment firm.

So it makes sense that his latest podcast venture, Agreement, talks about the boldest, most innovative and most exciting jobs in the business world of sports. Launching today, hosts the series with Bloomberg Chief Correspondent Jason Kelly,

“The way we see the world, at least my thesis, is that growing up we had three major sports: baseball, basketball, football,” Rodriguez, 48, tells PEOPLE. “I think the fourth sport today – and probably as popular as any of them – business sport and media.”

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He continues: “I think there are a lot of interesting young people who love sports but don’t have the opportunity to play in these three major leagues. But they can all be involved in the business somehow – being a GM or president, marketing. There are places for men and women. The sports business is huge is growing year on year, and we really wanted to unpack and understand that.”

Bloomberg Originals, the 12-episode limited series will include both audio and video, and will explore the strategies and challenges behind some of the biggest business moves by athletes, entertainers and executives from various industries. Famous guests include Derek Jeter, Michael Strahan and Maria Sharapova.

Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly will co-host a new original podcast and video series, The Deal.

Akilah Townsend/Bloomberg

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“We thought there was an opportunity to really talk to some of the best minds in sports and media,” says Rodriguez. Of course, he says it also helps him learn more and more about the job, which he loves to do.

“I’m a lifelong student,” he says. “As soon as I wake up, I learn something, read something, hear something, and then I go very narrowly and deeply into the things that really interest me.”

His co-host agrees with that opinion. “Alex is a total sponge,” Kelly says of A-Rod.

“He asks a ton of questions, even off the set, which is one of the reasons we decided to do the series,” he continues. “I think I also underestimated how big his ambition was for this part of his life and his business career. Even in an era where ex-athletes are building businesses, few are trying to build empires.”

Derek Jeter, Jason Kelly, Alex Rodriguez movie podcast and video series The Deal.

COURTESY OF BLOOMBERG

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Rodriguez attributes his love of work to watching his mom, Lourdes, 89, work like crazy to support him and his family when he was a kid living in Miami.

“She was a secretary in the morning and served tables at night,” Rodriguez recalls. “She would be gone from 8 in the morning until midnight. I knew early on that financial literacy was my way out and a way to help my mother.” He also adds that as a lifelong renter, he longed for the day when he could actually own something. “I thought, boy, if I could ever switch with the landlord, that would be nice!”

Later, as a professional athlete, he says that he noticed a lot of mistakes. “I’ve seen so many athletes go from rags to rags rich,” Rodriguez notes. “I didn’t want it to be me.”

To read more about Alex Rodriguez, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE magazine, on stands now.

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