Johnson finds renewed purpose in podcast partnership with Carton

Tyrone Johnson has joined Craig Carton as co-host on The Craig Carton Show, a one-hour podcast produced in partnership with Red Seat Ventures. The appointment follows Johnson’s departure from his afternoon drive role at 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia last April, a period he describes as marked by significant personal struggle and mental health challenges. Johnson characterises the new position as a necessary reset that has revitalised his passion for the sports media industry.

During his three-year tenure at The Fanatic, Johnson carried the weight of representing black sports radio talent without an athletic background. He stated that the pressure to succeed and create pathways for others in his community had a detrimental effect on his physical and mental well-being. “Literally it was affecting my physical health,” Johnson said, noting that the mental drain became unsustainable. He expressed feelings of having let down his community after his departure, a sentiment that required time and therapy to process.

The new role with Carton offers a stark contrast to his previous experience. Johnson highlighted the unscripted nature of The Craig Carton Show, where topics are not predetermined and reactions unfold in real time. He described this lack of a roadmap as “exhilarating” and beneficial for his mental health, allowing him to reconnect with the joy of content creation without the rigid expectations he faced in traditional radio.

Red Seat Ventures, the production partner for the podcast, was acquired by Fox Corporation in early 2025. The acquisition brought Carton, a former WFAN host, into a roster that also includes conservative political commentators such as Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, and Piers Morgan. Johnson noted that Carton has been a long-time supporter of his career, having previously mentioned him for a program that eventually became Breakfast Ball on FS1.

Johnson remains optimistic about the future of representation in sports radio, believing that the industry will increasingly recognise the revenue potential of diverse programming. He views his current position as an opportunity to adapt to both traditional and digital media landscapes, stating that he is an asset in both areas. The partnership with Carton, who recently returned to WFAN, has also inspired Johnson to refine his own craft, with the co-host noting that Carton’s return has “sharpened” his approach to broadcasting.