Podcast Summary: "Rikers Youth Find Role Model In Pastor & NFL Alum Tim Johnson"

Podcast: All Of It, WNYC
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Kayla Johnson (Director, Fatherless No More; daughter of Tim Johnson)
Date: December 8, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the documentary Fatherless No More, which follows Tim Johnson—a Super Bowl champion and former NFL player turned pastor—as he mentors incarcerated youth at Rikers Island. Film director Kayla Johnson, who is also Tim’s daughter, discusses her father’s unique approach, the experiences of the young men involved, and how the film aims to challenge stereotypes about both Rikers and its residents.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Tim Johnson’s Unusual Calling

• Background: Tim Johnson played in the NFL for 10 years—Steelers, Washington, Bengals—and also won a national championship at Penn State.

  "Very rare that you see an athlete win a national championship and a Super Bowl." (Kayla Johnson, 03:47)

• Spiritual Calling: After football, Tim became a pastor. He felt called—in prayer—to serve youth at Rikers, despite not being from New York or having connections to the system.

  "When he was praying one day, he asked, you know, 'father, show me the secrets of your heart.’ And he [heard] Rikers Island, which was kind of out of the blue…" (Kayla Johnson, 04:43)

Breaking Barriers at Rikers Island

• Reception at Rikers: Initially met with skepticism by correction staff; some staff hoped for change due to ongoing violence, while others doubted his intentions.

  "Some of the CEOs are like, 'what is this? Just another pastor trying to get his...moment,' and then I think other staff were desperate for change." (Kayla Johnson, 05:32)

• Living Among the Youth: Unique in that he lived in an RV outside the Rikers gates, spending his days immersed with the teens.

  "He did something that had never been done before, which is living in an RV on Rikers Island." (Kayla Johnson, 06:47)

Redefining Affection and Fatherhood

• Physical Affection as Disarmament: Johnson greeted each young man with a loving gesture—touching their face and expressing love, which was both unusual and transformative within a jail environment.

  "Showing affection and showing that type of love can be awkward...But being in that environment, that is a sign you’re trying to hurt somebody...And so the fact that he kind of flipped that on its head and used love as a way to disarm these young men is really how he was able to open the door to build trust." (Kayla Johnson, 07:27)

• Initial Reactions: The young men were guarded and uncomfortable at first, but quickly grew to seek out these moments, forming lines for Johnson’s affirming attention.

  "It quickly turned into...‘When is he coming back?’ and I can’t wait. They wait in a line now for him to grab their face and just speak life into them." (Kayla Johnson, 08:40)

Vulnerability and Relatability as a Tool

• Tim’s Own Background: Johnson was able to relate to the teens because he grew up without knowing his own father; his empathy was genuine rather than performative.

  "He comes from a real genuine place—not some...big time Super Bowl champion coming in and trying to tell you how to live your life, but speaking from experience." (Kayla Johnson, 09:18)

Filming Authenticity at Rikers (with Kayla Johnson)

• Building Trust with Youth: Kayla emphasized patience and authenticity; she and her co-filmmakers prioritized relationship-building over getting dramatic footage, resulting in more honest storytelling.

  "I always say care more about the person and the story. That’s just like my motto going into filmmaking." (Kayla Johnson, 10:55)

• Avoiding Hit Piece Journalism: Kayla resisted sensationalizing Rikers, striving instead to highlight underreported stories of care within the facility.

  "There are people at Rikers that care about the well-being of these young men. And you’ll see in the film that is displayed as well." (Kayla Johnson, 12:56)

Humanizing Juvenile Incarceration

• Importance of Family Perspectives: Including interviews with family members was vital to capturing the full humanity and backgrounds of incarcerated youth.

  "I really wanted them to be described beyond just the people that they were in close proximity to...I wanted to get the wholeness of a person, not just one side of them." (Kayla Johnson, 14:27)

• Effects of the Initiative: Johnson’s consistent love made youth feel they belonged and that their futures mattered.

  "One of the young men said, 'Being in this initiative, it gives me something to live for.'...Some of these guys make these decisions because they don’t think they have anything to lose." (Kayla Johnson, 16:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Black Masculinity and Affection:

  “When you see black men, you don’t get to see pure affection in that way...We’re created to be loved.” (Kayla Johnson, 07:27)

• Breaking Through Mistrust:

  “They wait in a line now for him to grab their face and just speak life into them.” (Kayla Johnson, 08:40)

• On Supportive Staff at Rikers:

  "Officer Cummings and Officer White are 2 COs at that place that love those guys deeply and want to see them succeed...That’s something...hardly covered that I’ve seen." (Kayla Johnson, 12:56)

• On the Impact of Love:

  “You don’t really understand how disarming love can be until you experience the Father’s love, the heavenly Father’s love. And I think that God sent him there to express that to those young men.” (Kayla Johnson, 15:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:09-01:17 – Introduction to the documentary and guest
• 03:35 – Kayla Johnson joins the conversation
• 03:47 – Tim Johnson’s football career overview
• 04:29 – Tim’s spiritual calling to Rikers
• 05:32 – Rikers staff’s reaction to the initiative
• 07:13 – Affection and relationship-building with youth
• 09:18 – Tim Johnson’s background and relatability
• 10:55 – Kayla on filmmaking in a correctional setting
• 12:56 – Stories of caring correctional officers
• 14:27 – Inclusion of incarcerated youth’s families
• 16:33 – Enduring emotional impact of the initiative

Tone & Takeaway

The episode is deeply empathetic and reflective, focused on the power of genuine human connection—even within the harshest institutions. Both Alison Stewart and Kayla Johnson maintain a tone of candor, hope, and nuanced understanding; they champion the importance of love, care, and authentic storytelling to change narratives and lives.