Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Lamtman
Joseph, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
A few years before I started the show, it was an idea I had in my mind. I had many people I looked up to and were fans of in the industry that inspired me. People such as Dennis Simsek also known as “The Anxiety Guy.” Dennis has been a tremendous mentor, coach, and friend to me. He also really helped me personally with my journey of overcoming my struggles with anxiety and panic. Other people in sports media such as Jason Whitlock. My father and I were big fans of his show “Speak For Yourself” on FS1 and never missed a single episode from the first time we watched. Whether or not I always agreed with Jason’s takes, I admired the way he spoke with eloquence, realness, and conviction on his stances. Not just on sports topics but things in life, culture, and spiritually. Former NBA player and number one overall pick Kwame Brown was a big inspiration to me. All I ever knew about Kwame before 2021 was that he some bust in basketball because that’s what most people in the mainstream media said, but when I saw the video of him finally telling his side of the story, I instantly gravitated towards him. Not only did his testimony share a lot the truth of his story, but it also gave me the idea of how I should tell my story. The rawness and courage in my first video were inspired by Kwame Brown and his video. I also knew I wanted someone to be basically my co-host. Someone who had the same passion, interest, and desire to want to chase a dream in being able to talk about the things that mean the most to them. To hopefully help and inspired others. That person became Mike Antonace. Mike already knew my parents because he worked with my dad in the car business. Mike and I first met one night at my house in September of 2020. From the first night I met him I knew he was going to be my co-host, but most importantly someone who would become a great friend and brother.
I did my first ever recorded video in April of 2022 where I told the whole world where I had been after years of being in hiatus. That video was not only my first ever uploaded to YouTube, but also my most important and notable one. After my first nine episodes I then did my first ever episode of my podcast show, The Real With Joseph Lamtman. I continued to discuss my journey centered around mental and spiritual health, but also about something I am so passionate about which is sports. Sports has always been a huge part of my life. I played football, basketball, and baseball starting at the age seven, and continued all the way until I had to abruptly retire my athletic life at the age of sixteen. My athletic journey though was a great one. Met so people that became lifelong friends, mentors, and brothers. I also was starting center on a team that won a national championship in 2012, won championships in the other two sports, and was grateful to have many brilliant minds teach me the games. Most who played at a high level themselves and shared that wealth on knowledge with me and taught me how to become great. The spiritual side of the show comes from the foundation established at home, the church I grew up in, and the school I attended from kindergarten to the eighth grade. Then the mental health side comes from people like Dennis, my life coaches Mike and Don, and obviously the experiences I went through during my journey.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Around the age of eleven I started to develop an anxiety and panic condition, mostly centered around health anxiety. I did everything most other kids did at that age. Went to school, played three sports, traveled, and hung out with friends. By the time I got into my freshman year of high school my condition continued to worsen. So much so that I had to leave school abruptly the first month into my sophomore year because my condition had gotten to a point where it was hard to function in my day-to-day life. I was never able to reattend school in person, and my athletic career had ended due to my circumstances. My life turned in a complete one-eighty overnight. I was isolated, saddened, confused, angry, depressed, and didn’t know where my life was heading.
After all that had happened, the next seven years of my life would become the hardest and most difficult years. My journey of overcoming my condition was like being stranded out in the middle of ocean on a jet-ski. Riding the waves of severe anxiety and depression, while also trying to find a direction to a place of freedom, relief, and a feeling of safety. Those years were filled with day-to-day challenges. Those challenges included severe anxiety and panic attacks, and the lowest point of my life, where I barely went a block away from my house for an entire year. The only way I left the house was by bicycle. The bicycle was my “jet-ski.” The reason I only left via bike for a period was because I felt I had a sense of control, maintain how far I thought I could go without going into a full-blown panic, and at my pace. Due to my traumatic experiences starting at eleven, I had developed a loss of trust in the outside world. Not only with people but with myself. Panic attacks are also one the scariest things you could ever experience. It truly feels like the closest thing to death and after each one there was fear of having another one. Because of all of that my confidence was very low, and I felt the only place of safety and comfort was in my home.
It was an extremely difficult time for my family as well. That experience really took a toll on not only me but them as well. My parents had to sacrifice a lot in order to be there to help me in certain situations and to help me cope. The biggest blessing to our family was my sister when she entered the world in 2008. I was eight at the time and now was an older brother. During those years she was a kid in elementary and middle school. The only people I ever wanted to see me in my rough moments were my parents. Due to my last days in high school in person and some of the bad experiences I had publicly during that time, I never wanted that to happen again. Those moments felt so embarrassing, and I didn’t know how to express how I was feeling. I also never wanted my sister to see me like that as well, because I wanted her to not live in a home where that it affected her as well. I wanted to her to just be free, have fun, be a kid, and for me to be the best big brother I could be. As she has gotten older though, she obviously understands what had happened, but she has been big help for me, more than she knows it. Her youthfulness and joy helped our family stay balanced and sane during those difficult years. My parents did a great job helping balance that out. I had some immediate family members who really helped along the way as well and were always there for me when I needed it most. Either by phone call or coming to help me. I am beyond grateful for them and how much they helped me along the way.
Over time my radius away from the house slowly started to expand but was a great challenge for me due to my panic disorder. That one year in particular really made me question if my life would ever be normal again. Could I ever even go five minutes from my house even? I had a lot of doubt creeping into my head, but I could feel something in my spirit telling to hang in there, you will see better days and have a chance to live life again. As hard as those years turned out to be, they were also the years where God instilled into me the knowledge, lessons, and direction that I would need for where He was taking me. It was bigger than just me.
That direction led to April 2, 2022. That day, after seven long and difficult years, I found myself finally having the courage and boldness to tell the world where I had been and what I had been going through. It was a very difficult thing for me to do, but it the most important thing I ever did. It was the start of my next chapter in life. The Real has given me an opportunity to express all the things I kept inside of me during those hard years. It’s been not only a big boost for my healing journey, but for others as well. All the lessons I learned and the knowledge I obtained from the people I’ve mentioned, I was able to pass onto to others who were (or are) right where I was. The feedback and reaction from those people have really helped inspire me more and further shows me how my pain had a purpose. If I had to go through what I did in order for others to heal and live freely, I would do it all over again. There truly isn’t anything that brings more satisfaction and appreciation than that. I can’t thank all of my supporters enough. They’re the ones that give me the motivation to keep the show going. I give all the thanks and glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without Him I wouldn’t be who or where I am today….. God is great!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Still to this day I’m still most known for my first video. It’s what has had the greatest impact and was the most significant moment. Overtime though I developed more towards what I ultimately aspire for it to become. I have a great group of people around who have contributed and really helped the show grow. Were all friends and have the same passion for what it is were talking about. I think what sets us apart is we have guys with either lots of knowledge on the sport itself (or other topics), people who keep up to date on what’s happening in current time, and people who have managed business’, especially in the car business which teaches you a ton. The car business actually has a lot of correlations to the business in sports and really just life in general. What also sets us apart is were not PC nor try to pretend to be people were not. We all know each other very well and that only brings out the best in each other. Either in conversations on the topic were discussing, great debates, and a whole lot of entertainment. Our chemistry was good when we started, but I think has grown to a greater level which in turn has really taken the show to a whole new level. We have developed an audience who follow us, tune into every show, and appreciate what we’re doing. We can’t thank those people enough. I think one of the things were all most proud of is that the platform has become an open and free space for fans, or just people in general, to come and express what it is they want to let out. Without any filter, judgment, or labeling. It’s been awesome!
We’re most known for our Sunday LIVES over on The Real. During the NFL football season and leading up to the draft we cover all things Cleveland Browns. We have our Sunday LIVES usually the night after the games on Sunday’s. We also cover all things Cleveland sports and Ohio State Football. Whenever there is breaking news or developments on all things Cleveland Sports, we react asap as well. Cleveland is our market and most of us on the panel grew up fans of the team since were from the area. We also now have expanded The Real into its own media group with other shows. We have “The Professional Fan” led by Mike Antonace. Mike breaks down covers all things NFL, Browns, and NFL draft related. He does a fantastic job and is really a natural in this podcast game. We also have “The Fix” led by Dan and Chris. These two are also contributors to The Real and do a fantastic job and bring a lot of entertainment and insight to the channel. The Fix is a show based around sports betting, predictions, and also great analysis about the NFL, NBA, NFL, and so on. Whenever there is breaking news or developments on all things Cleveland Sports, we react asap as well.
Were in the beginning stages now of where we ultimately want to see The Real get to. We’re going to be looking to continue expand as well with new shows and people who will bring even more to The Real. We all have the same love, passion, and dedication for it. There’s also been a lot of learning on the fly and trial and error, so I think once we find the right balance it will all come together. We will get there and I’m excited to continue on this journey.
What’s next?
Were in the beginning stages now of where we ultimately want to see The Real get to. We’re going to be looking to continue expand as well with new shows and people who will bring even more to The Real. We all have the same love, passion, and dedication for it. There’s also been a lot of learning on the fly and trial and error, so I think once we find the right balance it will all come together. I’m also looking forward to having more people come onto the platform and share their testimonies. That’s what I am most excited for right now because the people I’m already getting planned to come on will be great ones. Some of them people may already know, and some will be someone maybe you’ve never heard of. I think that it’s what’s great about all of this. We’re all just regular people sharing our stories and passing along the wisdom we have to hopefully help others. I know people will appreciate and love it because it’s relatable to everyone. There’s definitely been a lot of learning on the fly, and trial and error, so I think once we find the right balance, and when God says it’s time, it will all come together. We will get there and I’m excited to continue on this journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://youtu.be/4al2w10agkU?si=uVWatm6AvQmP3gHA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephlamtman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jack.cates.9256
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-lamtman-06781726a
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@josephlamtman?si=xSpWgBjCv8d3yJ10
- Other: https://linktr.ee/josephlamtman?fbclid=IwY2xjawJVR91leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZExkPpz1JMFCl4BGhMKDUKtKxcf850Z-Vy1hgqYZXAyMdp166mRl-_Kkg_aem_wdbEcWK2F1YIlUqErNubZg
