An Iowa State alum has landed a role on one of the most popular live-action preschool shows. Ben Mayer can now be seen on “Blippi,” an innovative, digital-first content show that has more than 1 billion monthly views across streaming platforms.
At Iowa State, Mayer (’21) performed in several theater productions, but an inquisitive mind led him to study anthropology.
“A huge thing anthropology teaches you is that we are a small part of the world,” Mayer says. “It teaches you understanding and how to be captivated by things that are different than your experience.”
That curiosity paid off when a casting call came his way in early 2023 that seemed too good to be true. Shortly after auditioning, Mayer flew to Los Angeles for multiple test shoots and a “Blippi Boot Camp” to learn more about the role. “I spent two weeks diving into the character,” Mayer says. “I got vocal lessons, improv lessons, and movement coaching, which was so fun.”
Mayer made his debut in November 2023 in Blippi’s Vroom Vroom Vehicle Show, a new four-episode series in which Blippi teams up with Monster Jam, Caterpillar, and F1 to explore different types of vehicles.
“Blippi encourages a lifelong love of learning,” Mayer says. “Blippi is here to become your kid’s best friend and inspire them to learn through play with the fun, engaging content and experiences he creates.”
On a recent trip to LA, Mayer visited a children’s hospital as Blippi.
“The episodes are so fun, but visiting Children’s Hospital Los Angeles was maybe the most meaningful thing I’ve done,” Mayer says. “I got to see reactions in person and see that joy come across these kids’ faces who have to go through some awful stuff.”
Growing up, Mayer often spent time in his mother’s classroom interacting with children while summers included working as a camp counselor.
“Everything in my life teed me up perfectly to get this role,” Mayer says. “To have that impact and that outreach is huge.”