From Mailman to Stand Up Comedy Star: The Viral Rise of “That 1 Mailman” Sean Fogelson

A Mailman with the Blues in Cincinnati

Sean Fogelson was just your average Cincinnati mail carrier – except maybe for the shiny grill on his teeth and a knack for cracking jokes. 

Day in and day out, he trudged through his route delivering letters and food stamp cards, feeling bored and even a bit depressed by the routine. 

He’d spent six years on the job dodging aggressive dogs and stuffing mailboxes in Price Hill, wondering if this was all life had in store. 

Little did he know, a special delivery was on the way for his own life.

A Daughter’s Special Delivery: TikTok

The turning point came from an unlikely source: his teenage daughter. 

Tired of seeing her dad in a funk, she introduced him to TikTok – that flashy app all the kids were obsessed with. 

At first, Sean was skeptical. 

What could a bored mailman possibly do on a platform full of dance challenges and lip-syncing teens? 

But with a little prodding from his daughter, he decided to kill some time at work by filming a goofy video. 

According to WKRC Local 12 News, “what started as a way to pass time at work turned into a full-blown success story” for Fogelson. 

In that first clip, uniform on and mailbag in hand, he let his natural humor shine – and the internet delivered its verdict: Sean was hilarious.

Within a matter of weeks, he went from zero to thousands of followers. 

His relatable postal humor and infectious charisma struck a chord with social media enthusiasts. 

Encouraged by the early traction (and by his daughter’s I told you so grin), Sean kept at it. 

He invented a cheeky catchphrase – “Stankabooty” – a nonsense term he’d jokingly used since childhood that suddenly became his TikTok calling card. 

If you’re wondering what it means… well, so is everyone else, but the way Sean says it just makes people laugh. 

Soon fans were tagging their friends with comments like “Hey lil’ Stankabooty, you gotta see this!” and his videos started going viral left and right.

Going Viral: From Mail Route to Millions of Fans

As Sean’s following grew, he embraced the persona of “That 1 Mailman” – a grill-wearing, wise-cracking postal worker delivering laughs along with the mail. 

He riffed on everyday absurdities from his route. I

n one viral TikTok, for example, he jokingly scolded a customer for overloading their shopping cart with instant noodles, captioning it “ain’t no need to have all them noodles in yo cart!!!”, poking fun at how people use their food assistance. 

In another, he pleaded with folks to go easy on the online orders – he was “Temu tired,” joking that the avalanche of packages from the popular shopping app was wearing him out.

Audiences found his candor and comedic frustration so relatable – after all, who hasn’t felt “mailman tired” of something?

Fogelson’s genuine nature and effortless humor quickly translated into a massive online fanbase. 

In just two years since launching his TikTok, he amassed about 2 million followers (and the numbers only kept climbing). 

By early 2024 he had “gained 2 million followers on TikTok” thanks to his funny, down-to-earth videos. 

Every new catchphrase (“OG Stank,” anyone?) and every comedic skit only drew more viewers. 

Fans even began recognizing him on his route. 

Instead of barking dogs, Sean now found excited strangers waiting by mailboxes just to say hi. 

“I can’t go nowhere without people coming up to me. It’s crazy,” Fogelson told one reporter, describing how odd it felt to suddenly be famous on the streets of Cincinnati. 

“It’s cool though. I like it. Seeing the joy [people have], it’s like when you get home from work and the kids see you... Indescribable. It’s cool.” The mailman who once felt invisible now couldn’t walk a block without hearing, “Hey, you’re that TikTok guy!”

His followers’ enthusiasm pushed him to do even more. 

In fact, Sean says the reason he even tried stand-up comedy was because his fans suggested it. 

They wanted to see their favorite mailman deliver jokes live on stage, not just on a phone screen. 

He listened. 

He started performing at local open mics and comedy nights, testing out material (and yes, probably a “Stankabooty” reference or two in there). 

The positive feedback was overwhelming. 

Fans also kept asking where they could get merchandise to show off their That 1 Mailman pride – some even joked they’d dress up as mailmen just like him. 

Eventually, he relented and launched official That One Mailman merch – sweatshirts, T-shirts, tank tops, the works – because supporters would not stop begging for swag. 

Sean was floored: people actually wanted to wear a cartoon of his face on their hoodie!

It was yet another sign that his life had done a 180º turn.

By 2025, Sean Fogelson’s social media clout was sky-high. 

He now boasts approximately 2.4 million TikTok followers and 1.2 million on Instagram – and counting. 

Not bad for a guy who started off recording videos in his mail truck during lunch breaks. 

Each day, new fans around the world discover his clips and instantly become part of the “Stankabooty” inside-joke club. 

His comment sections are flooded with people saying he brightens their day. 

As one fan gushed on Twitter after seeing him live, “that one mailman was cool af to meet” – evidence that Sean’s genuine, approachable vibe online carries over in real life.

From TikTok Star to Stand Up Comedy Sensation

Going viral online was just the beginning. 

The next chapter of Sean’s journey was taking his humor to the live stage – the world of Stand Up Comedy. 

Transitioning from quick 60-second TikToks to a full live comedy set is no small feat, but Sean was all in. 

“This ain’t no TikTok skit,” he would joke to audiences as he stepped on stage, letting them know his live show was a whole new experience. 

His storytelling and stage presence turned out to be as engaging as his bite-sized videos. 

Night after night, he delivered true, authentic, and hilarious stories of his life – from crazy encounters on his mail route, to roasting himself about how he once thought wearing USPS shorts with a grill in his mouth was a good look. 

Crowds ate it up, and the once-bored mailman discovered a new adrenaline: the roar of a live audience’s laughter.

Before long, Sean caught the attention of a hometown hero in comedy: Gary Owen. 

Gary is a well-known stand-up comedian (also from the Cincinnati area), and he immediately saw something special in That 1 Mailman’s comedic chops. 

The two struck up a friendship – fans were thrilled to see Sean hanging out with one of his own idols. (Sean still geeked out about it: “Nobody believes who I’m working with. Like I’m working with Gary Owen…” he exclaimed in disbelief.) 

Gary started popping up in Sean’s TikToks, and their chemistry was comedy gold. 

In one TikTok collab, Gary Owen jokingly reminded everyone that “@That One Mailman used to be an actual mailman” – a tongue-in-cheek nod to Sean’s insane journey. 

The duo even cut a celebratory cake shaped like a giant Air Jordan shoe at a show (because why not? If you’ve seen Sean’s videos, you know he loves his sneakers and style). 

The internet loved the OG comedian teaming up with the new guy; it was like watching a veteran pass the torch (or in this case, the mailbag) to the next generation.

Most importantly, Gary Owen gave Sean an opportunity that still feels like a dream: a spot on tour. 

In 2024, Gary invited Sean to join him on stage as an opening act during his comedy tour. 

Suddenly, That 1 Mailman was delivering laughs in comedy clubs and theaters far beyond Cincinnati. 

From Ohio to Michigan to the West Coast, audiences were introduced to Sean’s story and humor, often by Gary’s own enthusiastic endorsement. 

The local Cincinnati press couldn’t get enough of it – their very own mailman-turned-TikTok-star now touring with a big-name comedian! 

By mid-2025, it was official: Sean Fogelson was on tour with Gary Owen, bringing belly chuckles and joy to live audiences nationwide. 

The TikTok star had become a bona fide stand-up comedian on the rise.

Delivering Laughs and Loving the Journey

These days, Sean Fogelson’s life looks completely different from that not-so-distant time when he was slinging mail and battling the doldrums. 

He’s now a full-time content creator and touring comic, and he couldn’t be happier. 

The depression that once hung over him has been replaced by excitement and purpose. 

Each new skit, each comedy set, is a chance to spread laughter – something he realizes he has a passion (and talent) for. 

His catchphrases have become part of his personal brand, his fans proudly call themselves the “Stank Squad” (at least that’s what we call them!), and his DMs are filled with messages from people telling him he made their day. 

It’s a positive feedback loop that keeps Sean’s spirits high.

Despite the fame, Sean hasn’t forgotten where he came from. 

He still lives in Cincinnati’s West Side and stays grounded with his family. 

In interviews, he often mentions how grateful he is for his daughter’s fateful suggestion to try TikTok, and for his family’s support through his journey. 

Fatherhood remains his anchor – he jokes that he’s still just “Dad” at home, even if he’s “That 1 Mailman” to millions online. 

And yes, he still swings by his old post office now and then – not to pick up mail, but to say hello to former colleagues and let them know he hasn’t gone totally Hollywood. (He even cheekily clarified on Instagram, “I didn’t quit my job for TikTok, just to let y’all know!!” – he balanced both for a while until comedy took off.)

As for what’s next, the sky’s the limit for Sean. 

He’s dreaming up bigger comedy bits, maybe some acting gigs, and continuing to tour (with or without Gary Owen, he’s now got the chops to headline his own shows). 

One thing’s for sure: whether he’s on your phone screen or a comedy club stage, Sean Fogelson is determined to keep delivering laughs. 

In his own words, seeing people light up at his jokes is “indescribable” – it’s the joy that keeps him going. 

Not bad for a guy who started out just looking for a way to kill time on his mail route!

In the end, the story of That 1 Mailman is more than just a viral sensation tale – it’s an uplifting saga about second chances and the unexpected places life can take you. 

A bored mailman turned into a stand-up comedy star, all because he took a leap of faith (and maybe because his daughter nagged him into downloading TikTok). 

It’s a reminder that sometimes, the next big delivery on your route might just be your own destiny knocking. 

So if you ever find yourself stuck in life, think of Sean: he found laughter and a new career in the last place he expected. 

As he always says to his fans at the end of his videos, “Love y’all!” – and we love this journey he’s on, too.

Sources: Sean Fogelson’s TikTok (@seanfogelson513) and Instagram, Cincinnati CityBeat interview, WKRC Local 12 News, Visit Detroit event info, and social media posts by Gary Owen and fans.