The idea behind “DOGS with Elias Weiss Friedman” is rooted in Elias Weiss Friedman’s, commonly known as The Dogist, own creative ethos: to showcase the power of dogs and illuminate the emotional bond between dogs and their owners. Building on his experience photographing everyday dogs and those owned by some of the world’s more recognizable public figures (including President Joe Biden, Serena Williams, Ariana Grande, John Stewart, and Marc Jacobs), Elias set out to create a series that blends entertainment with authenticity all centered around the universal love of dogs.
Whereas man-on-the-street style content is common in today’s world, Elias wanted to create a different experience for his guests, having them serve as co-hosts partaking in conversational interviews and allowing the dogs to take center stage. Drawing from his everyday interactions with fans, Elias also aimed to create a space where celebrities could demonstrate their normalcy and relatability, humanized through organic interactions with dogs and their owners as they walk the streets of NYC.
Having built one of the most recognizable and culturally influential communities on social media as a celebrated dog photographer and content creator, the digital talk series serves as the next chapter in Elias’ storytelling, taking on long-form content, bringing New York City’s dogs to a larger audience, and expanding his reach from dog-centric and NYC communities to a broader, national culture sphere.
To bring DOGS to life, Elias put together an approach that made the show as dog-centric as possible while also preserving The Dogist’s distinctive tone. His plan of action was to reimagine the traditional celebrity interview format by adding humor, authenticity, and dogs as a conversation starter for a meaningful interview.
For each episode, he curated a handful of funny, yet thought-provoking questions that allow guests to share some of their most memorable and enlightening stories about the dogs in their lives. These conversations were sprinkled with unscripted moments featuring New York City dogs and their owners, creating a space for genuine conversation and connection. When brainstorming celebrity guests, Elias was intentional about showcasing a diverse range of talents, creative disciplines, and representation to reinforce the show’s core belief that dogs are a powerful social unifier.
Whereas other digital series primarily focus on promoting a guest’s current project, Elias also chose to frame each episode around dogs themselves, saving guest promotion for the final segment, “The Puppy Promo Challenge”. During this one-minute challenge, guests promote their current work while holding an adoptable puppy from a location rescue organization, like Animal Haven, to raise awareness for adoption to his audience while also allowing guests to spotlight their projects. This format has been well received, with guests excited to include the show in their press tours and to contribute to the meaningful cause of promoting pet adoption.
“DOGS with Elias Weiss Friedman” has exceeded expectations, obtaining a significant following amongst fans and celebrity guests alike and garnering almost 250K views within its four-month lifespan. The show has attracted some of popular culture’s most prominent names as guests, most notably the late Jane Goodall (one of Elias’ heroes and a significant influence on his passion for animals), Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, Zachary Quinto, Shailene Woodley, and Zooey Deschanel, all joining for episodes throughout its first season.
The series has left a mark on its audiences, with each episode garnering hundreds of thousands of views across The Dogist’s platforms and the series’ overall viewership increasing by over 30%, exemplifying its connection with wider audiences. He’s gained traction with fans and viewers across a variety of demographics, contributing to Elias’ goal of expanding The Dogist’s reach and prominence in mainstream culture.
With the major success of its first season, “DOGS with Elias Weiss Friedman” has, confidentially, been greenlit for a second season, rolling out new episodes filmed in various locations nationwide beginning in the spring of 2026.
