Being on the Ellen Show

Hey everyone, I hope you’re having a beautiful day! I’ve been getting a lot of questions—both on the road and now—about what it was like to appear on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. I actually just got an email reminding me to share this story, so here we go…

How It All Came Together

I first appeared on Ellen back in April 2019—I remember the month because I found out during my friend Eric’s wedding. Eric and Erica had just gotten their Jack Russell puppy, Jax, that I rescued and shipped from Los Angeles to Miami. At their reception, I was getting dressed in my suit when my phone rang:

“Hi Lee, this is Ellen’s booking team—we’d love to have you on the show.”

My heart stopped! I’d been dreaming of Ellen since I first started The Asher House, even putting “Ellen appearance” on my vision board. I couldn’t believe it was actually happening.

The Whirlwind Week

• Saturday: Learning I was invited on Monday’s show.

• Sunday: Rushing back to L.A. (I even had to cancel a date I’d been looking forward to!).

• Monday Morning: Ellen’s team picked me up from my hotel near Disneyland and whisked me to the studio.

I was equally thrilled and terrified—Ellen’s staff coached me to “act excited” when meeting her (but I didn’t need coaching!), and warned me not to lift her off the ground (no plans to, Ellen!). Every detail was managed flawlessly, from wardrobe prep to that backstage “green room” where I sat alongside past guests like Bill Hader.

Onstage with Ellen

When I walked out, Ellen greeted us as “real-life superheroes.” In that moment, I flashed back on all the blood, sweat, and tears of building The Asher House and wondered how I’d made it here. Seeing my rescued dogs’ photos pop up on the giant screen—and knowing the crowd was cheering for them—calmed every ounce of stage fright I had.

Ellen even surprised me with a $10,000 gift to support our rescue work. I hadn’t asked for anything, so that generosity floored me.

The Aftermath & Impact

Here’s the honest truth: the appearance didn’t instantly skyrocket our follower count or corporate sponsorships. But it did bring credible visibility to The Asher House sanctuary and later to Asher House Wellness, our line of vet-approved supplements and holistic pet care products. More people heard our story, and some of those viewers have become lifelong supporters, volunteers, and customers.

What I Learned

1. Stay Ready: Opportunities can come at any moment—be prepared to pivot.

2. Celebrate Milestones: Check achievements off your vision board, then set the next one.

3. Use the Platform: Even if the metrics don’t jump overnight, the credibility pays dividends in unexpected ways.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. If Ellen ever invites me back—for The Asher House, Asher House Wellness, or just to hang out with the piggies—I’m there in a heartbeat.

Thanks for letting me relive the experience. And next time you catch me on stage, I hope my story inspires you to chase your own big dreams—no matter how wild they seem.

Love,

Lee Asher

Founder, The Asher House Sanctuary

Founder, Asher House Wellness

Lee Asher on Ellen

Lee Asher talking about being on the Ellen show