After a summer sabbatical (and another cross-country road trip 🐾), I’m back behind the mic and ready to share some hard truths, hopeful progress, and behind-the-scenes updates from The Human-Canine Alliance.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why stepping away doesn’t mean giving up—and why consistency looks different for every entrepreneur and advocate.
• The three major solutions the World Economic Forum identified for tackling the global mental health crisis—and how looming cuts will impact our daily lives here in the U.S.
• The latest peek behind the curtain of building The Human-Canine Alliance as a one-woman startup, with lessons from 15 episodes, 8 months of entrepreneurship, and organic growth in 16 countries.
• The incredible organizations fueling our mission—from Social Prescribing USA to Sengo, IFundWomen, and Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready platform.

If you care about mental health, community, and the life-changing impact of dogs, this podcast is for you. We’re building a movement at the intersection of human wellbeing and canine companionship—and every episode is an invitation to learn, join, and grow with us.

👉 Don’t just stop here—go back and check out [Episode 14] for the full breakdown of mental health system risks, or our conversation with world-renowned dog trainer Barb De Groodt in [Episode 12]. And stay tuned for my upcoming interview with Dr. Robert Zarr of Parks Rx America this fall.

The Human-Canine Alliance isn’t just a podcast. It’s a community, a mission, and a call to action. Let’s build it together.

Resources referenced:

Mental Health Spending (Global) – Think Global Health (thinkglobalhealth.org); McKinsey (mckinsey.com)

HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Projections to 2030 – hrsa.gov

Social Prescribing USA – socialprescribingusa.com

Faces of Entrepreneurship: Ila Corcoran, Sengo – bysengo.com

IFundWomen platform overview – ifundwomen.com

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready details – digitalready.verizonwireless.com

Global Mental Health Workforce – lyrahealth.com

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From The Heart Dog Training in Salinas, California

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Discover how the latest healthcare bill could transform Mental Health in America.

In this episode of The Human-Canine Alliance Podcast, Stacie breaks down what the “Big, Beautiful Bill” means for mental health solutions, why Social Prescriptions are gaining traction, and how you can take control of your own wellbeing. 

We cover the real impact of Medicaid cuts, the rise of alternative therapies, and practical steps for navigating a changing healthcare landscape. Whether you’re concerned about access to care, the power of pharmaceutical companies, or new ways to support your mental health, this episode is packed with insights and actionable advice. 

Tune in to learn how you can be part of the movement to change the supply—and the future—of mental healthcare in America. Watch with captions on YouTube!

Sources Referenced:

One Big Beautiful Bill (Tax & Spending Legislation)

• Axios overview of the bill
• Vox analysis on Medicaid implications
• National Council statement on Senate passage

CDC: Provisional Suicide Deaths in the United States, 2022

• CDC media release detailing 2022 suicide data

Time: U.S. Suicide Rates Reached an All-Time High in 2022

• Time’s article covering the 2022 suicide record

UCLA Health: Surgeon General on Loneliness as a Public Health Crisis

• Column by the U.S. Surgeon General highlighting loneliness and mental health

AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)

• AFSP official website – details on their mission and advocacy

WHO: Global Suicide Facts (Suicide Worldwide Estimates 2021)

• WHO fact sheet on suicide statistics and global burden

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In this special announcements episode, Stacie shares exciting news about the release of the video version of her interview with global dog behavior expert Barb De Groodt—now available on YouTube! 

Plus, get a sneak peek at what’s coming next for The Human-Canine Alliance, including an upcoming interview with Dr. Robert Zarr, a physician and public health leader pioneering nature-based mental health solutions. 

Tune in for community updates, listener stats, and a look ahead at the conversations shaping the future of canine-assisted well-being.

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In this episode of The Human-Canine Alliance podcast, host Stacie interviews Barb De Groodt, owner of From the Heart Dog Training, discussing her extensive experience and unique approach to dog training. The conversation covers Barb's background, her training methodologies, and the importance of respecting the dog's personality and needs. They explore the differences between emotional support dogs, therapy dogs, and service dogs, and discuss the potential role of AI in matching dogs with humans to enhance their lifestyles. Barb shares personal anecdotes and emphasizes the value of patience and intention in effective dog training.

About Barb:
Barb De Groodt has spent over 60 years working with animals around the globe—from training German shorthaired pointers in her father’s kennel at age 8 to mentoring modern trainers across India, Spain, Thailand, and beyond. A founding member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Hall of Fame inductee with the International Association of Canine Professionals, and former Trainer of the Year at Westminster, Barb continues to educate, present, and innovate within the field. Her deep respect for animals and commitment to individualized training make her a true pioneer in the evolution of the human-canine bond.

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Despite mounting clinical evidence for art therapy, nature therapy, music therapy, and dance therapy, Social Prescriptions remain on the periphery of U.S. healthcare. But the issue may not be proof of concept — it’s proof of value.

This episode argues that Social Prescriptions should be seen not just as wellness tools, but as strategic levers for economic development, long-term cost savings, and workforce readiness. If we want to see Social Prescriptions scale in the U.S., we need to speak the language of systems, incentives, and return on investment.

We unpack the Federal Reserve’s own commentary on “missing markets” — the gap between high-impact community solutions and the formal infrastructure needed to scale them — and show how Social Prescriptions fit squarely in that space.

From Park Rx programs that drive traffic and funding to public lands, to creative therapies that improve mental health while stimulating local economies, Social Prescriptions are already creating real impact. But until that impact is economically legible, it will likely remain unrecognized — and less than scalable.

Starting and Scaling Social Prescriptions Webinar Series hosted by CISP starting June 18, 2025: https://www.afhto.ca/news-events/events/starting-and-scaling-social-prescribing

Sources used in this episode:

• March 2025 Webinar: The State of Social Prescribing in United States 
• May 2025 Jameel Arts & Health Lab Conversation Series 
  • Creative Arts Therapies: Evidence and Examples of Practice
• Social Prescribing USA: https://www.socialprescribingusa.org/
• Park Rx America: https://www.parkrxamerica.org/
• The Campaign to End Loneliness: https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/
• National Academies of Sciences – Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25663/social-isolation-and-loneliness-in-older-adults-opportunities-for-the 
• U.S. Surgeon General Advisory on Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation (2023): https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf
• UK National Health Service – Social Prescribing Overview: https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/
• World Health Organization: Social Prescribing Toolkit (2023): https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240072674
• The King's Fund – What is Social Prescribing? https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/social-prescribing

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In this milestone 10th episode, Stacie brings us behind the scenes in a Real Life Business study--a detailed walk into the pitch deck of The Human-Canine Alliance--a bold plan to reimagine mental health care and animal rescue in one unified solution.  

See the pitch deck slides on YouTube!

Learn about TH-CA's omnipresence approach across multiple channels and insights into the pitch deck's content. Stacie outlines how The Human-Canine Alliance aims to integrate rescue dogs into social prescriptions to provide emotional, physical, and cognitive benefits, and she introduces their AI-powered app for matching rescue dogs with individuals with mental health needs.

Call for expert guests! Stacie is seeking guests to discuss mental health, therapeutic work with dogs, and social prescriptions. 

Tune in to hear how we connect the dots to disrupt the current norms.

Sources used in this episode:

• CDC: Mental Health in the U.S. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/index.htm
• NIMH: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
• Statista: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1362491/us-mental-health-market-size/
• American Psychological Association: Medication vs Therapy: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2022/report
• ASPCA: Shelter Statistics: https://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics 
• NIH: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-working-expand-science-human-animal-bond
• HABRI:  https://habri.org/research
• U.S. VA: https://www.research.va.gov/currents/0619-PTSD-service-dogs.cfm
• World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/health-topics/traditional-complementary-and-integrative-medicine
• U.S. Surgeon General Advisory on Loneliness (2023): https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf

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In this fired-up episode, Stacie dives into the incredible world of Social Prescribing—a powerful, doctor-backed movement in over 30 countries that’s already changing lives by prescribing community, connection, and non-medical solutions like gardening, hiking, and with our help...rescue dogs trained for a person's specific needs.

Learn how the UK’s Social Prescribing model has already helped millions tackle mental health, loneliness, and stress without meds, and meet the unsung heroes of the movement: Link Workers—the compassionate connectors filling in where doctors can’t.

Stacie breaks down:

• Real-time global snapshot of Social Prescriptions + why it's spreading rapidly
• Why the UK nationalized it in 2019 and 30+ countries are currently investing in it
• Where the U.S. stands and how we might be closer than we think to this kind of revolution
• How The Human-Canine Alliance Matchmaking App could become a prescribing tool for emotional wellness

This episode is a strong dose of education and a powerful look at global mental healthcare trends towards Social Prescriptions. 

Help us lay the groundwork for Social Prescriptions in America. 🐾

Resources used in this episode:

• Social Prescribing Academy (UK)
• National Lottery Community Fund (UK)
• Elemental Software (UK)
• Jameel Arts and Health Lab
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• National Academy for Social Prescribing (UK)
• Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing (CISP)
• Social Prescribing USA
• Benjamin Goldberg Foundation
• ArtPharmacy.co
• Culture Rx
• Health Leads
• Wholesome Wave
• Park Rx
• The Art Therapy Project
• VAGA (Visual Arts and Galleries Association)
• Stanford University's Art Prescriptions Program
  
  

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What if your next prescription didn’t come from a pharmacy—but from a shelter?

In this eye-opening episode, host Stacie explores the global rise of social prescriptions, a revolutionary shift in healthcare that trades pills for purpose. From the UK’s National Health Service to community health programs around the world, doctors are now “prescribing” activities like dog walking, volunteering, and time in nature to combat anxiety, depression, isolation, and more.

At the center of this movement? Dogs. 🐾

Learn how rescue dogs are becoming powerful agents of change—naturally delivering emotional support, structure, connection, and healing in ways traditional medicine can’t. We break down the science, the stats, and the stories behind this shift, and ask: Why isn’t the U.S. following suit?

This episode dives deep into how The Human-Canine Alliance is bridging that gap—with technology, training, and a vision to make “One Dog, Daily” a real prescription in America’s mental health toolkit.

If you’ve ever believed there’s more to healing than pills, this is your episode.

Resources used in this episode:

• NHS Social Prescribing Overview
• World Health Organization – Loneliness and Social Isolation
• U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Loneliness (2023)
• Journal of Public Health (Oxford Academic)
• Pet Partners – Therapy Animal Program & Research
• American Heart Association – Dog Ownership and Heart Health
• Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI)
• University of British Columbia – Therapy Dog Study

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In this Real Life Business episode of The Human-Canine Alliance Podcast, Stacie connects powerful data points to show that rescue dogs are more than just pets—they’re an undervalued asset in addressing America’s mental health crisis.

With 60 million adults struggling with mental illness, suicide rates at an all time high, and wait times for professional care stretching up to six months, what if doctors could prescribe a dog—trained for an individual’s specific needs—before reaching for a pill?

Stacie breaks down how dogs offer natural, side-effect-free benefits like social connection, routine, and emotional support, challenging the status quo of mental health treatment. 

Tune-in to learn how THCA aims to create a pathway to transform two industries—mental health and dog rescue—while improving countless lives in the process. 

Join the movement in shifting society from a Human-Pill Bond to a Human-Canine Bond.

Resources used for this episode:

• National Institute of Mental Health
• ASPCA
• NAMI
• Shelter Animals Count
• American Humane Society
• CDC
• Mayo Clinic
• Human-Animal Bond Research Institute

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In this episode of The Human-Canine Alliance, Stacie explores the powerful connection between humans and dogs, highlighting both grassroots rescue efforts and groundbreaking scientific research. She spotlights inspiring initiatives like Police Helping Paws and Eric and Joey—Instagram accounts making a real impact—while diving into a special edition of TIME Magazine, How Dogs Think: Inside the Canine Mind.

Did you know that a dog's brain has 40 times more space dedicated to smell than a human’s? Or that the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 led Congress to mandate disaster preparedness plans that accommodate pets? These fascinating insights shed light on the deep-rooted bond we share with our canine companions.

Stacie also shares a heartfelt story about her dog, Blue, and provides an exciting update on Toto—a rescue dog now in foster care with hopes of a forever home. Plus, she’s offering free promotional support to rescues and fosters struggling to place dogs—if you have a hard-to-place pup, reach out to THCA for podcast and social media exposure!

Resources used for this episode:

• TIME Magazine, "How Dogs Think: Inside the Canine Mind"
• FEMA's Key Planning Factors for Service Animals and Household Pets
• Burke County Animal Services
• @Police_Helping_Paws
• @Eric.and.Joey

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