Your health travels with you: advocacy, access, and ExploreWell with Sommer Collins

In this episode of Collected, we sit down with Sommer Collins, founder and CEO of Explore Well — a digital health platform designed to be your health-savvy local friend, no matter where in the world you are.Sommer shares the deeply personal journey that led her to build ExploreWell, from navigating her daughter's first seizure while living as an expat in Krakow, Poland, to a New Year's Eve ER visit in Madrid, to advocating for her family's health across multiple countries and cultures. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who has ever traveled — or who plans to.Key Takeaways:→ 30% of travellers require medical care when away from home — and the more you travel, the higher that number climbs→ Language barriers are one of the biggest obstacles to receiving safe care abroad — and preparation can change everything→ Knowing where to go is just as important as knowing what to do→ Traveling with a chronic condition shouldn't mean staying home — it means being better prepared→ Human connection and local knowledge can't be replaced by AI — but the two work best togetherCalls to Action:Traveling soon? Think beyond your first aid kit — know your blood type, allergies, and chronic conditions in writing before you goPassionate about health and travel in your city? ExploreWell is looking for local voices — reach out to Sommer to learn about becoming an ExploreWell LocalFind ExploreWell at explorewell.com and follow along for city guides, wellness resources, and travel health toolsFollow ExploreWell on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedInAbout Collected by Unum Co. Collected by Unum Co. is a podcast about the power of lived experience — how stories can shape more human-centred systems, services, and spaces. Each episode, hosts Megan and Farah sit down with people who are challenging the status quo, leading with empathy, and making an impact through their work and their stories. Stories move us. They open eyes, shift systems, and remind us what really matters. Real change begins when people show up for people, and this is the space where those conversations live.Created by Unum Co., a patient-experience consultancy and creative studio helping health care organizations connect with people through storytelling, strategy, and digital engagement.🔗 Learn more at unumco.ca 💌 Connect with us on LinkedIn and InstagramSubscribe, rate, and share the show. Your support helps more people discover these stories.Collected by Unum Co. is a podcast about the power of lived experience, and how stories can shape more human-centred systems, services, and spaces.Created by Unum Co., a patient-experience consultancy and creative studio helping health care organizations connect with people through storytelling, strategy, and digital engagement.🔗 Learn more at unumco.ca 💌 Connect with us on LinkedIn and InstagramSubscribe, rate, and share the show. Your support helps more people discover these stories.