Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Montes.
Hi Laura, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a first-generation college graduate and Latina, born and raised in an underserved community. My journey has never followed a straight line, but it has always been centered on serving others and creating meaningful connections.
I’ve worked in healthcare since 1998, beginning my career as a medical assistant before earning both my Associate and Bachelor’s degrees in Nursing. Over the years, I’ve grown from providing direct patient care to leading teams and becoming a passionate advocate for patients, nurses, and those living with kidney disease. That commitment has taken me from advocating at the Texas State Capitol to meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to help advance policies that improve healthcare for patients and nurses alike.
Along the way, I discovered another passion—telling stories through travel. Although healthcare and travel may seem like very different worlds, I’ve come to realize they’re rooted in the same purpose: connecting with people, sharing their stories, and making a meaningful impact.
What began as sharing food pics to make my sisters jealous has grown into a platform where I showcase hidden gems, celebrate local food culture, and inspire people to experience destinations more meaningfully. Today, I partner with destinations, hotels, and brands while helping people discover places, experiences, and communities they may have never known existed.
Looking back, I realize everything I’ve done has been rooted in the same purpose: advocating for others, building community, creating meaningful connections, and inspiring people to explore—whether that’s new places, new opportunities, or new perspectives.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I wouldn’t change any of it because every challenge has shaped who I am today.
I became a mom at 18, just months after graduating high school. As a first-generation college student, I was navigating motherhood while working, earning my education, and trying to build a future for my family. There wasn’t a roadmap—I simply kept putting one foot in front of the other. That experience taught me resilience, perseverance, and the importance of believing in myself even when the path ahead wasn’t clear.
My healthcare career brought its own challenges. I advanced into leadership at a young age, and with that came skepticism from people who questioned whether I had earned my seat at the table. At times, I found myself leading teams that included colleagues with more advanced degrees or more years of experience. Rather than letting that discourage me, I chose to let my work ethic, commitment, and results speak for themselves. Those experiences taught me that leadership isn’t defined by age or titles—it’s earned through integrity, service, and the ability to inspire others.
Advocating for patients and nurses also isn’t always easy. Creating meaningful change requires difficult conversations, persistence, and the courage to speak up, even when it’s uncomfortable. Those experiences strengthened my voice and reinforced my commitment to serving others.
Later, stepping into content creation meant starting over in an entirely different industry. I had to learn everything from storytelling and video production to building relationships with brands while balancing my career and family. It wasn’t an overnight success, but staying authentic and consistent has opened doors I never imagined.
Every obstacle I’ve faced has became an opportunity to grow. Today, when people see me traveling the world, partnering with destinations, or advocating on Capitol Hill, they don’t always realize the journey began with a teenage mom who simply refused to let her circumstances define her. I didn’t have a roadmap—I just kept moving forward, one step at a time.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a travel and lifestyle storyteller who inspires people to pursue their dreams of exploring the world, experiencing different cultures, and creating meaningful connections through travel. I believe travel has the power to broaden perspectives, bring people together, and remind us that there is so much more to discover beyond our everyday surroundings. I don’t just show people where to go—I show them why it matters.
Through my content and my podcast, I share stories of the people, places, and communities that bring others together.
What I’m most proud of is building a platform centered around connection. Whether I’m highlighting a hidden gem, sharing a local business, or telling the story of someone bringing people together, my goal is to inspire curiosity and encourage others to explore with purpose.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I don’t think of myself as someone who takes risks just for the sake of taking them. I view risk as having the courage to step into uncertainty when you believe the outcome has the potential to create something meaningful.
One of the biggest risks I took was pursuing my nursing career as a young mother. I had to make difficult decisions, including stepping away from overtime hours and sometimes reducing my workload, to make room for school, my children, and the responsibilities of everyday life. There were times when finances were challenging, but I knew earning my nursing degree would create greater opportunities and a stronger future for my family.
Years later, I took another major risk by becoming a content creator in my 40s. I entered an industry where many creators were younger and where putting yourself in front of an audience also means making yourself vulnerable to criticism. I invested in equipment, learned new skills, and challenged myself to build something completely new while balancing my career and family.
What I’ve learned is that growth often lives on the other side of discomfort. Every meaningful opportunity in my life required me to believe in something before I could see the results. Risk, to me, isn’t about ignoring fear—it’s about acknowledging the fear and choosing to move forward anyway.
The greatest risks I’ve taken have also become some of my greatest rewards. They have allowed me to create a better future for my family, advocate for others, and continue pursuing new dreams at every stage of life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laura_everywhere?igsh=MW9tZmo4dXpjem1xbw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CoP1gca8i/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@everywherewemeetpodcast?si=NqB7NkkpUkqVuWm5
