Authors

Image: Samantha Burns

Sam wrote and edited hundreds of articles during her time with the Goodness Exchange team from 2016-2021. She wrote about topics from the wonders of nature to the organizations changing the world and the simple joys in life! Outside of the office, she’s a part-time printmaker, collector of knick-knacks, and taster of cheeses.

Sam Burns

Former Editor-In-Chief

Hi! I’m Sam.

Over the course of my four years working at the Goodness Exchange (formerly Ever Widening Circles), I wrote 350+ articles on a wide range of topics, from adorable stinging slugs to the power of ballet in favelas, not to mention the countless stories celebrating the work people are doing in science and technology that can enhance all of our lives. (You can browse my articles if you scroll down!)

My time at the Goodness Exchange began in 2016 during a bi-annual hygiene cleaning (as most good stories do) at Lynda and Chuck’s dental practice. I was your typical wandering senior in undergrad with no clue what they wanted to do next, so when they offered me the opportunity to write a few articles a month for “the website Lynda just started” while I finished my degree, I jumped on it. For 4 years I was the Chief Curator and Editor. With different possibilities coming at me daily, showing me the world that existed entirely outside of my bubble, my view of what can be shifted entirely.

By my booth at my first craft fair!

But even with all of this writing, it’s still hard for me to write about myself. So, here’s what my boss had to say about me:

“Sam brought a mastery of connection to the Goodness Exchange that is celebrated in every article she touched, and in every aspect of our visitor experiences. She is exceptionally gifted at wearing many hats, fluidly moving through every day from writing, research and business decision making, to diving deep into conversations with the thought leaders in our orbit. Most importantly Sam is an expert in going from “mind & heart”—on any topic—to the printed word that makes us all soar!

Sam is also a superlative “shape-shifter”, so open to everything that she seems always in the process of becoming something radiant and new. The sparkle she brought to every new person she met was a gift we are inspired by every day and we are proud to see all the ways it has infused GE with that same light for 3 years. She had been instrumental in our quest to find the common threads that connect us all.”

Dr. Lynda

Now, you can find me hunched over a table working on a new carving, printing and covered in ink, walking in the woods, at a show, dancing, building a meditation practice, eating bagels, or getting lost on a long drive.

If you see me at a party, ask me about:

  • The two times I’ve fallen through a floor
  • My grandmother and the raccoons
  • The book I’m reading

Check out my artwork and connect with me on Instagram @somethingsburning.ink

Author's Articles

5 min read
Image: Rock wren singing on a rock

The Fascinating Secret Behind How Birds Sing!

From the beauty of the dawn chorus to the strange wonder of hearing a parrot talk like one of us, birds never cease to amaze us. But how do they make such an astonishing array of sounds? You will never walk through a park or your yard the same after this!

5 min read
Image: Giant squid captured on video

How the “Kraken” Was Caught On Film! (Twice!)

How is it that one of the world's largest animals still remains a mystery? In an original interview with our head writer Samantha Burns, marine biologist Dr. Nathan J. Robinson chronicles the day he captured real-life footage of a legendary creature that has been the scuttlebutt of sailors for centuries—and how we could do it next!

5 min read
Image: Woman meditating by a mountain pond with a big sky before her.

The Simplest Way to Train Your Brain! 

This routine has been shown to boost our memory, combat depression and anxiety, and reduce pain—all without expensive equipment, special skills, medications, or taking hours out of our day. But is meditation really a practical addition to our busy lives? One of our favorite creators puts it to the test. 

5 min read
Image: Karimal Haque on his bike ambulance

When Two Wheels Save Over Five Thousand Lives!

How many people does it take to transform the life of another? Or to change their future completely? Most of us know instinctively that the answer is one. Here's a story that starts with that 1:1 ratio and ends up at 1:5,000! What could we each be doing? Here's your inspiration to get creative with what you have.

5 min read
Image: Squirrel hanging off of a bird feeder

Can Squirrels Outsmart a NASA Engineer?

These fuzzy backyard bandits are breaking into bird feeders across the globe! But can this former NASA engineer design a squirrel-proof bird feeder? Check out this ingenious course he came up with, meet the contenders, and prepare for the most amazing—and hilarious—look at how our squirrel friends work their magic!

5 min read
Image: people riding a roller coaster!

Who Makes Roller Coasters?

How does someone start making roller coasters?! If your life isn't turning out to be a positive and creative thrill yet, hang on to your hat. You could be just one interesting experience away from that if you have the courage to try some things you don't know much about! Check this out.

5 min read
Image: Pink sea cucumber moving over coral

The Most Marvelous Butts of the Ocean!

Make your next trip to the beach even more exciting by discovering the journey that the sand between your toes has gone through! Sometimes, the most important players in our lives are vastly overlooked. So today, we relish in the wonder of the sea cucumber: the most humble, hungry hot dog you'll ever find saving the world!

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