Authors

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.

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

Discover the Weird and Wonderful World of Cheese!
Is cheese the great unifying force? Travel the world of this dairy delight with us and you may find your answer! Whether from donkeys in Serbia or with maggots in Italy, cheese around the globe is as diverse and exciting as the cultures it has sustained for generations!

Now THIS is How You Start a Chain of Kindness
Not all heroes wear capes; some don a straw cap, grab a can of gas and jump into their car with their dog to do what they can. Meet a hero who has been keeping the chain of small acts of kindness going for 53 years! You may just find yourself inspired, too!

How to Fall (Back) in Love with Your Home
What do you love most about your home? Which colors are most abundant? Is there a theme to the art you collect? Where are your knick-knacks from? Here's what your home says about you!

Olive Oil: Our Guide to Celebrating the Timeless Things
Take a moment to go on a journey with us to savor a flavor you probably have sitting in your kitchen cupboard! Who knew that that perfect opportunity to explore a food tradition that is thousands of years old started with a drizzle of our favorite oil.

How to Transform Your Weaknesses into Your Secrets to Success!
What if the secret to getting the full potential out of your life, your productivity, and your gifts started with your weaknesses? It seems like an odd place to start, but this TED talk will have you looking at your weaknesses in an entirely new light in less than 10 minutes!

Restoring Sight to the Blind with a $3 Innovation
Thought leaders who find ingenious solutions right at the root of problems can be an inspiration to us all. Here's a doctor who is changing the lives of millions with a few fundamental shifts that drove costs of restoring someone's sight down from $250 to $3!

Take a Journey to the Top of World with its Largest Land Predator!
How much do you REALLY know about polar bears? If we want to save animals at risk around the world, we have to celebrate how magnificent they are! Come along with us on a breathtaking journey to the top of the world to experience how the largest land predator on Earth lives their lives!

Over 400 Years of Wisdom All in One Page!
What does a piece of paper have to do with human nature? Well, why not ask the craftsmen who have been mastering the craft of papermaking for generations! (Who knew we held the key to happiness in our hands so often?)

Why Yoga?
Does all that stretching, turning upside down, and breathing really do anything? Why do people think yoga is so great? What kind of benefits can the average, unflexible, person get from yoga? Why not ask an average, unflexible dad what he thinks after doing it for 30 days?

Creating Order Out of Chaos: Why Puzzles are Making a Comeback!
Why do people turn to jigsaw puzzles? Entertainment? Excitement? Quality time with loved ones? There's a lot to love about these scattered pictures, but when we look back at their history, and the influence they are having right now, all the pieces fall into place!

Why Good Business is like Good Bread!
Why do we love a good loaf of bread so much? For 130 years a little bakery in Ireland has stood the test of time, answering this question for generations. The answer is a lesson we can pass on to other corners of our life as well!

Into the Wild World of Mushroom Hunting—the Perfect Social Distancing Activity!
Have you ever looked at a mushroom and wondered, can I eat that? Well, before you decide to take a bite, you might want to meet a few of the guides on today's adventures. They'll have you excited to grab your basket and start foraging!
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