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

Finding Peace in the Waves of Life’s Uncertainty
In a busy life full of demands, opportunities, and often crushing losses, if the one thing we get to choose in life is our perspective, why not find the one that brings us the most joy? Here's one way to go about it!

Mr. Gluck and the Not-So-Secret Secret to Creating a Legacy that Lasts!
What's the secret to getting through some of life's darkest moments, inspiring those around us to do the best work they can, and creating a legacy that will be talked about for generations? Well, as it turns out the answer starts with a little thing we can all choose to do every day!

How TurtleCams are Enlisting Turtles to Protect their Ocean!
Do you remember the viral video of the sea turtle with a straw stuck in its nose? It changed the way many people saw our ocean plastic problem. And now, the scientists behind that video are keeping the positive momentum going—this time turning to the turtles themselves for footage of how we can help make a difference!

A Funny-Looking Clam That’s Saving Communities!
Can a clam help keep a culture alive? The impact the geoduck has had on the communities of the American Northwest goes even further, bringing together culinary experts, conservationists, and pallets around the globe! This intriguing mollusk is way more than just a delicacy on your plate!

Happy, Sad, or Chopping Onions—The Science of Why We Cry!
When was the last time you cried? Why did you cry? Crying is our reaction to everything from bad breakups, to awe, to cutting onions, but why is this? Let's explore this uniquely human reaction that seems to be a fundamental part of our shared humanity.

Meet These Queens of the Bug World!
Powerful kingdoms are rising and falling all around us, each created and lead by a mighty queen. But what's it like to be a queen in the insect world? We're taking a royal tour through the lives of a wasp and a fire ant queen to learn what's happening inside these busy colonies.

“Eating Local”: When the Most Delicious Ingredient is History
What if sourcing our food "locally" also included bringing hundreds of years of delicious stories to life from the history of the land and sea the food comes from? How deep might those tastes reach in us? Here's what that looks like for this pub in the UK!

Meet the Man Behind Books Young People Actually Want to Read!
Could there really be a simple way to encourage youth to read more? See how the author, Jason Reynolds, is making it happen by telling stories that connect to the experiences of today’s young adults.

How Comedians Are Changing the Way We Approach Depression
What can some of the world's funniest people do when they open up about mental health? Comedians like Sarah Silverman, Wayne Brady, Chris Gethard, and Rainn Wilson are helping us better support the ones we love and ourselves!

Can You Fit a 2-Acre Garden in a Shipping Container?
How do we increase access to fresh, nutritious foods in places lacking the land to grow it? Square Roots may be bringing us towards the solution by growing the equivalent of a 2-acre garden inside a shipping container!

This Clock Will Run for 10,000 Years… But Why?
What will happen in 10,000 years? Who will be here? This innovation hopes to connect us to the thousands of generations to come, ticking away in a mountain through the timeline of humanity.

Kid President Returns to Keep Us Celebrating!
If you're searching for a glimmer of light on the web and proof our future is good hands, don't fret: Kid President is back and taking us on a road trip to meet other awesome kids around the United States!
Follow Us
Positive news for curious people.
There is a wave of goodness and progress well underway, all around the world.