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

Re-Imagining Restaurants: Zero Waste and Endless Good!
What if we just eliminated trash bins? This restaurant did! And this one commitment has completely reshaped the traditional restaurant model; pointing to possibilities that can transform food systems around the world.

Fighting ALS One Pickle at a Time!
When life throws us unexpected bad news, what do we do? The story of what Arthur Cohen turned his ALS diagnosis into may help you recognize your own tools to find your way through whatever pickle you may be facing!

Harnessing the Power of Mobile Cinema to Save Lives
Here's how innovation in cinema can change the future for millions! As they say, "You can't be what you can't see." Now, thanks to the work of Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and her team, people in remote places can see a different future.

On the Hunt with Italy’s Truffle Dogs!
Hidden beneath the ground lie treasures with a hefty price tag that can only be uncovered by a certain few. So, let’s head off on a truffle hunt to discover the secrets of this delicacy…

What if Mass Media was Used for Good?
There’s more power in positive media than just making us feel good! Sharing stories that celebrate progress around the world has the ability to change lives. Check out this collective of creators redefining the way we tell the stories about some of our world’s biggest issues, and the people working to alleviate them.

Leaf Miners: The Unexpected Conservation Heroes
Forget whatever you've heard about leaf miners, these common garden pests are little wonders that may be holding up an entire ecosystem! Head over to Hawaii with us to check out how these tiny creatures can have a big impact on conservation.

Traveling Back in Time through a Father’s Eyes
What places matter to you most? When was the last time you visited them? This father and son story gives us a few tips on how to navigate some of life's transitions by sharing the places that are most important to who we are.

Casting a Line for Conservation!
What happens when fishermen and scientists team up to protect a species? Check out this extraordinary collaboration of anglers and biologists to preserve some of the world's most endangered and magnificent fish!

Journey to a Land Where Medieval Monsters Still Reign
What ancient monsters are still roaming around us today? We're traveling to a land shrouded in thousands of years of history, where medieval creatures are waging wars and heading off on epic quests driven by evolution. Come explore this untouched wilderness with us!

The Magic of Embracing What You’re Bad At!
What would happen if we embraced the humor in being bad at something? Could it actually enhance our relationships? Check out what this imaginative mother and son duo has created by doing just that.

The People Who Could Be the Unsuspecting Heroes in Our Journey!
Jonathan Gravenor discovered some unlikely "teachers" as he went from traveling the world as a successful journalist to struggling through chemo alone, and they changed his life. He shares a few of the lesson he learned in this great TED Talk!

Meet the Organization Saving Thousands of Dogs in Puerto Rico!
Here's how the inspiration of one person can change lives for thousands! Look at what happened when boxer, Chrissy Beckles, started rescuing and rehabilitating stray dogs on Dead Dog Beach in Puerto Rico.
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