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

The School that Changed an Entire Community
What if lasting social change started by getting adversaries to become advocates for some new future that everyone could imagine together and feel good about? This is how Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya started a revolutionary school that is changing the lives of generations of students!

A Beautiful Look at the Future of Eldercare!
It's time to break the mold on what eldercare looks like! Where would you want to spend your golden years? How about a village complete with a bar, shopping center, and living catered to your lifestyle! This is a leap for us all!

The Case for Taking More Naps!
Busy schedule got you stressin'? Here are easy ways you can bring more simplicity to your life!

A Museum of What New Yorkers Throw Out Every Day
Tucked away inside an NYC garage sits a museum of all the treasures thrown in the trash every day. Let's meet the man behind this bootstrap collection and the insight he has for us all!

Life Advice from the Slowest Mammal on Earth!
What can sloths teach us about dealing with the chaos of modern life? Here's a hilarious TED Talk that will have you becoming a champion of the sloth lifestyle for yourself.

Meet The Company Making Travel Accessible for Everyone!
Trekking up Machu Pichu, exploring Easter Island, navigating through the wilds of Mexico; these were all trips once impossible for travelers who use wheelchairs. But this organization is changing all of that!

The Amazing Way a Fish Changed Human History
Could a single fish really be the reason our world is the way that it is? Could the scope of human history have been entirely different without it? Let's explore! This is amazing!

How the Internet Made the Chicken Church Come to Life!
Venture with us to Indonesia's Chicken Church—a building brought back to life through the power of the internet!

The Way Porcupines are Influencing Healthcare!
To defend ourselves against harmful bacteria and infection, we're turning to porcupine quills for inspiration! Here's just one more way that looking towards nature for designs is improving our lives.

The Art of Freezing Time!
There is something powerful for all of us in the work of artists who create pieces that will disappear forever in a few hours! Explore the fascinating world of ice sculptures and their magical ability to freeze time—even summer!

Meet the 97-Year-Old Saving Thousands of Bluebirds!
Can one of us really make a difference? After hearing the story of Al Larson, there's no doubt!

How Beautiful Trucks Can Bring Home, Safety, and Tradition to the Road!
There may be a better way to make our roads safer that doesn't involve more signage and limits. India's beautifully decorated trucks bring a new meaning to "street art". Combining color, with cultural expression, and safety they are a unique folk art with a language all their own!
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