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

Make the World Better with Your Next Run to the Grocery Store!
How can you help save the world without actually having to change your life much? It's easy! We'll show you how.

Life is Sweeter with Unlikely Friends
Think of the friends you hold dearest in life. Would you still support them the same way even if you didn't speak the same language? Here's a story that will remind you that friendship is far more than the things that divide us.

Can the Photos You Share Really Make a Difference?
Do your shares on social media really mean anything? We're taking a look in the history books to see how sharing photographs has changed the world before, and how you can have a hand in making a difference today!

Meet the Rescue Dogs Saving the Environment!
Rescue dogs are now becoming conservation superheroes too! Meet the pups getting a new life at the forefront of saving ecosystems, anti-poaching, and amazing conservation efforts.

The Simple Secrets to Finding Time to Read More!
Here's an awesome little video that gives us a few — surprisingly simple — tips on how (and why) reading more books can change the future for each of us!

Skate After School: How Skateboarding Can Change a Kid’s Life!
What if you could learn life's most important skills and have fun while doing so? This program is making that possible for hundreds of kids every week. Let's hear from the kids themselves why this program is so important!

Your Dog is Traveling Through Time… With Their Nose!
From finding missing people, sniffing out bombs, and even detecting health problems, dogs' remarkable sense of smell continues to impress. But what's actually going on inside those beloved noses?

Our Phones are Designed to be Addicting. But Here’s How We Can Take Back Control!
Want to taste true freedom? Turns out our phones are designed to make us slaves to their allure. Here are the keys to understanding what's going on and breaking free!

Why Would One Man Fill 600 Potholes?
Now here's an inspiring story of turning a personal loss into wonderful progress for all! Thousands of people die every year just because of the potholes littering India's roads. And after his own son lost his life, this father became the change the country needs. Just check out the impact he's having...

When Everything Seems Dark, Here’s How to Find Some Light
The next time you or someone you love faces a heartbreaking turn of events, there is a recipe for the resilience it takes to come out the other side of a loss with a remarkable sense of progress. Here's a story that gives us all the keys to unimagined possibilities!

Turning Plastic Bags into Speakers!
Some of the most important innovators of our time are finding ingenious ways to look at waste as a resource. Here's a clever group that has found an artistic and functional way to use single-use plastic bags!

Mushrooms are Saving Honeybee Colonies!
Mushrooms are saving the day for us yet again! Did you know that 70% of the fruits and vegetables we eat count on bees for pollination, and yet bee populations are plummeting? But the good news here is that some mushrooms have been found to have an ingenious property that allows them to defend the beehives!
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