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
5 min read
Fixing Pollution Through Fun! How a Googly-Eyed Innovation is Cleaning Baltimore Harbor
With googly eyes and a beloved twitter account, Mr. Trash Wheel has become an icon in Baltimore Harbor. His story is helping us rethink the important role fun has in tackling some of the biggest problems we face!
Can You Compost Dog Poop? Reducing Your Dog’s Environmental Paw-Print
Every day, millions of little bags filled with dog waste make their way into landfills, releasing methane into the atmosphere and potentially harming our waterways. But a new program in NYC is turning this problem into a solution with the power of compost!
5 min read
What is a Mangrove and Why Are They One of The World’s Most Important Trees?
When you feel like you're in a hard situation, can you adapt to make it better for yourself and others? The remarkable mangrove trees do just that, making homes in salt water and saving the environments around them. They're living proof that when we find ways to thrive despite our challenges, we can make life better for everyone around us.
5 min read
Reduce, Reuse, ReTuna! The Swedish Mall Selling Only Recycled Goods
When you think of the mall you probably don’t think of it as a hub for environmental innovation. But in Sweden, one mall is taking the old and making it new again, combining a revolutionary recycling center with a reused, restored shopping experience.
5 min read
Settlers of Catan: How One Family’s Game Night Sparked the Fun of Millions
There is still a precious time when we can come together over life's simple pleasures: game night. And here's a story of wonder with Settlers of Catan, a worldwide classic. This game didn't come from a big corporation or fancy focus group—no, its origins are far closer to home.
5 min read
No Space Wasted: The Urban Honey Bees Making City Life Sweeter
Urban jungles are saving the future of our most precious pollinators. Cities may seem like strange places to find beehives, but from New York City to London to Detroit, bees are thriving in their new urban environments. Here's how you can help them out!
Get The Most Out of Your Groceries: Easy Ways to Use Food Scraps
Wait! Before you throw away that banana peel or compost your coffee grounds, you can give them another life. Here are some simple ways to start reducing waste and maximizing your grocery budget.
5 min read
Putting the Future of Food in New Hands: Training Farmworkers to Become Farm Owners
Creating a new life for ourselves is always possible, and nonprofit ALBA is making that possible for countless people. They're giving immigrant farmworkers the tools and the knowledge to improve their lives by helping them have organic farms of their own!
No More Steeping in Solitude, Make Friends in This Free Tea Van!
Would you open up the doors of your home to share a cup of tea with a stranger? What if you made this your daily routine? For this traveler, sharing a cup of tea became more than a way to connect with others—it built an entire community.
5 min read
Ready, Set, Mow! Why Lawn Mowers May Be the New Race Cars
Missing a piece of the puzzle to reach your dreams? Don't sweat! With a little creativity and a dash of spunk, you can make those dreams happen. Check out this 12 hour long lawn mower race for proof!
5 min read
The Key to Learning? Make it Fun! Nature Comics with Rosemary Mosco
From ants with two butts to the weird and wonderful world of bird mating dances, there’s a lot of strange things going on in the natural world. This cartoonist is on a mission to make science approachable using a new medium: comics.
5 min read
Meet the Wildfire Hero Who Wears a Shell Instead of a Cape
The gopher tortoise may not look like your average hero, but when forest fires threatens their neighbors, their special skill comes in very handy! Here's how to use your strengths for good.
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