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
Human Ingenuity Never Fails: The Town Built Underground!
What do you get when you combine resilient people, extreme weather conditions, and a former mining town? In Coober Pedy, residents live, work, grocery shop, and do everything else... underground. This unique and fascinating lifestyle is a great look into how humans can learn to thrive, no matter the challenges we face. They give a whole new meaning to the term "down under"!
5 min read
Forget Perfection, Here’s the Easiest Way to Form Any New Habit!
Want to create a habit that you can actually keep? This thought leader has a trick that takes the pressure off!
5 min read
Obstacles Can Be Inspiration—Just Look at This Chalk Artist!
If you've ever felt stuck, held back, or like you just couldn't make sense of the task in front of you, here's an interesting place to start: your limitations. Using your obstacles for inspiration is just what chalk artist David Zinn does when he needs to break through his creative block. His story proves that perhaps, your roadblocks could be just what you need to create something amazing.
Creating Water Out of Thin Air! The Desert Beetle Revolutionizing Our Water Crisis
In our fight to bring clean, fresh water to billions of people around the world, innovators now have a new source of inspiration from the middle of the... desert? A beetle with a unique ability to capture water out of thin air is inspiring a new generation of life-saving technologies!
5 min read
New Discovery! More Mammals Are Glowing in the Dark?
Platypus are already known to be strange creatures, but there’s a new characteristic to add to these odd-balls: they GLOW! The thing is, scientists are finding that they actually aren't the weird ones when it comes to this. It turns out, glowing in the dark is a trait far more common in mammals than we've ever thought! Ready to test what you think is possible?
5 min read
Warming Up to the Newbie in One of the World’s Iciest Places
What if we treated every day like the first day on a remarkably challenging new job? Here’s what being the “new kid” on one of the world’s most unique climbing expeditions is like, and how we can better embrace this spirit of seeing our jobs, habits, and lives with fresh eyes!
5 min read
A Rock Climber’s Perspective on Reaching New Heights
When a big problem towers over us, how do we come out on top? Let's join a renowned rock climber to see how she overcomes fear and intense pressure to accomplish her goals as she takes on one of her biggest challenges yet!
5 min read
Heroes from Table Scraps: How Oysters Are Protecting NYC!
New York Harbor is the cleanest it's been in over a century and it's thanks to a delicacy many of us love to slurp down...oysters! Using nature's knowhow, table scraps, and a little ingenuity, oysters are bringing life back to polluted waters and protecting one of America's most beloved cities!
5 min read
Proof That You Can Endure! One Paraglider’s Story of Adversity
Soar to new heights with Jezza Williams! This outdoor enthusiast shows us how to navigate the bumpy winds of change with a recipe for personal success that can be replicated by anyone. It's a story of innovative perseverance we all need to hear!
Switching Gears: How You Can Start Leaving a Lasting Legacy Today!
How do you ensure that you leave behind a positive legacy? Well, maybe it's about rethinking the ways we approach what we do next. Here's a new view on what it means to build a legacy for yourself that lasts—plus proof that it works!
5 min read
Ant Butt Imposters? You’ll Never Look at Ants the Same Way Again!
While most would run away from a relentless raid of army ants, some critters have found clever ways to survive and thrive alongside them! The unusual tactics they employ—like pretending to be an ant butt—will give you a window of wonder onto the incredibly complex world we are a part of!
Turning Pineapples into Plantable Plates!
Meet the people turning fruit waste into super-sustainable packaging! Their amazing innovations are opening a whole new world of possibility for us all. Prepare never to look at pineapples—or paper plates—the same again.
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