Samantha's Portfolio

Samantha is a freelance feature writer and blogger sharing stories of people, brands, and organizations who make a difference in their world.  

She covers lifestyle topics that touch on our daily lives, including food, wellness, health, science, and consumer technology. 

Currently based in Alexandria, VA and Corvallis, OR. 

Feature & Profiles

Interview-based feature articles and profiles,  to see more visit my Features & Profiles page.

The Corvallis Advocate •

Masks, Gowns, and Shields: Heroes of Corvallis Sewing Brigade

American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Ever since there was an anticipated shortage of Personal Protective Equipment or PPE for healthcare professionals, over 1300 Corvallis residents have teamed up to make high quality, home-crafted items.
The Corvallis Advocate •

Sky Rights: Union Leader Sara Nelson

Corvallis native Sara Nelson is a force to be reckoned with. A rising star of the U.S. labor movement, she garnered national attention after using her AFL-CIO award acceptance speech as a call to action, urging all union members to unite to fight the previous federal government shutdown. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders even publicly thanked Nelson and her union, for motivating congress to end the 35-day shutdown. As International President of the Association of Flight Attendants, Nelson s

Food & Beverage

Everyone eats, learning about where our food and beverages comes from empowers us. For more samples visit my Food & Drink page.

The Local Dish •

Wild Roots Spirits Begins New Era With Canned Cocktails

Wild Roots Spirits crafts their infused line of fruited spirits in ways that make them fit in as well at the farmer’s market as in a cocktail bar. Although classic vodka and gin are among their offerings, the Northwest craft distillery is well known for fruit infused alcohol. Co-owner of Wild Roots Spirits, Ali Joseph, took a moment to share insights into what makes Wild Roots stand out in the crowded craft spirits market.
The Corvallis Advocate •

Health & Economy: The Eat Oregon Seafood Initiative

The #EatOregonSeafood initiative is intended to give the coastal seafood economies a boost as they recover from restaurant closures and other issues related to COVID-19. A rich source of lean protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B-12 and D, iron, and minerals like zinc and iodine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that non-vegetarian adults consume two, four-ounce servings of seafood per week.

Science News & Features

Exploring the world around us and the scientists publishing research. Visit my "Science & Nature" page to see more. 

The Corvallis Advocate •

Birth Announcement: New Baby Orca off Coast

This weekend, the orca known as “Tahlequah” J35 gave birth to an apparently healthy calf. The mother and calf were seen free swimming together off the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Some may recall that in 2018 “Tahlequah” captured worldwide attention as she dragged her deceased calf for 17 days and 1000 miles. Her “Tour of Grief” made international news and sparked conversations on the mortality of orcas.
The Corvallis Advocate •

The Science of Taste and Smell & the Covid-19 Connection

What can your sense of taste and smell tell you about your health? The answers may surprise you. OSU Food Science Professor Juyun Lim studies how people experience taste, smell, and other related chemosensory stimuli. Her research focuses “primarily on understanding how human taste and smell work and the role of underlying human taste and smell perception and the role of human sensory perception in food preference,” she said.
The Corvallis Advocate •

Corvallis’ Own Snake Scientist Talks Snake Sex, and More

Integrative Biology Professor Bob Mason might just know everything about the intimate life of the garter snake. For over three decades, Mason led the way in unraveling some of the mysteries on snakes, pheromones, and what makes a snake sexy. The Mason Lab at Oregon State University is primarily focused on reproductive biology and a subspecialty of chemical ecology. Much of his research focuses on the red-sided garter snake, who he sees as a model species paving the way to research...
The Corvallis Advocate •

Gadusol: Safer Sunscreen for Fish & Humans

Every summer, ocean lovers face the sunscreen dilemma. Fully protective sunscreen helps prevent sunburn and skin cancer, yet some popular sunscreen ingredients may harm marine life and the environment. Gadusol Laboratories is a Corvallis-based startup that hopes to offer a nature-inspired solution to the sunscreen dilemma by developing new sun protection alternatives based on a naturally occurring compound, called gadusol, found in marine organisms which provides UVB protection to the organisms.

Consumer Technology

Explore a featured selection of my writing work below.
MUO •

The History Behind Shazam, the Biggest App to Identify Music

Back in the day, if you heard a great song and wanted to find out its title, you had to ask someone or wait for it to come on the radio. The sound and music identification app Shazam changed all that. It is now over 20 years old, and its evolution keeps pace with the evolution of smartphones and watches. Like Google, Shazam’s name has crept into popular consciousness as both a verb and a noun. In fact, a song or sound identified by the app is known as “a Shazam."
MUO •

What Is Hoopla and How Does It Work?

If you want to save money on entertainment, your public library may be the answer. If your library subscribes to Hoopla, you have free and legal access to books, comic books, music, magazines, films, and television shows. Hoopla is a cloud-based media lending and streaming platform for public libraries. As we mentioned before, Hoopla offers many different types of content, including books, magazines, music, and even movies and TV shows. All of this content is free of advertising. Participating
MUO •

How to Buy Audiobooks on Spotify

Spotify wants to be your one-stop platform for listening to music, podcasts, and audiobooks. On September 20, 2022, the service rolled out a new audiobook feature for users in the US, with plans to expand to listeners worldwide. Audiobooks are a departure from your usual Spotify experience. Instead of ad-supported or subscription-based streaming, you purchase individual audiobooks to stream through the app. Over 300,000 titles are available, including best sellers across genres. Spotify curate
The Corvallis Advocate •

Lora DiCarlo Battles Sex Tech Bias

It all started with an orgasm, according to Lora Haddock, founder of Lora DiCarlo. The Oregon sexual tech company gained worldwide attention when their debut product won a Consumer Electronics Show Innovation Award, only to have it taken away due to the show’s so-called standards of decency. Since the Consumer Electronics Show previously included male-oriented sex tech products, this decision prompted conversations about sexual bias in the technology industry.