A story of childhood wonder, loss, and the consequences of chasing what we don’t fully understand, a cautionary tale about the stories we inherit, the memories we cling to, and the dangers of tampering with time-real or imagined.

Photo by Egor Litvinov on Unsplash

This is a story about Gigi Riva, the legendary Italian soccer player who "led the modest team of Cagliari to win the Serie A championship in the 1969-70 season." While it portrays Riva as more than a player—a demigod whose name is whispered with reverence and his deeds immortalised—it’s ultimately a tale of childhood, wonder, memories, and a touch of mischievous revenge. Without giving too much away (there is a twist!), this 12-minute story will surprise and enchant, offering an unexpected journey through hero worship, nostalgia, and the magic of storytelling.

The narrative explores the complex emotions of returning to your homeland to see, possibly for the last time, an ageing parent. The salty air, the rocking of the ferry, all becomes sensory details that evoke the physical experience of the journey. Yet, beneath the surface lies a deeper turmoil, a haunting question about goodbyes and the fragility of life.

More of a borderline stream-of-consciousness than a tutorial. Despite beginning with a promising premise—teaching the listener how to carve a wooden spoon—the guide quickly veers off into obscure, yet weirdly specific, tangents that overshadow any practical advice. Listeners end up with some very useful advice, just not necessarily on carving wooden spoons.

The ultimate guide that is certain to leave you frustrated if wooden spoon carving is what you're after!

If you're looking for a practical tutorial, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a strangely compelling, albeit unhelpful, listening experience, then this might be for you.

I created this story for Small Audio Art, a community created by Phoebe McIndoe with artists and audio makers looking for togetherness in a scattered world.

This audio creation starts from the prompt 'wooden spoon'.

Small Audio Art https://welcome2myhome.squarespace.com/home-2/3-wooden-spoons

A young, impressionable girl, infatuated with the speaker of the night program—a love story for all those who can still remember what it felt like.

Voices: Bailey Castle and Darren Kleven

Words & Production: M. Cristina Marras

Artwork Shakib Uzzaman for Unsplash

A comedic game show called You've Got to Be Kidding Me tests contestants' knowledge of a dystopian society's new constitution and the decrees of their Glorious Supreme President.

When I created this for the Silver Sound Biannual Sonic Dash competition in January 2025, it sounded like something fun and out of this world.

By May 2025, in the US, they are talking about having people compete for a green card by taking part in a quiz show. Yes, it is depressing. And no, if someone had asked me, I would have chosen a different audio creation to be transformed into reality.

Anyway, the piece was created from scratch within 48 hours in response to a prompt emailed to participants on Friday, January 3rd, 2025.

All sounds and music in the audio drama were created by me and the rest of my family (my son Romeo and my husband Gianfranco) without any external support or pre-existing materials. None of us can compose music-the theme song is simply us singing.

One funny bit trivia: all finalists met for a collective listening session on January 6th (does this date ring a bell?), and my entry was the only one dealing with contemporary politics and also the only one from Italy (that I know of).

Written and produced by M. Cristina Marras

Voices: Romeo M. Minutolo (the amazing Quiz Master); Gianfranco Bitti (the lucky Giuseppe); M. Cristina Marras (the wise but not so good after all Maria).

Image Freepik www.freepik.com

This piece was one of the 15 finalists in Audio Flux Circuit 04. The prompt asked for a three-minute piece that referenced an object related to a first and included the sound of time passing (but not a clock).

I decided to tell about the day I did something that no one in my family had ever done before me. I'd rather not tell you what so as not to spoil the narration. Featuring: strong sense of atmosphere, moods shift, and anticipation and a study on class, family, and the weight of expectation.

Here more about Audio Flux.

Flux https://www.audioflux.org/circuit04

Featuring at Radiophrenia 2025 - A haunting monologue, a power struggle between two vastly different entities. The speaker, seemingly a woman trapped in a toxic bond, reveals their pain and vulnerability, shattered by their partner's constant attacks. But amidst the despair, a chilling undercurrent of defiance emerges. The speaker unveils a disturbing truth: a force to be reckoned with, a presence that has infiltrated their tormentor's very being.

As the monologue progresses, the listener's perspective shifts, drawn in by the speaker's menacing words and the hint of a power far beyond their initial fragility. The final revelation leaves the listener reeling, questioning the true nature of the dominance and the unsettling reality that unfolds.

Created for Phoebe McIndoe's Small Audio Art project "Exploring identity and belonging through the objects that make up a home. Join us every other month for community & creative prompts." https://welcome2myhome.squarespace.com/home-2

Artwork by Yasin Hoşgör for Unsplash

Tornare in Sardegna dopo tanti anni trascorsi all'estero è quasi una seconda emigrazione. La visita alla fonte sacra di Su Tempiesu diventa la parabola di un rientro e della voglia di ricominciare a vivere in Sardegna.

Opera vincitrice del "Contest MemoRAS" della Regione Autonoma della Sardegna.

Link alla pagina ufficiale della Sardegna Digital Library https://www.sardegnadigitallibrary.it/detail/650437919fa7985b447d5df8