All Episodes

Created in 2 days, just as the rules of Sonic Dash require, without too much fuss, a bit rough and really rushed. The theme was 'too much information,' to be interpreted freely. My luck is having a lot of interesting and original friends scattered around the world who come to my aid without asking too many questions when I show up again with one of my strange requests. You might actually recognise some voices (many of them work in the podcast and audio world), but I am not writing their names here. Because  when I asked them to tell me 'too much information,' I also specified that it didn’t necessarily had to be true. In short, don’t form any opinions based solely on what you hear here, I warn you! I’ve already thanked my friends personally, even those I couldn’t include (there were many friends and only two minutes to fill), but I still like to repeat my thanks here because this really is a wonderful community.Enjoy the ride! (works best with headphones).Photo by Igor Omilaev on Unsplash

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

What happens when a clock that used to hang at the wall stops working, and is thrown away? And why do we feel compelled to shake a matchbox, even if we do not intend to use it? In this work you will not find a definitive answer to these questions, but I invite you to listen nonetheless, for a quiet exploration of the persistent habits of our memory, of what remains after people and objects disappear from our life, how the sound of their lives lingers long after they are gone. 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. The prompt for this audio was 'clock'.Image reworkingof Photo by Abiodun Ageh on Unsplash

A haunting monologue, a power struggle between two vastly different entities. The speaker (a woman trapped in a toxic relationship?) reveals pain and vulnerability, shattered by 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 questions the true nature of the dominance and the unsettling reality that unfolds.

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'.

Night Radio was one of my first podcasts. Unfortunately it required the voice talent of a young girl and of a mature man with a deep voice, and I had no one to ask.But I was really keen on telling the story: a young, impressionable girl who spent her sleepless nights listening to a mature man who covered the graveyard shift on the local radio, philosophising about the world with his beautiful, deep voice, a voice that in the darkness, evoked incredible worlds and strong feelings in the girl's mind.The year was 2013, I lived in Melbourne, and I was still trying to find my community of podcasters. The only place where I felt at home was  SoundCloud, which, back then, was a cool boutique platform based in Berlin (oh! how have things changed since!), and that's where I reached out.Actually, it was the other way around: one morning I woke up to find that the views on my SoundCloud channel had skyrocketed (several thousand compared to the usual few dozen): I had been named Soundclouder of the Day. That's how I started exchanging messages with SoundCloud's extraordinaire community leader, Luke Leighfield, and with his help, I put out a call to audition for the two voices I needed to tell my story.I remember very well the euphoria of listening to the voices of the dozens of people who auditioned, and I must say that when I heard the voices of Bailey Castle and Darren Kleven, I immediately knew that they were perfect for what I had in mind.Those were pretty anything-goes times for podcasts, and in fact, I decided to use Stairway to Heaven at the beginning of my piece—which was the theme song of the night program that I had fallen madly in love with as a girl (it won't surprise anyone to know that the story is autobiographical).Listening to Night Radio again lately, I thought that it was too good to stay private, so I replaced the initial music (with something legit) but left everything else as it was: raw, unpolished (I created it using Audacity, go figure!), naive, and yet, thanks to the fantastic interpretations of Bailey and Darren, it retains its nocturnal magic.Dedicated to all those who have fallen in love with a voice on the radio.(If anyone is curious to know what happened with my radio crush, I can only say that it had quite a different ending. Write me in private if you want the details).Voices: Bailey Castle and Darren KlevenWords & Production: M. Cristina MarrasPhoto by Chandan Chaurasia on 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 MarrasVoices: 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 is one of the stories created for All The Best Radio's 24 hour radio challenge, in which producers were tasked with creating audio stories from scratch in a day. I participated from Sardinia (Italy) with a story starting with a recurring dream.Here you can listen to all the entries. Photo by Quinn Korsune on Unsplash[29/11/2024]

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 time the prompt was 'window'.I recount a small but poignant moment that reflects my own regret over the way I reacted in a specific moment of our collective lives. A reflection on how easily fear can distort one's perception, making us forget what really matters: compassion and hope.Small Audio Art welcome2myhome.squarespace.com/home-2Release date:29 November 2024

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.[10/11/2024]

The prompt was 'door'.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." Photo by Elimende Inagella on Unsplash[09/07/2024]

Some things are lost over and over and then are found again and again.But then there are also other things.By Maria Cristina Marras for Sonic Dash June 2024 The Sonic Dash is a 48-hour audio storytelling competition held each winter and summer. With participating audio-makers from around the world, entrants must craft a completely original, from-scratch audio piece within two days of being emailed a prompt (no archival material or pre-existing music allowed!). Voices: M. Cristina Marras and Romeo M. MinutoloMusic: Romeo M. MinutoloPhoto by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash[25/06/2024]

Forget your morning latte, folks, because the city's daily dose of WTF is already brewing! Today's public service announcements veer into the delightfully deranged, leaving us scratching our heads and wondering what exactly they're putting in the water cooler at City Hall.Whether a deliberate artistic experiment or a product of a malfunctioning system remains a source of speculation. However, its impact on its audience is undeniable. By embracing the absurd, the Announcement has sparked conversations about the nature of language, the power of communication, and the subjective construction of reality. In doing so, it transcends the realm of mere entertainment and enters the space of artistic commentary, prompting reflection on the world we inhabit and the ways in which we interpret it.[22/06/2024]Photo by Vasi on Unsplash

A longing house cat dreams of returning to her old home with a garden, a lost paradise of sunlit playful hunts.In the picture is my beloved Ombra, whom I did not have the heart of forcing to endure a flight that would have lasted several days, followed by a month quarantine inside a cage. Ombra now plays happy in a beautiful Northcote garden with her friend Tuppy the Puddle. Created for Audio Flux Circuit 03 Pet Sounds.[09/06/2024]

A sonic reflection on the monotony of our daily routines.With a touch of irony and a hint of existential angst, I present the symphony of mundane sounds that mark the passing of our days, a never-ending loop of bodily functions and technological hums. This is our absurd, repetitive existence.Photo by bady abbas on Unsplash[15/10/2023]

This piece is a reflection on the concept of space as sound. Space understood not as a visual concept, but as an auditory one, as the connective tissue between all of the objects in the world, carried to the perimeter and to the center. A voluminous environment that emerges from an exquisite global polyphony. This piece was inspired by Mathias Hinke's lesson 'Demonstrations and fun cultures' which explores the role of sound in specific non-musical social settings and practices.Manchester political rally reimagined by M.Cristina Marras.credits from Sounds of the Year 2023, released December 14, 2023citiesandmemory.bandcamp.com/track/soun…er-england

Audio Club is a place to meet, workshop and develop ideas through monthly audio challenges. This intriguing experiment launched by All The Best Radio, kicked off with the first challenge: create 5-7 minute pieces about anything and everything in the whole entire world.The catch? The piece had to incorporate 60 seconds of absolute, pin-drop silence. This is how I tackled the challenge, remembering the women and men who fought and sacrificed for the elimination of the fascist regime. Forever against fascism and fascists.Audio Club All The Best Radio (my third place in me second home)[13/03/2024]

A swirl of sounds and sensations, listening to this piece is like entering a circus. Still, instead of clowns and illusionists, you'll find: libraries, librarians mistreating innocent children, thunders, revenge, dark nights, betrayal, tax fraud (just a little bit), more thunders, Berlin in the '80s, translations, revenge, triumph, cautionary tales. Disclaimer: no books were harmed while making this piece.Awarded Transom's Small, Random, Meaningful. transom.org/2023/every-library-in-my-life/Special Mention at the Australian Black Snapper International Film Festival (Audio section)."Delicious and bittersweet treat to enjoy with headphones."Orecchiabile, 17 July 2024

Winner Audionomia's best mini-headphone & Hörspielsommer Kurzhörspielwettbewerbs.Set in one of my favourite non-places, the arrivals at a railway platform, and inspired by Wisława Szymborska's poem "Dworzec" (The Railroad Station), My non arrival is an emotional journey that explores the intricacies of human connection and the bittersweet dance of hope and detachment.In My non arrival the estrangement between the protagonist and the voice of the announcer becomes an evocative thread that weaves through the narrative.As listeners immerse in the soundscape of a bustling train station, a poignant sense of distance unfolds, born from the announcer addressing the protagonist directly. Each announcement becomes a reminder of her yearning for connection, the anticipation of her beloved's arrival, and the profound vulnerability that accompanies unmet expectations.As the train approaches, the estrangement deepens, as the protagonist stands on the precipice of hope and despair.The announcer's instructions on how to approach the carriage, the gentle warning to ignore the embraces of strangers, and the delicate reminder to carefully search for her love within the crowd emphasise the weight of her solitude.The departure of the train, coupled with the announcer's matter-of-fact declarations, reverberates with the ache of unfulfilled longing.The protagonist finds herself at the crossroads of acceptance and heartache, where the pain of non-arrival meets the poetry of possibilities.With this audio piece, I hope to draw the listener into an emotional journey that explores the intricacies of human connection and the bittersweet dance of hope and detachment.The estrangement produced by the voice of the announcer, speaking directly to the protagonist, reflects the universal experience of seeking intimacy amidst a world that may, at times, feel distant and elusive.

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.Production, editing and sound design M. Cristina Marras

La Sposa nel Vento premiered at the Seattle Social Justice Film Festival in front of a stunned and engaged audience, receiving high praise from viewers for its powerful and emotional depiction of the topic of gender violence against women.Directed by Giovanni Coda, the film combines stunning dance moves with graphic and tragic stories to create a work of art that is both beautiful and impactful.The film tackles the sensitive topic of domestic violence and its effects on women, their families, and future generations. It highlights the fact that patriarchal systems harm not just women but everyone, and it drives home the point that gender-based violence is an issue that affects us all.Viewers were moved by the film's innovative approach to storytelling, which blends different art forms such as dance, voice-over, and powerful imagery. They were also touched by Giovanni's bravery in tackling such an important issue, and many felt that his unique perspective made the film even more impactful.This are the voices of the viewers that I collected immediately after the Seattle premier.PRODUCTION, EDITING & SOUND DESIGN M.Cristina Marras

A tale of cultural neocolonialism. This podcast is inspired by my personal experience, as someone who grew up in Sardinia surrounded by stories and boasts about the journey of the famous English writer D.H. Lawrence, and his wife Frida through Sardinia.Lawrence visited Sardinia in 1921, after becoming bored with rainy Sicily. He spent just over a week there, during which time he wrote a book in which he described the island and its people. I find Lawrence's portrayal of Sardinia and its inhabitants myopic and insensitive, as he was unable and unwilling to understand or engage with anything that was different from the reality he was familiar with.Despite these criticisms, I embarked on a journey to retrace Lawrence's footsteps through Sardinia, exploring the breath-taking landscape of vineyards, pioneers, and love for the soil. Along the way, I encounter winemaker Stefano Soi, who demonstrates an awe-inspiring dedication to the land and an ability to embrace old traditions while planning and creating a sustainable future.VOICES: Cristina Marras (Narrator; Reader from “The Little Prince”) and Stefano Soi (as himself); passages from D.H. Lawrence’s book “Sea and Sardinia” read by Romeo M. MinutoloPRODUCTION, EDITING & SOUND DESIGN M. Cristina Marras

Instructions on how to prepare a clay pot, before using it to cook, presented with a sexy voice. This is part of an exploration on voice that I created as assignment for the 'In the dark' course (a course that I highly recommend, presented by the fabulous Nina Garthwaite).Photo by Alfonso Escu on Unsplash

This is part of an exploration on voice that I created as assignment for the 'In the dark' course (a course that I highly recommend, presented by the fabulous Nina Garthwaite).This time I looked for actual instructions (on how to prepare a clay pot to be used) presented the same material to the tune of a song. Let's see whether you recognise which one.Photo by Alfonso Escu on Unsplash

This is part of an exploration on voice that I created as assignment for the 'In the dark' course (a course that I highly recommend, presented by the fabulous Nina Garthwaite).This piece consists of found sounds mixed up with my original piece. Enjoy!Photo by Alfonso Escu on Unsplash

An audio experiment created while attending Nina Garthwaite's amazing In the dark audio course.Photo by Alfonso Escu on Unsplash

What does the opposite of inspiration sound like? It's an endless litany of audio prompts delivered with horrible audio and without any sense or order. Created as Assignment #13 for Sarah Geis' Audio Playground www.audioplayground.xyz/[02/10/2020]

Created for Cities and Memory's Shortwave project, this piece starts from the real shortwave audio from the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster to tell the real story of Robert H. Lawrence Jr., a United States Air Force officer and the first African-American astronaut."Shortwave radio is one of the most fascinating sonic worlds – capturing vital moments in world history as well as the thrill of pirate radio, clandestine radio stations, secretive number stations, military and spy radio. All of humanity is truly out there to be listened to at the turn of a dial – and it’s been remixed and reimagined in the Shortwave Transmissions project."Shortwave is a project by Cities and Memory citiesandmemory.com/shortwave/The image is by artist Tavares Strachan. I Belong Here (White), 2012Voice Romeo M. MinutoloProduction, editing & sound design M.Cristina Marras[03/10/2021]

I venture with my namesake Cristina Marras along the Mining Trail of St Barbara, across the Sulcis mining area of Sardinia, gruelling isolated goat trails swept by the ubiquitous mistral wind, but also breath-taking glimpses of views and beaches with water so crystalline that it always reminds me of stained-glass windows in churches. And suddenly the smell of naphtha, motor oil, takes me back to my childhood.See some of the pictures taken during the trip. Written, edited and produced by M. Cristina MarrasMusic Epidemic SoundPhoto by Giampiero PinnaVoices: M.Cristina Marras, Cristina Marras, Romeo Minutolo, the cloistered nuns of the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Good Path.Thank you Cristina for being such a great adventure companion.Thank you Giampiero Pinna and thank you to the Fondazione Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara for your support.I invite you all to take a look at the Cammino. It's great beyond what I'll be ever able to convey. [18/01/2022]