About

So, I was born in this coastal town on the east side of Sardinia, Tortolì, the capital of the smallest Italian province, Ogliastra. My grandfathers were the stationmaster and the town clerk. Back then, in secondary school (Liceo Classico, for anyone keeping track of the details that seem unimportant but probably aren’t), Philosophy was the subject that really hooked me. But, in what will surprise precisely no one familiar with the world’s complexity, I ended up with a degree in Economics from the University of Cagliari. Later, I added a specialisation in International Marketing Management from MIP in Milan because, well, that’s where the job market was, and I really like communication.Bingo!

Since then, my professional life has been this strange zigzag of roles that don’t quite fit into a LinkedIn algorithm: investigative journalist (yes, with newspapers, the kind on actual paper), non-conventional trainer for companies and associations (which sounds more glamorous than it was), project manager in social enterprises (twice, for emphasis), consultant on local development projects in places like Africa, Central America, the Balkans. Oh, and let’s not forget the time I lived in various eco-villages across Europe—England, Scotland, Denmark, Turkey, all that to see if any of it made more sense than the “real” world. Spoiler: it didn’t, but it was lovely anyway.

I really wanted to believe in the whole off-grid, post-capitalist utopia thing, though what I mostly discovered is that living sustainably is as exhausting as it is idealistic. Which brings me to the main intellectual focus of my life: sustainable economies and new development models, the sort of topics that sound niche and academic but are actually about trying to figure out if there’s any way for humans to exist without systematically ruining everything they touch. I’ve dug into local exchange trading systems and even written about how social capital builds up in intentional communities—it sounds lofty but mainly involves watching people share things they don’t really need in the first place.

Now, the paradox of my existence is that while I’m fascinated by all this theoretical stuff, I pay my rent by working in marketing and corporate communications. It’s one of those “I enjoy it, but it’s not my life’s calling” jobs, though the irony is that I’m actually pretty good at it, and on most days, I even find it compelling in its own capitalist, jargon-filled way. Actually, now I really like my job.

Life? I’m curious about it, though I’ll be the first to admit my memory is a sieve. I’ve felt pain, danced with death—metaphorically, don’t worry—but I’ve apparently forgotten whatever flavor they left behind. Love? Yeah, I’ve known that too, and it left a few marks, but I’m still open to it, which is a kind of miracle when you think about it. Falling asleep without the existential dread of realizing it all ends someday? That’s its own kind of art.

On the lighter side of things, I make videos (not the kind that get millions of views, but still), play harmonica (badly, but with spirit), listen to jazz, dance swing, perform in strange experimental plays (for reasons that make no logical sense), ride trains (because it feels like life should be a journey, right?), climb mountains—all of it with more enthusiasm than actual skill. Once upon a time, I founded a radio program and what became the largest Italian arts festival in Europe. I’ve written some stories that are probably a little too sentimental and books on economics that are definitely too heterodox. Oh, and I’m almost always either biking or riding around on my vintage Vespa, depending on what feels more cinematic that day.

I moved to Ireland in 2007, initially settling into this converted distillery apartment in Dublin, a place with the kind of hipster aesthetic that would make you roll your eyes if you hadn’t already bought into it. Fast-forward eight years, and now I live near an old monastery, which feels fitting in some inscrutable way. In my small Mediterranean garden, I take care of olive trees, strawberry trees, rosemary, lavender, thyme and myrtle.One of these days, I’m going to move to Scandinavia or other cold places. Probably. Eventually.

Alternative Bio – Professional Profile

Sono nato a Tortoli’, una cittadina sulla costa orientale della Sardegna. I miei nonni erano il capostazione e il segretario comunale, due mestieri di confine, dove si vede la gente partire e tornare, e si sente sempre il peso di qualcosa che finisce. Al Liceo Classico preferivo la filosofia alla matematica, ma mi sono laureato in Economia Politica all’Università di Cagliari e specializzato in International Marketing al MIP- School of Management del Politecnico di Milano.

Ho fatto il giornalista pubblicista in giornali di inchiesta, dove mi infilavo nelle pieghe delle storie scomode; il formatore non convenzionale, insegnando cose a modo mio usando le techniche del training nonviolento, tra associazioni e aziende; il project manager in imprese sociali, a gestire progetti che speravi potessero cambiare qualcosa, da qualche parte; e il consulente per lo sviluppo locale, in Africa, in Centro America, nei Balcani per Organizzazioni Non Governative e Agenzie delle Nazioni Unite. Non mi bastava mai, così ho creato e diretto giornali studenteschi, associazioni teatrali e organizzazioni senza fini di lucro. Ho vissuto in ecovillaggi in Inghilterra, Scozia, Galles, Francia, Olanda, Spagna, Danimarca, Svizzera e Turchia, cercando di capire se un modo diverso di vivere fosse davvero possibile. (Spoiler: non lo so ancora.)

Le economie sostenibili mi intrigano, i nuovi modelli di sviluppo mi ossessionano. In particolare ho approfondito il tema dei sistemi di scambio non monetari e dello sviluppo del capitale sociale attraverso la creazione di comunità intenzionali. Sono appassionato di internet, comunicazione e nuove tecnologie, tutto quello che ci connette, che ci spinge a pensare oltre i confini. Ora pago le mie bollette occupandomi di marketing e comunicazione d’impresa. Il mio lavora mi affascina e appassiona, ma quando il lavoro mi lascia un po’ di respiro, continuo a scrivere, a formare, a immaginare utopie, perché una vita senza sogni non vale niente.

Sono curioso della vita ma con poca memoria. Ho incontrato il dolore e la morte ma ne ho dimenticato il sapore. Ho conosciuto l’amore e ne porto le cicatrici, ma continuo ad innamorarmi e so addormentarmi senza l’angoscia di pensare che una giornata è finita e non sono riuscito a darle un senso. Non cerco di buttarmi via, mi voglio bene, almeno un pó.

Amo editare video, suonare l’armonica, ascoltare jazz, ballare lo swing, fare teatro, viaggiare in treno e scalare montagne. Ho fondato un programme radio e il più grande festival italiano in Europa. Scrivo racconti un pó sdolcinati e eterodossi libri di economia. Mi muovo in  una bicicletta in alluminio, una  Vespa PX 200 e una Alfa Romeo, a seconda del vento e della pioggia. Sono arrivato in Irlanda nel 2007 e dal 2008 ho vissuto in un appartamento ricavato da una vecchia distilleria dell’ottocento nel centro di Dublino. Otto anni dopo mi sono ritrovato a vivere in una casa affianco a un vecchio monastero. E adesso, nel mio piccolo giardino mediterraneo, curo ulivi, corbezzoli, rosmarino, lavanda, timo e mirto. Prima o poi andró a vivere in Scandinavia.

Nota biografica alternativa