Breaking Borders

Season 1

TV-PG

Seasoned journalist Mariana Van Zeller and acclaimed chef Michael Voltaggio travel into areas of conflict and unrest across the globe with hopes of bringing people together around the table to break bread and engage in dialogue.

Where to Watch Season 1

13 Episodes

Mother of All Conflicts
E1
Episode 1Mother of All ConflictsMariana and Michael travel to Israel and Palestine to learn how conflict has shaped these nations. They meet people affected by the unrest in Jerusalem, explore the holiest sites and bring settlers together for a meal.
Bloody Saturday in Ireland
E2
Episode 2Bloody Saturday in IrelandMariana and Michael head to Northern Ireland to bring Catholics and Protestants together for a meal and conversation. They navigate heated clashes during marching season, sip on Guinness and dine in the Crumlin Road Jail.
Detained in Egypt
E3
Episode 3Detained in EgyptMariana and Michael visit Egypt to bring guests with rivaling views on the country's future together for a meal and debate. They are confronted by the police, have their passports confiscated and ride camels near the Pyramids.
Tunnel of Hope in Sarajevo
E4
Episode 4Tunnel of Hope in SarajevoMariana and Michael visit Sarajevo to grasp how three groups co-exist after ethnic cleansing wiped out thousands. They walk down Sniper Alley, visit the "Tunnel of Hope," and hear the story of the Romeo and Juliet of Sarajevo.
Dying for the American Dream
E5
Episode 5Dying for the American DreamMariana and Michael drive to the US-Mexico border to see a conflict that exists in the country's own backyard. They talk to men who hunt for illegal immigrants and hear stories of migrants trying to cross the border.
Torture in Kashmir
E6
Episode 6Torture in KashmirMariana and Michael visit the guarded streets of Kashmir to learn about its conflicted existence: to be part of India, Pakistan or its own independent state. Before hosting their dinner, they purchase produce at a floating market.
New Freedom in Cuba
E7
Episode 7New Freedom in CubaAs the last TV crew into Cuba before news of lifting the 50-year embargo, Mariana and Michael go to the communist nation two times to talk about the state of the nation, what has changed and future expectations.
Gorillas and Growth in Rwanda
E8
Episode 8Gorillas and Growth in RwandaMariana and Michael travel to Rwanda to revisit the genocide that took place in 1994. They visit the Nyamata Church were 3,000 Tutsis were killed and trek through the mountains to get up-close with the amazing gorillas.
Fields and Dreams in Cambodia
E9
Episode 9Fields and Dreams in CambodiaAfter Pol Pot's reign of terror, Mariana & Michael visit a rebuilding Cambodia. They travel to the Killing Fields where millions of citizens were murdered, feed roaming moneys in Angkor, & dine with Pol Pot's assistant.
Cyprus: Island of Hope
E10
Episode 10Cyprus: Island of HopeMariana and Michael go to Cyprus, an island nation where religious violence split a city in two. They explore an abandoned airport, fish near a ghost town and dine in the buffer zone.
Lebanon: The Power of Peace
E11
Episode 11Lebanon: The Power of PeaceMariana and Michael travel to Lebanon to open up the conversation between Hezbollah supporters and nationalist opponents. They tour bullet-riddled Beirut, visit with Syrian refugees and visit Byblos, the oldest city in the world.
Young Tigers in Sri Lanka
E12
Episode 12Young Tigers in Sri LankaMariana & Michael fly to Sri Lanka, a country whose bloody civil war lasted from 1983-2009, killing close to 100,000 Buddhists and Hindus. They visit a Tamil orphanage, discuss the need for brutality and spear fish for dinner.
Birth of Democracy in Myanmar
E13
Episode 13Birth of Democracy in MyanmarMariana and Michael visit Myanmar to see how the newly declared democracy is affecting the citizens after 50 years of silence. They speak with monks and guerrilla leaders, and then they try pig eyeballs.