Breaking Borders
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.
- 2015-2015
- 1 season
- Travel Channel
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.
Season 1 Episode Guide
13 Episodes 2015
Episode 1
Mother of All Conflicts
Sun, Mar 15, 2015 43 mins
Breaking Borders follows seasoned journalist Mariana van Zeller and acclaimed chef Michael Voltaggio as they travel into conflict zones to get the story behind the story. Together, they have a unique and challenging goal: To gather people from all sides of the conflict to break bread and explore the issues that divide them.
Episode 2
Bloody Saturday in Ireland
Sun, Mar 22, 2015 43 mins
Mariana van Zeller and Michael Voltaggio travel to Northern Ireland to bring Catholics and Protestants together for a meal and conversation. They witness heated clashes during marching season, sip on Guinness and dine in the Crumlin Road Jail.
Episode 3
Detained in Egypt
Sun, Mar 29, 2015 43 mins
Mariana van Zeller and Michael Voltaggio 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.
Episode 4
Tears and Tunnel of Hope in Sarajevo
Sun, Apr 5, 2015 43 mins
Journalist Mariana van Zeller and chef Michael Voltaggio visit Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to see how 3 groups coexist 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.
Episode 5
Dying for the American Dream
Sun, Apr 12, 2015 43 mins
Journalist Mariana van Zeller and chef Michael Voltaggio drive to the US-Mexico border to see a conflict that exists in our own backyard: immigration. Mariana and Michael talk to men who search for illegal immigrants and hear stories of migrants trying to cross the border.
Episode 6
Tortured Past and Present in Kashmir
Sun, Apr 19, 2015 43 mins
Journalist Mariana van Zeller and chef Michael Voltaggio visit Kashmir to learn about the conflict that threatens its existence: to be part of India, part of Pakistan or its own independent state. Mariana and Michael walk through heavily guarded streets and visit a floating market.
Episode 7
New Freedom in Cuba
Sun, Apr 26, 2015 43 mins
The last TV crew to enter Cuba before the announcement of the 50-year embargo being lifted, Mariana van Zeller and Michael Voltaggio go to the communist island to talk about the state of the nation, what has changed, and the future expectations and hopes.
Episode 8
Gorillas and Growth in Rwanda
Sun, May 3, 2015 43 mins
Mariana van Zeller and Michael Voltaggio travel to Rwanda, which experienced unprecedented genocide in 1994. They visit the Nyamata Church, where thousands of Tutsis were killed, and trek through the mountains to get up-close with the amazing gorilla.
Episode 9
Fields and Dreams in Cambodia
Sun, May 10, 2015 42 mins
After Pol Pots reign of terror, Mariana van Zeller and Michael Voltaggio visit a rebuilding Cambodia. They travel to the Killing Fields, where millions of citizens were murdered; feed roaming moneys in Angkor; and dine with Pol Pot's assistant.
Episode 10
Island of Hope
Sun, May 17, 2015 43 mins
Mariana van Zeller and Michael Voltaggio go to Cyprus, an island nation where religious violence split a city in 2, creating tension and the need for United Nations protection. They explore an abandoned airport, fish near a ghost town and dine in the buffer zone.
Episode 11
The Power of Peace
Sun, May 24, 2015 43 mins
Mariana and Michael travel to Lebanon in hopes of fostering a dialogue between Hezbollah supporters and nationalist opponents. While there, they tour bullet-riddled Beirut, visit with Syrian refugees, and spend time in the ancient city of Byblos.
Episode 12
Young Tigers in Sri Lanka
Sun, Jul 26, 2015 42 mins
Mariana & 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.
Episode 13
Birth of Democracy in Myanmar
Sun, Jul 26, 2015 43 mins
After 50 years of silence, Myanmar has declared itself a democracy. With an election coming, Mariana & Michael visit to see how the changes are affecting the citizens. They speak with monks, guerrilla leaders & try pig eyeballs.