Body Hack

The Gaza Strip is home to one of the longest ongoing conflicts in modern human history Joining Palestinians at the sites of protests along the border with Israel host Todd Sampson hopes to understand the extreme cost of wartime stressors on the human body Sampson focuses on those who have found ways to adapt live and work in one of the most protracted conflict zones in the world

In Ethiopias Omo Valley the cradle of human civilization host Todd Sampson meets two tribes and witnesses ancient extreme rituals With the Suris Todd meets women who reject stretching their bottom lip to wear a plate He then travels south to the Hamar where a boy becomes a man by jumping over a line of cattle while his female relatives are whipped until they bleed as a sign of devotion

Todd investigates the most resilient athletes in the world in the theatre of pain.

Joining the indigenous Nenet people of Siberias Yamal Peninsula Sampson faces minus 30°C weather as he herds an army of 2000 reindeer from winter pastures to summer camps He concludes his visit at the village of Panaevsk in the hope of taking part in a traditional reindeer festival where tribes compete in wrestling and racing matches before continuing their yearlong journey onto the ice

In Utah, Todd examines the mental powers of fear and adrenaline as he takes on high speed racing and a demolition derby.

Sampson delves into and beyond black magic and tales of possession as he visits four distinct aspects of muchmaligned voodoo Joining a priestess he explores the powers of placebo and alternative medicine as he takes part in the bloody sacrifice of several animals and witnesses the priestess performing rituals In the midst of yearly voodoo festival Sampson experiences religious rituals