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

Does ritual and tradition justify violent behaviour? Todd travels to the tribes of Ethiopia where women are whipped as a sign of devotion to their tribe.

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 explores Japans cultural history through martial arts He learns from a samurai master the centuriesold science of the sword before progressing to its modern counterpart of Kendo a form of martial arts taught to police cadets He spends a day with Japans ideal man a mountainous Sumo wrestler and learns new perspectives on fitness and strength Then he meets athlete Mizue Hasegawa

In Benin, West Africa, he's exposed to the juxtaposition of violence and beauty as he becomes an initiate of the often maligned Voodoo faith.