about

borderless is a movement to lift the voices of people that are changing the world. Through our docu-series borderless, digital platform and cultural & educational programs, we feature and connect people at the frontlines of the world’s pressing crises.

The borderless docu-series follows host musician/activist Stephan Said as he travels the globe discovering stories of courage and creativity in the face of inequality, conflict, migration, poverty, extremism, racism, climate change and more.

“we believe that lifting the voices of people at the front lines will change the world”
#thisisborderless

Our current program include following host Stephan Said to the front lines of hurricane-hit Southeast Texas where natural disasters, climate change, and inequality combine in a megastorm where some of the brightest leaders in the country are taking their communities into their own hands. Then, Stephan will be heading home to Virginia where his once hometown #Charlottesville was recently rocked by white supremacy protests, where Stephan will work with organizations and youth bringing people together across boundaries to lift up America’s moral vision of equality and inclusivity.

Also this fall, Stephan and borderless will be partnering with USA for UNHCR and No Lost Generation for a nationwide tour of screenings and events around teh borderless refugee crisis episode, “No More Lines.” The film and events will bring discussion about the global migration and refugee crisis, to thousands of people across the U.S.A. and elsewhere. Previously borderless traveled with Said to Baghdad, where he met a new generation of Iraqis desperately trying to unite their country on the eve of ISIS invasion, and Karachi, Pakistan, where he found a city rife with terrorism and poverty pulsing with ideas of change. Following our migration crisis program, we travel on to the front lines of poverty and social change in the United Sates; Johannesburg, South Africa; Bamako, Mali; Salvador, Brazil; and other locales. Said says, “borderless is a travel series about people who are changing the world.”

borderless is created by difrent:, Inc, a global media company and institute producing content and programs that bridge culture, socio-economic development and media to catalyze creative solutions for a more equal and open global society.

borderless is sponsored by The Global Center, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational foundation helping to create and distribute media “to promote and foster public awareness of the peoples, culture and current affairs of nations throughout the world.” All contributions are fully tax-deductible.

Meet Our Team

RORY O’CONNOR

RORY O’CONNOR

Executive Producer

Rory is an award-winning author, journalist and filmmaker, whose programming has aired on leading networks in more than one hundred countries – from ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS and FOX in the U.S. to the BBC, RAI, NHK, National Geographic and many others internationally. He the author of three books and his articles have appeared in The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, Mother Jones, Vogue, The Los Angeles Times, The Nation, Newsweek, and numerous other publications. O’Connor has numerous awards including a George Polk Award, a Writer’s Guild Award, a George Orwell Award and two Emmys, among other honors.

STEPHAN SAID

STEPHAN SAID

Co-Creator, Producer, Host

Stephan is a musician and activist whose songs have helped build movements for peace, human rights, and global justice across the world – from the anti-war to anti-police brutality movements, the Seattle demonstrations to the Arab Spring, Occupy, and more. Called “this generation’s Woody Guthrie” by Billboard Magazine and compared to a Bruce Springsteen or Bob Marley for the global age, he has released several albums on both major and independent labels. Stephan has been featured in the New York Times, Time Magazine, The New Yorker, NPR, PRI, BBC, Democracy Now!, Al Arabiya, ORF, and Deutsche Welle.

ANUSHAY SAID

ANUSHAY SAID

Co-Creator, Producer, Content Director

Anushay is an international development and research professional. She has worked across multiple regions from East Asia to South America with global development institutions including the World Bank, UN-Habitat, grassroots NGOs as well as on independent research. Her work focuses on cities; on issues of urban poverty, governance, accountability, and community and participatory development, among others. She is currently completing her PhD in Urban Policy at The New School in New York. Anushay was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan.