Paulino Duran wearing sunglasses and a beige shirt standing on the side of a rural road with at least four lanes, surrounded by green trees and hills under a clear blue sky.
Paulino Duran wearing sunglasses and a beige shirt standing on the side of a rural road with at least four lanes, surrounded by green trees and hills under a clear blue sky.

YOUR GUIDE

Paulino Duran grew up in Sonoma, California, where a rich blend of cultures, landscapes, and traditions helped shape his perspective from an early age. Surrounded by a community that valued connection, storytelling, and shared experience, he developed a deep appreciation for the ways people come together—through conversations over meals, and celebration.

Paulino has spent a lifetime chasing connection — drawn not just to places, but to the people and stories that give them meaning. After more than 30 years in entertainment as a host, actor, and storyteller, his journey has evolved into CHASING | BLISS, a deeply human exploration of what happiness really looks like across different cultures and walks of life.

Through his work with PBS, BBC, and NatGeo travel programming, Paulino learned that no matter where you go in the world, people are often searching for the same thing: peace, purpose, love, and belonging. CHASING | BLISS is his way of exploring that shared pursuit — one conversation, one culture, and one experience at a time.

Paulino Duran wearing sunglasses, a denim jacket, and khaki pants leaning against a graffiti-covered wall on a narrow city street, with outdoor seating and parked cars in the background.
Paulino Duran in a white shirt looking upward inside a grand historic building with ornate architectural details and colorful frescoed ceilings.
Paulino Duran in a white shirt looking upward inside a grand historic building with ornate architectural details and colorful frescoed ceilings.
Paulino Duran wearing sunglasses and a black jacket riding a black motorcycle on a city street with steps and an old stone building in the background.
Paulino Duran wearing sunglasses and a black jacket riding a black motorcycle on a city street with steps and an old stone building in the background.

THE SPIRIT

There’s a balance to how we work. We move with intention, never rushing the story, giving space for moments to unfold naturally. At the same time, there’s a quiet precision behind it all—tight schedules, efficient setups, and a crew that knows how to get what’s needed without wasting time. It’s a rhythm we’ve refined over years: slow enough to feel, sharp enough to deliver.

And while we take the work seriously, the experience is anything but rigid. There’s laughter between takes, shared meals, unexpected detours, and the kind of camaraderie that only comes from creating something meaningful together. The crew becomes part of the journey, not just observers of it.

If you were to step behind the scenes with us, you wouldn’t just see a production—you’d feel a collective energy moving with purpose. A group of people who care deeply about the stories they tell, the places they visit, and the way they move through the world. It’s that combination—professionalism, curiosity, and human connection—that shapes every frame of CHASING | BLISS.

  • Two people riding a jet ski on the ocean near a large wave.
  • Two men are standing on a balcony overlooking historic European architecture with statues, columns, and flags in the background. One man has gray hair and is wearing a vest, while the other has dark hair and is wearing a pink shirt. The photo appears to be taken from behind a camera or recording device.
  • A man smiling and holding onto a boat's roof frame while sailing on the water with mountains in the background.
  • A group of people sitting at a long table outdoors under tall trees in a vineyard area, enjoying a meal and drinks in a sunny setting.
  • A man with gray hair smiling and making a hand gesture, standing outdoors in front of a colorful striped building with a palm tree nearby.
  • Two men sitting on a concrete ledge by the ocean, smiling and exchanging a fist bump. One man has gray hair, a beard, wearing a gray T-shirt and a baseball cap. The other man has light brown hair, wearing a blue T-shirt, camouflage shorts, and a baseball cap, facing each other with a background of water and cloudy sky.
  • Two men are standing outdoors, smiling and laughing, engaged in conversation. One man is wearing a blue shirt with some writing on the back, beige pants, and brown boots. The other man is dressed in black, with tan pants, holding a black helmet in one hand and gesturing with the other. They are standing by a wire fence with a tree and a cloudy sky in the background.
  • Two men wearing helmets and casual clothes sit on a white horse, engaging in a conversation outdoors with trees in the background, while a camera captures the scene.
  • Two men riding horses on a grassy field, with tall trees and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
  • A man wearing a blue trucker hat and a black t-shirt, looking to the right, with a blurred background of city lights at dusk.
  • A ship navigating through icy waters with a trail of broken ice and snow behind it.
  • Two surfers paddling on their surfboards in the ocean near the shoreline.
  • Inside a helicopter cockpit with two pilots flying over a landscape with water, land, and mountains during sunset, one pilot is wearing sunglasses and a black face mask, and the other is wearing headphones and a black cap.
  • A smiling man wearing a black cap with the words 'be kind.' and a gray T-shirt, sitting by the beach with waves in the background.
  • A man with gray hair and a beard smiling and crossing his arms, standing in front of a vintage blue and white pickup truck outdoors.
  • A man and a woman with a puppy on a snowy waterfront with boats and buildings in the background.
  • A boat with the name 'Relandersgrund' on the side, docked near snow-covered ground at night, illuminated by string lights and nearby streetlights, with buildings and trees in the background.
  • A man wearing a black winter jacket, black beanie, and gloves standing on snow-covered ice with a large ship in the background on a cloudy day.
  • A small three-wheeled vehicle, possibly an auto rickshaw, decorated with lemon graphics and text in Italian, with a man inside waving and making a funny face. The vehicle is parked outdoors near a tree with a lemon garland and a mountain in the background.
  • Marble fountain with sculptures of mythological sea creatures and a muscular figure holding a spear, in a busy city square with historic buildings and people walking around.
  • A man sitting on a stool outdoors at a restaurant or cafe, holding a glass of white wine and smiling at the camera. There are tables with people dining in the background under large umbrellas.
  • People dressed in yellow and blue costumes performing a traditional parade or dance on a narrow city street, with some holding flags.
  • A man stands in front of a stand with hanging and stacked bunches of garlic, grapes, tomatoes, and chili peppers at an outdoor market with mountainous terrain in the background.

THE TEAM

CHASING | BLISS is a collaborative collective of producers, directors, creatives, and technicians united by a shared passion for human storytelling. From cinematographers and audio engineers to editors, colorists, and sound designers, every contributor plays a role in crafting the emotional texture and cinematic identity of the series.

Supporting each journey is an international production network built to move with both efficiency and intention. Local fixers, cultural advisors, and regional creatives help guide the team through each environment with authenticity and respect, allowing the series to work fluidly across borders while remaining deeply connected to the communities it documents. This approach allows CHASING | BLISS to capture something deeper than travel. Rather than simply observing cultures from the outside, the series immerses itself in the rhythms of everyday life — creating stories that feel honest, human, and emotionally grounded.

Together, this global crew brings depth, precision, and artistry to every frame, ensuring each episode is crafted with care, cinematic beauty, and genuine human connection.

  • Three men with filming equipment standing on a cobblestone street against a beige wall, one man holding a digital device, another pointing at it, and the third operating a camera.

  • Nighttime scene on a city street with snow, illuminated decorative lights, a crowd of people wearing winter clothing, and buildings in the background.

  • Selfie of two men in a crowded city street, one wearing sunglasses and the other holding a camera mounted on a handheld device. The background shows a street side vendor with a red umbrella, buildings, and pedestrians.

  • Group of people sitting on cobblestone street in a European city. One man stands behind holding a piece of wood over his shoulder. Others are smiling and looking at the camera. Background includes parked cars, a building with a sign, and street signs.

  • Four men are smiling and having fun on a white taxi with pink accents and a website sticker on the front, parked on a street with a mountain in the background. The photo was taken during the day, and there are other people walking in the background.

  • A group of men walking down a narrow cobblestone street in an urban area, with sunlight streaming through and graffiti on storefronts.

  • A man with a brown cap, sunglasses, and a red jacket operating a large camera or filming device outdoors in front of a modern building with glass doors and signage.

  • A black and white photo of people loading or unloading equipment from a van on a city street. The van's back doors are open, revealing various gear inside. Several people are gathered around, some looking into the van and others walking nearby.

  • A group of seven people sitting at a wooden dining table in a restaurant, smiling and enjoying each other's company. Some glasses and bottles are visible on the table, and a woman is wearing sunglasses. A man in the foreground is wearing a brown cap and a scarf around his neck.

  • A film crew filming a man in a light pink shirt conducting an interview in an outdoor courtyard with old stone buildings. The crew includes a camera operator, a boom microphone operator, and other crew members, some observing and one preparing to record.

  • Five men walking down a sunlit alley, with some carrying cameras and equipment, suggesting they are part of a film crew or production team.

Paulino Duran wearing sunglasses looking out at the water during sunset

“We don’t rush stories; we reveal them.”

–Paulino Duran