Series synopsis
The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation is an American documentary family kids news television series that premiered on CBS on September 27, 2014. It stars Albert Lawrence, Mo Rocca, Alie Ward and Adam Yamaguchi.
The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation is a weekly Saturday morning show on CBS that showcases present-day change-makers from all over the world who are creating solutions to real needs. It is hosted by news correspondent and CBS Sunday Morning regular Mo Rocca. Each episode presents stories related to the process of innovation and also includes one story on The Henry Ford—its Archive of American Innovation, its unique visitor experiences and its unparalleled expertise. The intent is to stimulate cu ...
Premise
The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation is a weekly Saturday morning show on CBS that showcases present-day change-makers from all over the world who are creating solutions to real needs. It is hosted by news correspondent and CBS Sunday Morning regular Mo Rocca. Each episode presents stories related to the process of innovation and also includes one story on The Henry Ford—its Archive of American Innovation, its unique visitor experiences and its unparalleled expertise. The intent is to stimulate curiosity and to inspire audiences with entertaining yet educational stories about yesterday and today’s visionaries and turning points that changed the course of history, as well as innovations and inventions that are changing the world today. The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation is produced in partnership by The Henry Ford and Litton Entertainment, a leading independent production and distribution company.
Premise: Dream Big...Don't Quit
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Albert Lawrence as Self - Correspondent
- Mo Rocca as Self - Host
- Alie Ward as Self - Correspondent
- Adam Yamaguchi as Self - Correspondent
- Jax Tranchida as Self - Correspondent
Episodes
This series spans 10 seasons with 260 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 26 | September 27, 2014 | March 14, 2015 |
| Season 2 | 26 | October 3, 2015 | May 28, 2016 |
| Season 3 | 26 | October 1, 2016 | May 27, 2017 |
| Season 4 | 26 | September 30, 2017 | May 26, 2018 |
| Season 5 | 26 | September 29, 2018 | May 25, 2019 |
| Season 6 | 26 | September 28, 2019 | October 24, 2020 |
| Season 7 | 26 | January 2, 2021 | August 28, 2021 |
| Season 8 | 26 | October 2, 2021 | July 23, 2022 |
| Season 9 | 26 | October 1, 2022 | July 22, 2023 |
| Season 10 | 26 | October 7, 2023 | July 27, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Microscopic Windmills Host Mo Rocca shows teen inventors who are out to stop distracted driving; Thomas Edison’s inventions still make us all look like slackers; the drone invasion is upon us; and windmills the size of a flea could revolutionize electric power. |
September 27, 2014 |
| 2 |
Medical MacGyver Host Mo Rocca shows a medical MacGyver who makes health devices from toys; train spinning; computerized smart shopping carts; and lighting the world with soda bottles. |
October 4, 2014 |
| 3 |
Voice Magic of Auto-Tune Host Mo Rocca shows the creator of the pop singer’s best friend, Auto-Tune; Rosa Parks and the bus that changed the world of race relations; humanoid robots are making it into the mainstream; and skimming the plastics from our oceans. |
October 11, 2014 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Wolves of Yellowstone Host Mo Rocca shows us how returning wolves to Yellowstone National Park changed nature; Vine’s six-second Spielberg, Zach King; the rivalry between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison; and the new beehive that makes the honey flow. |
October 3, 2015 |
| 2 |
Horse Play Host Mo Rocca shows us the coolest toy for horses; teaching the science of gravity with bowling balls; making plastic from banana peels; and how weaving techniques led to computer programming. |
October 10, 2015 |
| 3 |
Shark Repellant Host Mo Rocca shows us what device is keeping sharks away from swimmers; the video doorbell connected to your smartphone; the history of the DC-3 airliner; and the coating for plastic bottles that gets the last drop. |
October 17, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pet Wheelchairs Host Mo Rocca shows us the surfboard that doesn’t need a wave; the man who makes wheelchairs for animals; building rope bridges with drones; and the woman whose quilts are museum pieces. |
October 1, 2016 |
| 2 |
Drone Racing Host Mo Rocca shows us the robotic football tackle dummy that prevents injuries; the drone racing league; the doomsday seed vault; and the flying schoolgirl who made aviation history. |
October 8, 2016 |
| 3 |
3D Statuettes Host Mo Rocca shows us 3D-printed statues of people and pets; the wrist swim inflator for water safety; how 100-year-old locomotives are kept running; and the sofa accessory that makes you feel like you’re in the game. |
October 15, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Luxury Tree Houses Host Mo Rocca shows us the man making mansions in the trees; the innovator turning your smart phone into an underwater camera; making Mexico’s highways greener with vertical gardens; and, when the railroad world ditched steam for diesel. |
September 30, 2017 |
| 2 |
Inland Surf Park Host Mo Rocca shows us an innovative surf park in the North Wales countryside; stopping police chases with a tire lasso; the watch for the blind getting popular with the sighted; and the speed of flight, from the Wright brothers to space. |
October 7, 2017 |
| 3 |
Globe Maker Host Mo Rocca shows us the London innovator creating artistic globes of the world; the woman who took her grandmother’s tea recipe to make food last longer; the drone finding and clearing landmines from war-torn countries; and, the place where modern-day technology began. |
October 14, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Flyboard Air Host Mo Rocca shows us the jet hoverboard that flies over 100 mph as high as 9,000 feet; 3-D printed homes built in a day; the new food made from pond scum; and, when the world transitioned from horses to cars. |
September 29, 2018 |
| 2 |
Spinach Leaf Hearts Host Mo Rocca shows us how science is transforming spinach leaves into new heart tissue; deterring burglars with a fog security system; turning cement pipes into compact housing; and, when U.S. automakers became wartime plane makers. |
October 6, 2018 |
| 3 |
Paper Sculptures Host Mo Rocca shows us the innovative artist turning folded paper into unbelievable sculpture; the company turning used shipping containers into indoor farms; a new discovery to grow crops in deserts; and, the historic home where the Wright brothers grew up. |
October 13, 2018 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sewing Machines Host Mo Rocca shows us the innovator creating superstrong thread from spider DNA; the boxing robot dodging your jabs; the tiny drone that keeps soldiers safe; and, when the sewing machine replaced the needle and thread. |
September 28, 2019 |
| 2 |
Station Wagons Host Mo Rocca shows us the bot baking you the freshest bread; the family building the air cleaner for the cleanest air; glasses to prevent motion sickness; and, going way, way back to the history of the station wagon. |
October 5, 2019 |
| 3 |
Tripp Sawmill Host Mo Rocca shows us the crime-fighting tether tripping up bad guys; the woman who started the blow-drying empire; window blinds powering your place; and, when the big wood saw was replaced with the sawmill. |
October 12, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Barnstorming Host Mo Rocca shows us synchronized drones taking the place of fireworks; the robotic lawn mower that cuts your grass on its own; two fathers who invented a car seat that fits in a small pouch; and, when the circus took to the sky with barnstorming flyers. |
January 2, 2021 |
| 2 |
Women Inventors Host Mo Rocca shows us the innovation of beautiful homes made of earth; opening your front door with a touch; highway guard rails that roll away crashes; and, historic women inventors. |
January 9, 2021 |
| 3 |
Menlo Park, December 1880 Host Mo Rocca shows us weather stations in your back yard; the oven that keeps food cold until cook time; keeping your carpets clean without taking off your shoes; and, how Edison convinced New York politicians that his way was the future. |
January 16, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Wright Brothers Patents Our curator of transportation talks about the Wright brothers' battle to protect their airplane patents with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a soft serve ice cream maker for your countertop, an app that translates your dog’s barks, and special drones helping hunt down invasive pythons in the Florida Everglades. |
October 2, 2021 |
| 2 |
Apples Our curator of agriculture demonstrates the old-fashioned way to make apple cider for host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a high-tech bird feeder that lets you shoot pictures and video of your feathered friends, a bottle cap that purifies water with light, and see-through urban beehives that let you watch how the honey is made. |
October 9, 2021 |
| 3 |
Convertibles Our curator of transportation discusses when the convertible became the coolest car on the road with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us GPS trackers disguised as sea turtle eggs to help catch poachers, a new way of timing a timer, and the self-cleaning door handle. |
October 16, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Animal Power Our curator of agriculture & the environment discusses animal-powered farms with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us tiny sensors saving snails, a lifesaving invention to stop choking and a robot that is keeping beaches clean. |
October 1, 2022 |
| 2 |
Driver Education Our curator of transportation discusses the evolution of driver education with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a rock climbing treadmill wall, an invention for making plant milk at home and shipping container homes designed to keep families safe from storms. |
October 8, 2022 |
| 3 |
Tether Car Racing Our curator of transportation discusses tether cars with host Mo Rocca, who also shows us a mosquito repellent patch, a balloon that can take you to the edge of space and a puzzle feeder for pets. |
October 15, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ping Pong Robot A ping pong robot sharpens one's backhand; an underwater scooter on one's arms; the disruptive invention of the digital camera; when mail-order shopping began. |
October 7, 2023 |
| 2 | Seal Whisker Camera | October 14, 2023 |
| 3 | Super Coral Reefs | October 21, 2023 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | CBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 27, 2014 |
| Last aired | July 20, 2024 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | continue |
| Schedule | Saturday at 09:30:00 |