Zay Harding
Awakening Wonder, One Journey at a Time
For more than twenty-five years, Zay Harding has invited audiences to experience the world with curiosity, courage, and an open heart. Born and raised on the remote islands of Kauai and Oahu, Harding grew up surrounded by Hawaii’s breathtaking natural landscapes. This upbringing shaped his adventurous spirit and his lifelong passion for exploration. His early achievements as an Eagle Scout laid the foundation for the storyteller, traveler, and environmental advocate he would become, preparing him for a career that has taken him across all seven continents.
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Today, Zay Harding is the host of the hit CBS Saturday morning series The Visioneers with Zay Harding. This groundbreaking show travels the globe to highlight the innovators and innovations working to protect and preserve the planet for generations to come. The series, produced by Hearst Media Production Group in an exclusive partnership with the VoLo Foundation, has quickly become a viewer favorite. Its renewal for a second season, which premiered in October 2025, stands as a testament to its cultural impact and Harding’s extraordinary ability to inspire audiences worldwide.
Throughout his career, Harding has built an impressive body of work across some of the world’s most respected networks, including Discovery, History, PBS, Travel Channel, Outdoor Channel, Men’s Journal, Norwegian Cruise Line, and now CBS. Whether diving into history, uncovering hidden corners of the globe, or championing sustainability, he brings a signature blend of warmth, authenticity, and playful adventurousness that resonates with viewers of all ages.
The Visioneers with Zay Harding offers a particularly timely lens into the future, celebrating the visionary engineers, scientists, and everyday people who are already creating the world we hope to see. Through captivating global storytelling, the series brings to life the mission of the VoLo Foundation, a private nonprofit accelerating change by supporting science-based climate solutions, advancing education, and improving global health. Together, Harding and VoLo illuminate how innovation and dedication can turn hope into action.
His journey reminds us that inspiration is everywhere—and that each of us has a role to play in caring for our planet. In this special January issue of The Eden Magazine, featuring Zay Harding, we are sharing Zay’s exploration of his life as a modern explorer, his commitment to environmental storytelling, and the remarkable people and technologies shaping a more sustainable future.
Follow Zay Harding on Instagram
at @zayharding1 and the series
at @visioneerstv.
What inspired you to dedicate your life and career to exploring innovations that protect and preserve our planet?
Essentially, I grew up in paradise, on a surfboard in Hawaii, where the Pacific was my first love, my greatest teacher. The power, complexity, and beauty of the ocean, mountains, and wildlife have all entered my DNA. Hawaiian culture teaches how malama ‘āina, (care for the land and sea) is our kuleana – our responsibility.
You have been across the globe and met some extraordinary innovators. Can you share one encounter that left a lasting impression on you personally?
Truthfully, every single one of the Visioneers we feature on our show is quite extraordinary. One young Visioneer, Nihal Tammana, founder of Recycle My Battery, left a lasting impression on me not only with what he was doing but also with something he said. When Nihal was just ten, he saw a news story about a lithium-ion battery explosion at a California waste plant. In researching the matter, he learned that over 15 billion batteries end up in landfills each year.
Determined to act, Nihal launched Recycle My Battery in 2019 to promote proper battery disposal and recycling, as well as environmental education about why we don’t need to keep mining for materials that can be reused from old batteries. What began as an idea from a kid who cares quickly grew into a nationwide movement. He now leads more than 1,000 young volunteers across the U.S. who organize their own battery drives, workshops, and outreach campaigns, raising environmental awareness and inspiring others to live sustainably to protect our planet.
Nihal spoke with wisdom and conviction when he pointed out, Mother Nature provides us with everything we could ever imagine, helping us survive and thrive, so why isn’t everyone doing everything they can to keep her happy and strong? His simple question captures the heart of what true innovation should be: not just solving problems but caring deeply enough to create lasting change.
How do you strike a balance between entertaining viewers and raising awareness about serious environmental issues, especially to a younger audience? And what do you hope children will take away from watching the show?
When I hear those words, I can’t help but think of Whitney Houston’s hit single Greatest Love Of All, with her profound lyrics, “I believe the children are our future / Teach them well and let them lead the way / Show them all the beauty they possess inside / Give them a sense of pride to make it easier.” Children truly are the future. So, catering to and interacting with them in our Saturday morning program makes perfect sense. Finding that balance between education and entertainment, which is at the heart of our series, sparks curiosity and joy, making learning fun so it doesn’t feel like a lesson. The Visioneers consciously tell stories through adventure, humor, and relatable characters, achieving sustainable solutions, many done by youthful peers protecting our planet in a fun way.
We hope children come away feeling empowered rather than overwhelmed. By featuring everyday people doing extraordinary things and showing how our actions play into the bigger picture, we can collectively make a significant difference across the globe. By recognizing how our voices and choices matter, we end up wanting to contribute to the care of this world.
Please share with our readers one of your most exciting and rewarding recent initiatives that has excited young people.
Anirudh Rao, our youngest Visioneer at just 13, has made waves with his groundbreaking initiative to enhance tornado prediction. Inspired by a childhood tragedy when his best friend’s family lost their home to a tornado, Anirudh set out to extend the warning time, which typically averages only 8 to 10 minutes with current Doppler radar systems.
At age 5, years old, he began designing a sensor that detects subhuman infrasound waves generated by tornadoes. His innovative system is encapsulated in a homemade 3D-printed case launched via drone. The sensor connects to an app he developed with his father, allowing it to issue tornado warnings an astounding 30 minutes earlier than traditional methods, totaling 43 minutes of crucial lead time for families in danger.
Anirudh is also collaborating with the U.S. National Weather Service, aiming to bolster preparedness, particularly for those in Tornado Alley. His work is not only a testament to ingenuity but also a beacon of hope, inspiring young people everywhere.
Congratulations on being an EMA (Environmental Media Association) Award-winner. How do you plan to build on this success? Do you see this award opening new doors for collaboration with educators, scientists, or media platforms to further amplify your environmental message?
Thank you so much! Our whole team is beyond grateful. Being recognized by the Environmental Media Association is such an honor. This journey continues to grow, and with CBS announcing our second season, we’re thrilled to keep pushing into new territory.
One of our biggest wins this year was locking in Visioneer Ed Begley Jr., the OG of Hollywood sustainability. Since the first Earth Day in 1970, Ed has been leading by example walking to award shows, riding the bus to the Oscars, building a fully sustainable home, and even using compost and shower runoff to grow his own food. Whenever Ed commented on Los Angeles’s pollution, his father would ask him, “What are you gonna do about it?” and Ed has been answering that question ever since. He’s genuinely the blueprint for sustainable living.
We’ve also teamed up with Adam Gardner from the indie band Guster, who co-founded REVERB, an incredible organization making concert tours sustainable for artists like Billie Eilish, Coldplay, and Jack
Johnson.
Having trailblazers like Ed and Adam join our mission feels like a powerful stamp of approval. Momentum is building, and yes, more doors are opening now with educators, scientists, and creators who want to amplify the environmental movement in fresh, inspiring, and visionary ways.
Sustainability often feels overwhelming to many. What simple, realistic actions do you believe every individual can take to make a difference right now?
Sustainability doesn’t have to be daunting; small, simple actions can lead to significant change, because every small change adds up and directly impacts our environment. Here’s a quick list of realistic steps everyone can take to make a difference right now.
Firstly, consider reducing single-use plastics. Switching to reusable bags, water bottles, and containers is an easy way to reduce waste. Secondly, embracing plant-based meals, even a few times a week, can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. Simple swaps like opting for a meatless Monday can make a substantial difference. Thirdly, conserving energy at home is crucial. Fourthly, turning off lights when not in use, unplugging devices, and using energy-efficient appliances can lower your consumption without a significant lifestyle change. Fifthly, try walking or carpooling instead of driving individually, whenever possible. Sixthly, support local and sustainable businesses like farmers’ markets or local artisans, to reduce transportation emissions and bolster your community.
These manageable actions empower individuals and prove that collective effort can lead to a brighter, more sustainable future. Every small step counts!
Traveling so extensively, you’ve witnessed both the beauty and the fragility of our planet. What is the number one most pressing issue that concerns you? Wherever I go, I try to see the world through others’ eyes, and I’m most concerned for the vulnerable communities tied to the land and sea. As I am sure everyone is starting to notice, our greenhouse gas emissions have oversaturated our atmosphere, causing more extreme weather patterns everywhere.
Having traveled to all seven continents, I have seen with my own eyes that no corner of the planet is untouched, from melting glaciers and rising seas to devastating wildfires and shifting weather patterns.
Yet there is hope. Our collective future will be determined by the choices we make and actions we take now. By working to reduce emissions, expand renewable energy, and embed sustainability across all sectors, we can change our trajectory. And if we work together as a global community, not just as individuals or nations, our efforts to protect our precious planet will be preserved, and benefit future generations.
Season 2 of The Visioneers highlights even more groundbreaking solutions. What innovations or technologies are you most excited to showcase this season?
I don’t want to give too much away because I really want everyone to keep tuning in every Saturday morning on CBS but here are a few teasers.
Cecilia Energy, a company based in New Jersey, is doing something incredible with factory plastic waste. They feed discarded plastics into special reactors that break them down into their original elements, hydrogen and carbon. The hydrogen fuels the reactor itself, and the carbon becomes reusable carbon fiber, a stronger and cleaner alternative to plastic. NASA has even asked them to design these reactors for spacecraft, so astronauts can turn their own plastic waste into building materials while in orbit.
We’re also featuring Vertical Harvest, which is transforming how we grow food locally. They build vertical, hydroponic farms in underused urban spaces, using 85–90% less water to grow fresh, flavorful produce year-round. Their mission is to strengthen local food systems and create opportunities in underserved communities.
Another exciting development: Electric boats and tugboats are cutting fuel use and noise pollution in our harbors. Having grown up in Hawaii, the promise of cleaner, safer waters for our fishing communities especially inspires me.
Building on our groundbreaking first season, which explored solar cars and hybrid planes, Season 2 of The Visioneers showcases the next wave of sustainable innovation, from energy-efficient homes to smarter electric appliances, even robotic “geckos” and “bees” shaping a cleaner, smarter future for us all.
What have you learned about resilience and optimism from the communities you’ve met around the world?
I have learned that while life can be challenging, when I meet people who push through hardship with hope and determination, it’s incredibly inspiring. Resilience is about more than strength; it’s flexibility, perseverance, and the belief that we can rise again, no matter what knocks us down.
Children are the perfect example of that spirit. They fall, they get hurt, they face new environments—and they bounce back every time. Their ability to adapt and keep moving forward reminds us that resilience is learned through experience and fueled by optimism.
That same mindset drives innovation. When people believe they can overcome obstacles, they open doors to new possibilities, and that energy spreads because it’s so uplifting. That kind of courage and connection around the world gives me genuine faith in our shared future as a global community caring for our planet.
That same mindset drives innovation. When people believe they can overcome obstacles, they open doors to new possibilities, and that energy spreads because it’s so uplifting. That kind of courage and connection around the world gives me genuine faith in our shared future as a global community caring for our planet.
What are some of the obstacles you’ve faced in producing The Visioneers, and how have you overcome them?
The biggest challenge with a show this big is timing. We must plan out an entire season before we even start filming-and that alone takes more than five months. We were even making a Season 2 Wishlist during Season 1, in hopes that CBS, Hearst Media Productions Group, VoLo Foundation, and our audience would want to keep going, which thankfully they all did, and we got to explore. Coordinating people across different towns, states, and countries is tricky. Are they available when we get there? If not, can we adjust without losing their story?
We don’t have many off-days, so even one hiccup, like bad weather, travel delays, or scheduling conflicts, can throw off the entire rest of the season. There’s really no room for error.
Luckily, we’ve had great weather and incredibly reliable people who’ve honored their commitments to the show, and honestly, it feels like the universe is on our side. The stars somehow seem to align every time, and that makes us feel like the universe is telling us we’re meant to be making The Visioneers right now.
At The Eden Magazine, we believe in “love and compassion for all living beings.” How do you see compassion playing a role in building a more sustainable and united planet?
Compassion is vital for creating a more sustainable and united planet. My father always said he felt most fulfilled while helping others, a lesson he lived out over his 50 years of service with The Salvation Army. He has demonstrated how humanity is about connecting people who need each other. So, caring for our planet is perhaps the most humane and thoughtful thing we can do for future generations.
Teaching children about compassion and environmental stewardship plants seeds for positive change. Simple actions like recycling, buying local, or planting a garden reflect our recognition that all living beings have inherent value.
Ultimately, compassion is foundational for a healthier planet. By embracing our ties to one another and to the earth, we can take meaningful steps toward a brighter, more united future.
When you are not on set or traveling the world for The Visioneers, how do you like to unwind? What brings you joy and balance?
I love being outside in nature. And I love exercising my body outside in nature whenever possible: surfing, hiking, biking, camping, kayaking, running, doing yoga, and chilling out. I love the sun and being in it. I love traveling with my family. I like socializing over food and drinks. I really enjoy connecting with people and making them laugh. I like meeting others and hearing about what they are doing to make a difference in the world. It makes me feel happy and recharged. And I love being able to share that I am working with such a talented team of filmmakers, all of whom are equally passionate about creating meaningful content for CBS. As a Producer on the show and the Host, I have worked hard to get The Visioneers off the ground, and now that Season 2 is in full stride, life feels really rewarding. I am feeling incredibly blessed.
Would you like to share a personal message with The Eden Magazine readers that reflects your vision on how everyone can make a difference in our world?
Sure. I wish to thank everyone for taking the time to read this article. Thank you for caring about the planet. Thank you for trying not to use single-use plastics. Thank you for watching The Visioneers with Zay Harding every Saturday morning on CBS. And if you are a Visioneer, which anyone can be if they so choose, Thank You for making this world a better, brighter, and more sustainable place.
Special thank you to:
Zay Harding
Photography by Raquel Krelle
Editing by Dina Morrone
Recycled Jewelry by @TwistedSilver
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