Raoni Washburn-Mancilla, The Founder of “Big Leaf Energy Plant Co.”

Black and white portrait of a person with short, light-colored hair, a nose piercing, wearing a dark shirt, with a green leaf-shaped energy logo in front of them, and text that reads "Big Leaf Energy - Plant Co."

Raoni Washburn-Mancilla is a writer, LGBTQ+ activist, and self-proclaimed messy—yet somewhat semi-passable—podcast producer and host. He is the Founder and CEO of Big Leaf Energy Plant Co., an affiliate of Bossy Power Bottom LLC. Raoni is an unabashedly obsessed plant enthusiast, a Poppers Sommelier, and local San Francisco bossy power bottom that just so happens to be on the left of you on your Grindr grid.

In July 2020, Raoni launched a podcast while we were all trapped in our homes and bored during the pandemic lockdown. My Gay Expose Podcast began as an amateur project, but as Raoni learned and evolved in the podcast world, he eventually earned the show the title of "number 14 of the top 100 best LGBTQ+ podcasts of all time." He shared story after story of his messy, salacious Gay Walk-of-Shame moments while living his best single life in San Francisco’s Castro District.

Along the way, Raoni founded his own production company, Bossy Power Bottom LLC, and expanded into producing other podcasts. When My Gay Expose Podcast aired its final episode in December 2025, Raoni began seeking new ways to grow his business.

Throughout this five-year podcast journey, houseplants filled every square inch of Raoni’s home—a hobby that gradually became a way of life. When the Dump Administration took office in 2025, Raoni stepped away from the doom-and-gloom of social media, where stories of democracy being dismantled dominated the news. Instead, he found refuge in a TikTok algorithm tailored to plant content, hoping to distract himself from the political turmoil overtaking the country and its media outlets.

This shift sparked a desire to combine his two passions—podcasting and plants—on social media. Thus, “That Gay Plant Hoe” was born: a bold podcast persona bringing plant care content to a whole new level. Raoni’s unique and unorthodox spin on plant tips and tricks quickly grew a devoted community eager to consume his signature style.

Big Leaf Energy Plant Co. followed soon after. Raoni’s new ambition to turn his love of plants into a career came full circle, fueled by his podcast persona. Big Leaf Energy Plant Co. is preparing to launch online plant sales and consulting services for San Francisco and select Bay Area locations, with a storefront grand opening set for 2026.

Stay tuned for updates on Raoni Washburn-Mancilla and all the exciting new plant-centric services from none other than That Gay Plant Hoe!

A person with bleach blonde hair and a nose ring posing with a large green leafy plant. The person is shirtless and has a tattoo on their upper arm.
A person with blond hair wearing a black shirt sitting among various potted houseplants against a white background.
Person with short blonde hair and a nose ring holds large purple and green patterned leaves close to their shoulder with a plain light-colored wall in the background.
A logo for Big Leaf Energy Plant Co. featuring a large, green leaf with prominent veins on a dark circular background, with the company name in bold white and green text.