Many might recognize Summer Rayne Oakes from her well-known blog, where she documents the journey of nurturing over 1,100 plants in her urban dwelling.

Back in 2016, her lush-filled apartment caught global attention, subsequently leading her to establish HomesteadBrooklyn.com and her YouTube channel, Plant One On Me, which boasts an impressive 15 million views annually. Not long after, she introduced the Houseplant Masterclass, pioneering the world’s first multimedia course dedicated to houseplant care and understanding. And if that’s not enough, she’s also made quite a mark on Instagram, with a following of over 226K.

Yet, beyond these platforms, I recently discovered Summer in a fresh avenue: podcasting. Specifically, she’s the voice behind Bad Seeds, an eight-episode series delving deep into the dark recesses of plant smuggling. The series highlights alarming practices, like Mexican cartels exploiting succulents or corrupt officials trading endangered species.

Oakes, apart from being a model and sustainability crusader, found herself unexpectedly at the center of the houseplant trend that surged during the pandemic. This, combined with her rising fame and unboxing videos, inadvertently acted as a catalyst for some consumers and vendors to procure plants through dubious channels.

Having spent years championing sustainable initiatives in fashion and food sectors, Oakes is now urging plant lovers to be more discerning about their green purchases. She feels a responsibility to educate her audience about the ethical issues surrounding plant procurement and its environmental implications.

However, while plant smuggling might seem a trend among younger Americans, Summer reveals that the bulk of smuggled rare plants actually cater to affluent collectors in Asia.

On being questioned about her plunge into this topic, Summer shared her encounters with illicit plant sales online and reports of plant theft. Her explorations on her YouTube channel attracted the attention of the makers of “Bad Seeds.”

As a podcast enthusiast, I was taken aback by the exceptional quality of “Bad Seeds.” The podcast’s episodes, which are as captivating as mainstream crime series like Serial and S Town, are backed by a dedicated team ensuring top-notch production. The episodes cover intriguing topics, like theft of succulents, with expert insights from industry stalwarts. The standout episode for me discusses timber theft and the raid on Gibson’s Guitar Company, unveiling the intricate relationship between wood types and musical instrument quality.

For those skeptical of Summer’s role, thinking she’s merely lending her voice, you’ll be surprised. This former model is an accomplished environmental scientist with a rich academic background from Cornell. She’s undertaken myriad projects ranging from forest conservation to water quality assessments.

Outside the plant domain, Summer’s accolades extend into the fashion industry. Labelled the first “eco-model,” she has co-founded platforms like Source4Style, penned best-sellers, served as an ambassador for eco-friendly brands, and even had a Toyota paint named after her!

Adding to the surprises is her latest endeavor: Flock. This YouTube channel, amassing over 5 million views annually, delves into diverse topics, from permaculture to communal living. She’s also venturing into a significant lawn-revamping project, which promises to be an interesting watch.

In addition, her 2014 initiative, SugarDetox.me, provides guidance to those battling sugar addictions.

After our engaging conversation, I was left awe-struck by the multifaceted achievements of this tall, stunning, and incredibly intelligent eco-advocate. I’ve certainly realigned my expectations for the future.