Rosanna Pansino, the YouTube star known for her baking expertise and warm, bubbly personality, recently shared a story on her new podcast, Rodiculous, that left her audience stunned. On the very first episode, which aired on November 16, 2024, she opened up about fulfilling one of her late father’s most unusual wishes: smoking cannabis grown from his ashes.
Her father, Michael, passed away in December 2019 after a tough battle with leukemia. He had always been the kind of person who could find humor in almost any situation, even during the hardest moments of his life. As his health began to fail, he made a request that caught the family off guard. He told them he wanted a part of his ashes to be used to grow a marijuana plant. It was, as Rosanna described it, so perfectly him—a mix of mischief and profound love for the family.
At first, Rosanna didn’t think he was serious. “I was like, ‘Dad, what?’” she said on the podcast, laughing softly through her tears. “But he looked at me with this little smirk and said, ‘I mean it.’” It was his way of leaving them with something both deeply personal and unforgettable, a final gesture wrapped in his signature humor.
Determined to honor his wish, Rosanna worked with a licensed cannabis grower to bring the idea to life. She described the process as strangely beautiful, even healing. They mixed a portion of his ashes into the soil, and over time, a single marijuana plant began to grow. “It felt like he was there with us,” she said, her voice soft with emotion. “Watching it grow became a way to keep him close.”
When it came time to smoke the cannabis, Rosanna decided to make it a part of the podcast, not just as a tribute to her dad but as a way to share the depth of their bond with the world. On air, she lit the joint for the first time, and though she admitted it was a surreal moment, it also felt right. “I wasn’t sure how I’d feel, honestly,” she said, pausing as her voice cracked. “But it was like I could feel his presence. It wasn’t sad—it was… comforting. Like he was laughing with me.”
As soon as the podcast episode aired, people online couldn’t stop talking about it. Some listeners were shocked, while others found it deeply moving. The story opened a larger conversation about how we honor those we’ve lost. It’s becoming more common to see people exploring nontraditional ways to memorialize loved ones, from turning ashes into keepsake jewelry to even launching them into space. Rosanna’s choice, though unconventional, struck a chord with those who saw it as an act of love and courage.
Experts have noted how personalized tributes like these can challenge traditional ideas about mourning. For many, they create an opportunity to feel closer to the person they’ve lost. “It’s a deeply personal way to process grief,” said Dr. Karen Blake, a grief counselor. “What Rosanna did is unconventional, yes, but it’s also deeply symbolic. It reflects how unique and personal every relationship is.”
Reflecting on the experience, Rosanna admitted it wasn’t an easy decision. “I know not everyone will understand,” she said. “But this wasn’t about anyone else. It was about my dad, and about the relationship we had. He always encouraged me to live life authentically, and this was my way of doing that.”
Her story isn’t just about honoring her father’s memory—it’s about love that transcends boundaries. In a world that often clings to tradition when it comes to mourning, Rosanna’s act was a reminder that there’s no single “right” way to grieve. The choices we make to keep someone’s memory alive are as unique as the love we feel for them.
