The Viall Files: Going Deeper with Rosanna Pansino
Episode E1081 | Feb 18, 2026
Main Theme & Purpose
In this candid, energetic “Going Deeper” episode, Nick Viall and co-host Natalie Joy sit down with YouTube star, baker, entrepreneur, and OG digital pioneer Rosanna Pansino for a wide-ranging conversation. They dig into Rosanna’s trajectory from Hollywood hopeful to YouTube megastar, the culture clashes between old and new media, the mental health costs of public life, grief and resilience, and the tough realities of the content creator space—including deep dives into tough topics like trauma, controversy, industry accountability, and her clashes with fellow influencers like MrBeast. The episode flows with generous openness, lots of laughter, and memorable life and business lessons.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Neighborhood Vibes, Personalities, Pandemic Lessons
- Time: [02:30]–[06:50]
- Rosanna discusses the joy of living in a warm, festive neighborhood and being a “professional social butterfly.”
- The group compares pandemic experiences; Rosanna realized her strong need for human connection versus her partner Mike (“super smart tech nerd”), who thrived in solitude.
- Quote: “I will talk to a dog... like, how is your day, sweetheart? Oh, you look fabulous.” — Rosanna [05:51]
2. Breaking Into Entertainment, Old Media vs. New Media
- Time: [06:50]–[12:00]
- Rosanna recounts moving from Seattle to LA, landing small TV roles (including “Cheerio” on Glee), and being caught in the traditional vs. new media tension.
- Her first agent gave her an ultimatum: stop doing YouTube or be dropped. She chose YouTube, even after being fired.
- Quote: “Marines don’t know how to spell the word defeat... you just never give up.” — Rosanna [17:09]
3. Pioneering YouTube, Mentorship, and the Human Side of Online Fame
- Time: [18:05]–[23:30]
- Rosanna describes early YouTube as a “creative nerd space,” and how new media slowly went mainstream.
- Credits Susan Wojcicki (former YouTube CEO) as a mentor who “brought me to the table”; talks about the importance of female mentorship and balancing business with values.
- Sharing on grief: after losing her father, Rosanna kept working, but the “lighthouse lost the light.” Now, as she heals, her passion is coming back.
- Quote: “The channel’s starting to reflect that... I feel like the light is back in the lighthouse.” — Rosanna [23:07]
4. Creativity, Purpose, and Honest Advice for Aspiring Creators
- Time: [26:03]–[32:18]
- Rosanna reflects on the phenomenon of kids aspiring to be YouTubers. Her advice is to pursue passion and creativity over fame.
- Quote: “For the people who say, ‘I want to be a YouTube star,’ there’s almost like a follow up question—what do you want to do to become the star?” — Nick [28:49]
- She recounts creating Geeky Baking (YouTube’s first “geeky baking show”) after viewer feedback—community response validated the direction.
5. Algorithm Evolution & The Business of YouTube
- Time: [32:18]–[34:29]
- She explains, in playful detail, the evolution of YouTube’s recommendation algorithm (“I call it Al. Al likes and dislikes, Al has opinions.”).
- Learning and adapting through direct conversations with YouTube execs and relentless testing.
6. Culinary Journey & Navigating Credibility
- Time: [37:02]–[42:57]
- Rosanna addresses skepticism from culinary professionals about her lack of formal training; she hired a Cordon Bleu chef as a producer, learned the science behind family recipes, and values the credibility she built with self-taught expertise.
- Quote: “Everything my grandma taught me was what they're teaching at the fancy bakery.” — Rosanna [40:20]
- Fun stories of baking disasters (e.g., a failed Sonic the Hedgehog cake, chocolate mishaps [44:00–44:11])
7. Work-Life Balance, Social Life, and Boundaries
- Time: [52:47]–[55:10]
- Rosanna is pro-socialization, fills her life with social events, family time, and is open about her energetic “dog” personality versus her partner’s “cat” tendencies.
8. The Parasocial Dilemma and Genuine Presence vs. Vlogging
- Time: [54:09]–[58:18]
- Admits she’s “awful” at vlogging because she forgets to film while present with friends; values real experiences over content.
- Quote: “I wish I could be a vlogger, but... I forget to film. I'm so in the moment.” — Rosanna [54:15]
- Nick and Natalie relate, noting content creation can turn experiences into work.
9. Being Public, Dealing with Loss, Internet Response & Haters
- Time: [62:57]–[72:09]
- Rosanna describes how she honored her father’s wishes—growing and smoking a cannabis plant with his ashes, facing nasty online reactions and disinformation from other influencers.
- She distinguishes between haters and constructive criticism, using feedback to improve her own work, and reinforces emotional boundaries.
- Quote: “Thank you to all my haters, because I listened to every single word and used it to improve…” — Rosanna [65:46]
- On internet drama: “The Internet is always gonna Internet.” [68:00]
10. On Speaking Up, Controversy, Accountability, & MrBeast
- Time: [75:07]–[96:47]
- Rosanna discusses her willingness to speak out against powerful creators, notably MrBeast—citing personal mistreatment and problematic patterns in his business.
- She shares concerns about money & power as dangerous motivators, the risks of influencer “untouchability,” and describes the difference between “cancelled” (by community) and “outcasted” (by the industry).
- Quotes:
- “I think he's an extremely dangerous person. I wish more people knew who he was behind the camera.” — Rosanna [94:18]
- “Fear should never stop any person from doing what's right. I truly believe that.” — Rosanna [99:03]
- “There are ways to make money and be successful and not hurt other people. And that’s where I draw the line.” — Rosanna [79:38]
11. Integrity in the Creator Economy & Industry Wisdom
- Time: [104:59]–[107:53]
- Rosanna explains how she resisted the pressure to chase viral moments at any cost—“Just don’t be an asshole”—citing examples of creators who found success with integrity.
- On growth and mistakes: Grace is “important because we all make mistakes... but I’ve seen people who learn just to hide things, not fix them.”
12. Personal Growth, Resilience, and Empathy
- Time: [109:16]–[113:29]
- She reflects on the importance of empathy for creators who aren’t in a position to speak up, the loneliness of being outcasted, and expanding her own social circle beyond YouTube.
- Pride in helping pioneer mainstream acceptance for digital creators: “Now it’s all coming together... this is an exciting time.” [113:29]
13. Live Streaming & Mental Health, Platform Responsibility
- Time: [116:17]–[123:01]
- Rosanna warns about the safety and mental health risks of live streaming—dangerous for most, unless you’re a “certain personality type.”
- Cites swatting stories, calls for better safety policies and enforcement by platform leaders, especially to protect children.
- Quote: “Souls will always push the limits for money and power... what would help are leaders who actually enforce their policies.” — Rosanna [120:54]
- On creator desperation: “There’s so many paths to success... I feel sad for people who choose those kind of paths because it’s just miserable.” [122:09]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On career resilience:
“Marines don’t know how to spell the word defeat... you just never give up.” — Rosanna [17:09] -
On haters and improvement:
“Thank you to all my haters, because I listened to every single word and used it to improve…” — Rosanna [65:46] -
On the value of presence vs. content:
“I wish I could be a vlogger, but... I forget to film. I'm so in the moment.” — Rosanna [54:15] -
On calling out industry behavior:
“There are ways to make money and be successful and not hurt other people. And that’s where I draw the line.” — Rosanna [79:38] -
On MrBeast’s influence:
“I think he’s an extremely dangerous person. I wish more people knew who he was behind the camera.” — Rosanna [94:18] -
On fear and doing the right thing:
“Fear should never stop any person from doing what's right. I truly believe that.” — Rosanna [99:03] -
Random science fact:
“Wombats poop squares.” — Rosanna [62:09]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Pandemic Socialization & Personality Contrasts: [02:30]–[06:50]
- Early YouTube vs. Traditional Hollywood, Agency Ultimatum: [06:50]–[12:00]
- Mentorship from Susan Wojcicki, Processing Loss: [18:05]–[23:30]
- Advice for Young Content Creators: [26:03]–[32:18]
- Algorithm & Platform Adaptation: [32:18]–[34:29]
- Recipe Fails & Growth as a Baker: [42:40]–[44:11]
- Grief, Internet Backlash, Setting Boundaries: [62:57]–[72:09]
- Calling Out MrBeast & Industry Accountability: [75:07]–[96:47]
- Creators’ Integrity vs. Algorithm Pressures: [104:59]–[107:53]
- Industry Outcasting and Personal Empathy: [109:16]–[113:29]
- Live Streaming Risks & Platform Responsibility: [116:17]–[123:01]
Tone & Overall Vibe
- Rosanna is honest, witty, and generous—incredibly open about her setbacks, trauma healing, and proud of her resilience. Her tone moves from deeply personal (discussing therapy, loss, and internet judgment) to fiercely protective, especially in championing ethical creator conduct and calling out bad actors.
- Nick and Natalie are warm, supportive, and inquisitive, matching Rosanna’s directness with empathy and humor.
Closing & Callbacks
- The show ends with mutual appreciation and an invitation for Rosanna to return for an “Ask Nick” advice episode.
- Memorable Sign-off:
“You truly have pioneered your way... you are a stand-up woman, boss-ass bitch. I am very grateful to have met you.” — Natalie [124:17]- To which Rosanna, beaming:
“Oh my gosh. I’m literally turning red now. That was great.” [124:30]
- To which Rosanna, beaming:
This conversation is instructive, heartfelt, and timely—a must-listen for anyone interested in the realities of digital fame, the rapid cultural shift in entertainment, or seeking wisdom on resilience, boundaries, and personal growth in the public eye.