Clare Stephens launches independent podcast The Pile-On

Clare Stephens – one of Australia’s most recognisable digital creators and podcasters – today launches The Pile-On, an independent weekly podcast hosted by Acast and produced by award-winning podcast producer Lize Ratliff.

Premiering alongside Stephens’ forthcoming debut novel The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done, the series delves beyond viral headlines to expose the raw, emotional realities of public backlash and what it truly means when the internet turns on you.

Stephens, the former Editor-in-Chief of Mamamia, has shaped some of Australia’s most viral digital content. She co-hosted the chart-topping comedy podcast Cancelled and created and hosted But, Are You Happy?, which was named Apple’s Best New Podcast of 2023.

Her sharp, candid storytelling has attracted collaborations with leading brands including CommBank, Big W, Uber Eats, Princess Cruises, Amazon Prime, Tasmanian Walking Company and Tourism NT.

Beyond digital media, Stephens contributed as a writer and producer on Binge’s Strife and will release her debut novel, The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done, through Atlantic Books on September 30.

Guests on The Pile-On include prominent media personalities, journalists, and content creators, each offering candid insights into surviving online outrage.

Episode one features an in-depth interview with Hannah Ferguson, CEO and Co-Founder of Cheek Media, discussing the backlash to her recent comments on Charlie Kirk.

Clare Stephens, Creator and Host of The Pile-On, says:

“I’ve been wanting to make this show for a very long time. While researching my novel, I spoke to a number of high-profile Australians about their experiences of online pile-ons, and was stunned by the cruelty of the outrage machine. These brutal public shamings are not just a frivolous phenomenon affecting the most privileged among us – they’re disproportionately aimed at women, and help fuel a culture of polarisation and division. The Pile-On brings you behind the hot takes and the backlash, and reveals the vulnerable human being at the centre.”

Guy Scott-Wilson, Content Director for Acast ANZ, says:

“The Pile-On is everything a great podcast should be – gripping, thoughtful, and completely of the moment. Clare is fearless in her storytelling and, with her choice of first guest, sets the tone for a series that reveals the real human impact of cancel culture. As more of Australia’s top journalists turn to independent podcasting to tell the stories that matter most, Clare captures the zeitgeist perfectly.”

Weekly episodes are available from September 29 wherever you get your podcasts.