Show Notes
As co-host of one of the biggest podcasts in the country, Jessie Stephens has grown a large audience as well as a large number of critics. Over the years, Clare has watched people create a distorted version of her twin sister online, misrepresenting her career, her values, her marriage and even the way she has embraced motherhood. Much of that criticism has centred on the rumour that Jessie is successful because of nepotism, a narrative she has never addressed candidly until now.
In this episode, Jessie opens up about how that narrative began, why it stuck and how it feels to have your achievements and identity rewritten by strangers. She also reflects on the pile-on that hurt her most: a 2022 debate about marriage that spiralled into personal attacks and years of ongoing criticism. This conversation explores what happens when online narratives collide with real life, and what it means to be reduced to a stereotype when you are trying to live, work and raise a family in full view of the internet.
With thanks to Jessie Stephens
The Pile-On is created and hosted by Clare Stephens.
Produced by Lize Ratliff.
For guest suggestions or feedback, message Clare on Instagram @clare.stephenss
Subscribe to Clare’s substack NQR (Not Quite Right) here.
Find her debut novel The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done - about a young woman at the centre of a vicious online pile-on here.
Please remember you don’t have to go through this alone. Reaching out for help can feel difficult, but support is available 24/7. If you or someone you know is struggling, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The Pile-On
Josh Szeps has built a career on asking difficult questions and refusing to repeat the lines people want him to say. Today, he is known for pushing back against groupthink and hosting conversations most people avoid. But long before that was his public identity, Josh experienced his first pile-on the same weekend as his wedding.
In early 2024, Married at First Sight alumni Domenica Calarco and her co-host were at the height of their podcasting success. Their show Sit With Us had built a loyal audience and strong partnerships, but one episode changed everything.
In April 2025, Australian actor and content creator Kath Ebbs (they/them) found themselves at the centre of a global tabloid storm — one that had nothing to do with being on television, and everything to do with who they were dating.
Tim Minchin knows what it’s like to have the internet turn on you for something you didn’t actually say.
Sophie Cachia knows what it’s like to be piled on on the internet. She’s been sharing her life online for 13 years — first as a blogger, then an influencer and now an entrepreneur and author. Over that time she’s learnt to live with the constant criticism that comes with visibility: the comments about her body, her parenting, her relationships, her sexuality. But there was one message she couldn’t ignore. Heavily pregnant, Sophie opened a direct message accusing her of being a sexual predator — all because of the ten-year age gap between her and her partner, Maddie.