The Psychology of Pile Ons. Uncut with Clare Stephens
Life Uncut21 Aug 2025

The Psychology of Pile Ons. Uncut with Clare Stephens

Clare Stephens is a writer, screenwriter, editor and podcaster. She’s the former editor-in-chief at Mamamia and host of the podcasts Cancelled and But, Are You Happy? Clare also worked as a writer and producer on the Binge series Strife starring Asher Keddie and is about to publish her first novel, The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done!

It tells the story of Ruby Williams, a young woman working in digital media who publishes an article that sees her at the bottom of an online pile-on. More broadly, it’s about shame - the way it never truly leaves you, and how we bury it. Clare is here to speak about the psychology of pile ons, cancel culture, what type of people handle being cancelled better than others and the media narratives surrounding public shaming!

Today we speak about:

  • Why Clare chose to go out on her own after almost a decade at Mamamia
  • Public shame and ‘metacognition’
  • How the psychology of online debates and conversations is different to in person
  • How it feels to be at the bottom of a pile on
  • How and why some influencers cause pile ons of other people and use outrage to grow their own platforms
  • There’s no good response to a pile on; silence is interpreted as guilt, speaking back causes more headlines and fuel on the fire
  • What makes someone more likely to be cancelled?

You can pre-order The Worst Thing I've Ever Done (out September 30) here.

Follow Clare on Instagram

Subscribe to Clare’s substack

You can watch us on Youtube

Find us on Instagram

Join us on tiktok

Or join the Facebook Discussion Group

Tell your mum, tell your dad, tell your dog, tell your friend and share the love because WE LOVE LOVE! Xx

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episoder(899)

Is Kanye Sorry... Or Selling An Album?

Is Kanye Sorry... Or Selling An Album?

Hey Lifers, Britt is brimming with salmon…sperm. Welcome to your Wednesday!We’ve been nominated for an AACTA and Britt’s planned outfit is giving Chapel Roan at the Grammy’s but sheer on the other end...

3 Feb 58min

Ask Uncut - A Hall Pass Of ... Barney The Dinosaur?

Ask Uncut - A Hall Pass Of ... Barney The Dinosaur?

Welcome back to ask uncut where we unpack your deepest dilemmas and offer our most passionate, ‘lived in’ (technically unqualified) advice. We’ve got dilemmas of our own and it involves needing to sha...

1 Feb 50min

Our First Episode Of Off Cuts!

Our First Episode Of Off Cuts!

Hey Lifers! Welcome to our first episode of off cuts! This is where we chat about whatever piqued our interest this week in a light, fun little package to send you off on your weekend! We chat: Is yo...

30 Jan 45min

"I'm A Sex and Love Addict." Uncut with Elizabeth Gilbert

"I'm A Sex and Love Addict." Uncut with Elizabeth Gilbert

Today we are joined again by the phenomenal Elizabeth Gilbert. We recorded an episode with Liz last year titled ‘Being Single Needs A Rebrand’ In that episode we spoke about: What Liz’s life was li...

29 Jan 1h 13min

WE ARE BACK BABY!!!!

WE ARE BACK BABY!!!!

Hey Lifers! We’re properly back after a few weeks off and we missed you all so much! We also have a brand spanking new TV show that we are hosting to tell you about!Our holidays were very different. B...

27 Jan 1h 6min

Ask Uncut with Laura & Matt! "It's Bad For My Flow. It's Bad For My Juju"

Ask Uncut with Laura & Matt! "It's Bad For My Flow. It's Bad For My Juju"

Hey Lifers! Today's ask uncut features special guest and Laura's husband Matt (aka Matty J).Our favourite mum and dad had some issues getting this episode recorded so it's 11pm and there's whispering ...

21 Jan 50min

Matthew Hussey does give a f*** about your relationship - from the Archives

Matthew Hussey does give a f*** about your relationship - from the Archives

Hey Lifers! During our summer break we wanted to revisit some of our most impactful conversations that you might have missed at the time. One of Australia's leading relationship experts (although he d...

18 Jan 1h 4min

Ask Uncut With Britt & Ben! Embryo Custody, Two Potential Soulmates and Finding Out They Cheated In The Past

Ask Uncut With Britt & Ben! Embryo Custody, Two Potential Soulmates and Finding Out They Cheated In The Past

Hey Lifers! Today's ask uncut features special guest and Britt's husband Ben!They share what they've been up to over Christmas and New Years and how they feel now living in Italy. Ben tests Britt's It...

14 Jan 1h 17min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
konspirasjonspodden
popradet
aftenpodden-usa
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
wolfgang-wee-uncut
min-barneoppdragelse
grenselos
synnve-og-vanessa
alt-fortalt
frokostshowet-pa-p5
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
fladseth
198-land-med-einar-trnquist
rss-dannet-uten-piano
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem