Marlee Silva was 24 and on the cusp of a national book tour when her phone lit up—for all the wrong reasons. One accusation—branding her a “late-identifying” Aboriginal woman—ignited a vicious online pile-on. Overnight, friends fell silent, brands cut ties, and strangers dredged through her sister’s teenage Instagram posts, turning a few screenshots into a spectacle that almost destroyed Marlee’s career and sense of belonging.

Five years on, Marlee has rebuilt and thrived: she’s now one of Australia’s leading voices in media and sport, a mentor to young women, and a presenter on Nine’s Wide World of Sports. But she has never spoken publicly about the toll those weeks took—on her mental health, her family, and her trust in community—until now. In this raw, unflinching conversation, Marlee reveals what it feeling ls like when the internet decides you don’t deserve your platform, how she clawed her way back, and why she still believes in the power of storytelling to heal.

With thanks to Marlee Silva. You can find her podcast Marlee & Me here.

Next week, business woman Sophie Cachia joins us in studio.

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.

Listen to part 1 of Clare's conversation with Hannah here.

On a Thursday morning in Australia, news breaks that far-right US activist Charlie Kirk has been shot while speaking at Utah Valley University. Hours later, Hannah Ferguson — CEO of Cheek Media, a proudly feminist and unapologetically progressive platform — publishes her response. The headline reads: “The shooting of Charlie Kirk is not a choice between celebration and condemnation.” Within hours, her words ignite a firestorm, sending her name into headlines across mainstream media and sparking another brutal pile-on.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Hannah, we talk about what it’s like to weather this latest storm in real-time. She opens up about the death and rape threats, the financial insecurity facing her business, and the attacks on her character that have left her shaken. This episode picks up where we left off in Part 1 — as Hannah confronts not just the personal cost of a pile-on, but the terrifying scale of one that has made her a national target.

With thanks to Hannah Ferguson. You can see her live across the country in the upcoming months. More details can be found here.

Next week, journalist Marlee Silva joins us in studio.

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.

Listen to part 2 of Clare's conversation with Hannah here.

When Cheek Media co-founder Hannah Ferguson posted a video supporting Kamala Harris in 2024, she didn’t expect it to spark one of the most painful pile-ons of her career. What began as criticism from prominent media voices soon spread to her own family, with strangers targeting her teenage sister in a way that blurred the lines between online outrage and real life.

In this episode of The Pile-On, Hannah reflects on what it feels like when the attacks come from allies rather than enemies, and how she navigates being both a target and a commentator herself. She also opens up about the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination - when her response triggered yet another storm - and the lasting personal toll of living at the centre of public controversy.

With thanks to Hannah Ferguson. You can see her live across the country in the upcoming months. More details can be found here.

Next week, journalist Marlee Silva joins us in studio.

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.