Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship
Love banned books? Hate censorship?
Same. You’re our kind of people.
Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books and try to figure out why they were banned in the first place.
Each season, we tackle a new banned book, reading it chapter by chapter and asking: What made someone clutch their pearls and scream, "BAN IT!"? (Spoiler: It’s rarely what you’d expect.) One thing is clear—the people banning these books often haven’t read them. While we uncover some eyebrow-raising moments, nothing truly justifies censorship.
Join us—and our listeners, "The Scary Book People"—as we explore the strange, hilarious, and sometimes baffling world of banned books.
Past seasons have featured classics like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, and 1984 by George Orwell.
This season, we’re diving into Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. It's a dystopia built on pleasure, not fear. People are engineered, drugged, and distracted into obedience, and they’re taught to love the system that controls them. It’s funny, creepy, and disturbingly familiar. And like all great banned books, it makes you question the world you're living in.
By reading these books, we ask big questions: Why are banned books important? What does “banned” mean? What does “challenged” mean? How do book bans affect students? Are book bans constitutional?
Come hang out with us and have some laughs while we dig into the drama behind banned books—you might even learn something cool along the way!
- Update frequency
- every 3 days
- Average duration
- 27 minutes
- Episodes
- 249
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
Huckleberry Finn | Chapter 8 - Huck's Island Discovery: The Quicksilver Quest!
In this episode, Jen and Dan dive into Chapter 8 of 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' Huck wakes up to a world of old-timey body-finding techniques and stumbles upon a surprising ally, while Jen …
Huckleberry Finn | Chapter 7 - Huck's Ingenious Escape: The Great River Ruse!
Join Jennifer and Dan as they read Chapter 7 of Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' This episode takes a thrilling turn as they dissect Huck's elaborate escape plan, likening it to a p…
Huckleberry Finn | Chapters 5 -6 - Pap's Back, Huck's Escape, and the Drunken Chaos
In this episode, Jennifer and Dan continue their journey through Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,' focusing on chapters 5 and 6.
They start by discussing Pap's return, where he paints…
Huckleberry Finn | Chapters 3-4 - Pap's Return & The Magic Hairball!
Join Jennifer and Dan as they dive deeper into Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,' covering chapters 3 and 4. They'll navigate through Huck's tense encounters with his wayward Pap and …
Huckleberry Finn | Chapters 1-2 - Huck's Freedom & Tom's Band of Robbers!
Join Jennifer and Dan as they embark on Season 4 of Banned Camp, diving into the timeless currents of Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.'
In this inaugural episode of season 4, they ta…
Halloween: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark with Derek Hayes and David Flora!
Welcome to a special Halloween episode of Banned Camp, 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Special,' featuring the paranormal's Derek Hayes and David Flora!
In this spine-tingling installment, we are…
The Outsiders | Chapter 12: After the Verdict: Pony's Next Odyssey
Join Jen and Dan as they finish ‘The Outsiders’ final chapter. They wade through courtrooms, confrontations, and confounding homework assignments this week. In this episode, Ponyboy juggles courtroom…
The Outsiders | Chapter 11: Ponyboy's Confusion Chronicles
Jen and Dan dissect Chapter 11 of 'The Outsiders.' Amidst the chaos, Ponyboy gets tangled in a web of confusion. Meanwhile, Dan laments the underappreciation of his school paper editor role, and Jenn…
The Outsiders | Chapter 10: Glory, Look at the Episode!
Jen and Dan read Chapter 10 of 'The Outsiders’ by S.E. Hinton. The drama unfolds faster than you can say, "Glory, look at the kid!" (Trust us, it'll make sense when you hear it). With tensions high a…
The Outsiders | Chapter 9: Johnny's Golden Words & Dally's Imagined Wardrobe
Jen and Dan read Chapter 9 of 'The Outsiders,' where fights flare up, Johnny offers sage advice, and while Dally doesn't actually show up for a rumble in a hospital gown, Dan can’t help but imagine h…
The Outsiders | Chapter 8: Heavenly Haze and Rumble Daze
Jen and Dan read Chapter 8 of 'The Outsiders'. Hospital drama? Check. Switchblade under the pillow? Check. Rumble premonitions? Big check. Meanwhile, Jen and Dan think Johnny's idea of heaven is one …
The Outsiders | Chapter 7: Ponyboy in the Papers & Total Diabeetus
Jen and Dan are back with Chapter 7 of 'The Outsiders'. From media madness to Tasty Freeze tiffs in this episode, Ponyboy sure has his plate full. But not as full as Jen's plate of repulsion for choc…
Banned Camp & Burn This Book- Bonus Episode
In this fun crossover episode, Banned Camp and Burn This Book podcasts team up to celebrate National Banned Books Week, shining a spotlight on Rosemary Wells' often-challenged children's book, "Yoko.…
The Outsiders | Chapter 6: Heat of the Moment: Ponyboy's Fiery Revelation
Jen and Dan read Chapter 6 of "The Outsiders." In this episode, Ponyboy and Johnny face a fiery situation that'll leave you burning for more, but we won't spill the beans on what really heats up! Mea…
The Outsiders | Chapter 5: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: The Greasers' Ultimate Sacrifice
In Chapter 5, Ponyboy and Johnny go full DIY-salon in an abandoned church, dramatically parting ways with their cherished locks, while Jen and Dan can't help but laugh at the Greasers' hair-mergency.
…
The Outsiders | Chapter 4: Greasers' Great Escape: Hank Williams Not Invited
Diving into Chapter 4, Jen and Dan puzzle over the greasers' choices and scratch their heads at S.E. Hinton's clear aversion to good ol' Hank Williams tunes. Meanwhile, Ponyboy and Johnny's night tak…
The Outsiders | Chapter 3: Ponyboy's No-Good, Very Bad Night
As we dive into Chapter 3 of 'The Outsiders,' Ponyboy's had a busy night between Socs, smacks, and strolls. Meanwhile, Jen's trying not to gag at the thought of 'Greaser Hygiene,' and Dan's convinced…
The Outsiders | Chapter 2: Greasers, Gals, and Gutsy Moves: Cherry on Top
Jen and Dan read chapter 2 of S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders."
Night at the movies: Dally strikes out, Johnny steps up, and Ponyboy's heart might skip a beat with Cherry. Meanwhile, Jen and Dan are left…
The Outsiders | Chapter 1: Ponyboy's Close Encounters of the Socs Kind
Welcome to book 3 of Banned Camp. In today's episode, Jen and Dan read chapter 1 of S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders."
Ponyboy's idea of a perfect date night includes a Paul Newman movie and not getting j…
Fahrenheit 451 | Part 3, Sec 7: Dawn After Destruction: Montag’s Final March
Jen and Dan conclude 'Fahrenheit 451.'
Take note: post-apocalyptic morning strolls are essential. After all, every fresh start is better with the sound of bacon sizzling in the background.
Clips from …