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
Slaughterhouse-Five | Ch. 4.2 - The Triangle Coat of Doom
In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan dive into Chapter 4.2 of Slaughterhouse-Five, where Billy Pilgrim’s strange and surreal journey continues. From a frozen "coat" that looks more like a…
Slaughterhouse-Five | Ch. 4.1 - Billy’s Purple Pulsing Lights Show
In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan read part 1 of Chapter 4 of Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. Billy Pilgrim’s strange journey takes a cosmic turn as he prepares to be kidnapped b…
Slaughterhouse-Five | Ch. 3.2 - Billy Pilgrim Meets St. Elmo's Fire
In this episode of Banned Camp, we’re diving into Chapter 3.2 of Slaughterhouse-Five. Picture this: Billy Pilgrim, a time-traveling optometrist, just trying to get through his day, napping on a bed w…
Happy Thanksgiving :)
Happy Thanksgiving, Scary Book People! 🦃
We hope you enjoy a relaxing Thanksgiving with good food and great company—even if you don’t all agree on politics. Let’s face it, this year feels like it migh…
Slaughterhouse-Five | Ch. 3.1 - Adam, Eve, and Chaos in Dresden
Ever stare into a pair of boots and find yourself thinking about Adam and Eve? No? Well, that’s just another day in the life of Billy Pilgrim.
In this episode, we dive into Chapter 3.1 of Slaughterhou…
Slaughterhouse-Five | Ch. 2.3 - Billy Pilgrim: Hero or Misfit?
Hey, Scary Book People! In this episode, we’re reading Chapter 2.3 of Slaughterhouse-Five. Billy Pilgrim is back with more time-traveling chaos, drifting from near-death moments in the woods to hallu…
Slaughterhouse-Five | Ch. 2.2 - Torture Devices and Musketeers
This one’s got it all—awkward trench buddies, a filthy flamingo, and a history lesson on torture devices you didn’t ask for (but can’t look away from). Billy Pilgrim is still stuck in the chaos of wa…
Slaughterhouse-Five | Ch. 2.1 - Billy Pilgrim Comes Unstuck in Time
In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan delve into the mind-bending world of Chapter 2.1 of Slaughterhouse-Five, where Billy Pilgrim finds himself “unstuck in time.” From abrupt visits to mo…
Between Hope and Heartbreak: Dan & Jennifer’s Election Thoughts
This unique episode of Banned Camp takes a break from the usual book commentary to reflect on the recent election and its emotional aftermath. Dan and Jennifer share their thoughts on the results, th…
Slaughterhouse-Five | Ch. 1.2 - No Hollywood Heroes Allowed
In this episode, Jennifer and Dan take us through the rest of Chapter 1 of Slaughterhouse-Five, where Kurt Vonnegut introduces his own war reflections, setting the stage for Billy Pilgrim's story. Th…
Slaughterhouse-Five | Ch. 1.1 - Dresden’s “Duty Dance” Begins
Welcome to Season 7 of Banned Camp! Jennifer and Dan are back, diving into Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut—a novel that’s been banned, burned, and beloved since it first hit shelves. In Part 1 o…
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark | Banned Camp Halloween Special - Spooky Reads That Were Too Scary for Kids
In this special Halloween edition of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan, joined by Butch the dog along with his dog wife, Baby, (or Eddie Munster lookalike), bring you some creepy tales from "Scary Stori…
Aristotle and Dante Book vs. Movie: Did Hollywood Nail It? (Crossover with Queer Cinema Catchup)
In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan are joined by Allison and Joe from Queer Cinema Catchup for a lively discussion comparing the Aristotle and Dante book to its movie adaptation. The gr…
Banned Camp Programming Update
Dan shares a quick update on what's coming next for Banned Camp.
Next week kicks off with a crossover episode featuring Allison and Joe from Queer Cinema Catch Up, where they’ll compare the book and …
Banned Camp - Negative Emails and Reviews From Season 6: Jen and Dan Are Here for It
This week, Jen and Dan dive headfirst into their inbox and take on the best of the worst: negative emails and reviews. Oh, and of course, Robot gets involved, lending his voice to one of the angrier …
Slaughterhouse-Five | Season 7 Kickoff: Fan Vote Winner Revealed!
In this special episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan reveal the fan vote winner for the next banned book to be featured on the podcast: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut! After a heated compet…
Season 7 of Banned Camp Begins....
In this special episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan get political (sort of) as they prepare for Season 7. The Scary Book People have the power to decide which banned book they will cover next, w…
Aristotle and Dante | Final Chapter - Secrets of the Universe Revealed
In this thrilling finale of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Dan and Jennifer follow Ari and Dante as they navigate their deepest truths and uncover the long-hidden emotions …
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe | Pt 6 Chapter 18 – This Turned Into A Gay Intervention
In this episode of Banned Camp, Dan and Jennifer dive into Chapter 18 of Part 6 of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Ari’s family takes an unexpected turn when they hold a sur…
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe | Pt 6 Chapters 13-17 - Transgressions and Truths
In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan continue their journey through Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, covering Chapters 13-17. As Ari wrest…