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, and Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut.
This season, we’re diving into 1984 by George Orwell—a dystopian warning that feels eerily real today. From thought control to banned books, its message is more relevant than ever, and that’s exactly why it remains one of the most challenged books of all time.
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!
Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship
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 Slaughterhouse-Five, where Vonnegut takes us on a wild ride through war-torn Germany, surreal time-travel moments, and... a dog named Princess. You’ll meet golden cavalry boots, hear about raspberry sherbet snow (yum?), and get a taste of why Vonnegut’s humor is as sharp as it is bizarre.
If you’re into banned books, weird war stories, or just need a laugh—you don’t want to miss this one.
Things To Listen For:
- What Billy Pilgrim sees in a pair of golden boots—and how it weirdly makes sense.
- How “mopping up” might be the darkest euphemism for war you’ll ever hear.
- A trembling dog named Princess... Vonnegut’s way of making war personal.
- Why Dan thinks ghost dogs are real, and Jennifer might agree.
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Disclaimer:
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment in accordance with fair use guidelines. The material used from the book Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. We do not claim any ownership over the original work, and all copyrights remain with the original copyright holder. We strongly encourage listeners to purchase copies of the discussed works to appreciate them in their original context fully.
This podcast is not endorsed by Kurt Vonnegut, his estate, or the publishers of Slaughterhouse-Five. Any monetization of the podcast is separate and not derived directly from the copyrighted material discussed.
Topics Covered:
Billy Pilgrim, banned books, Kurt Vonnegut, golden cavalry boots, time travel, raspberry sherbet snow, Princess the dog, censorship, absurdist humor