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. 6 - Billy Pilgrim: Cinderella in Combat Boots
War has never looked so absurd. In chapter six of Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim stumbles through fate’s cruel wardrobe department, emerging as a tragicomic figure draped in azure curtains, muff-clad hands, and silver boots. Jennifer and Dan talk about Vonnegut’s biting critique of war’s absurdity as Billy marches into Dresden, a city on the brink of annihilation. Along the way, they ponder English POW survival tips, debate the stubborn resilience of kids against the cold.
Things To Listen For:
- Billy Pilgrim’s tragicomic transformation into “Cinderella” with combat-ready princess boots.
- Jennifer and Dan’s debate on when kids stop “just playing through” the cold.
- The Englishman’s surprising survival tips for prisoners of war.
- A Moms4Liberty bot concept that’s not quite ready for mass production.
Banworthy to Bingeworthy:
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Featured Clips:
Featured clips include a segment from the James Bond Theme and One Fine Day from the 2024 movie Wicked. All rights and copyrights are the property of their respective owners and are used here for entertainment and educational purposes under fair use guidelines. No copyright infringement intended.
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. Our intent is to engage in, promote, and support critical and educational discourse around these works within the framework of fair use.
Topics Covered:
Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim, Cinderella boots, Dresden, war absurdities, English POW survival tips, book banning, censorship.