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. 7 - Billy’s Plane Ride to Chaos and Yodeling Skiers
On today's episode of Banned Camp, we read Chapter 7 of Slaughterhouse-Five, where Billy Pilgrim survives a plane crash he knew was coming. (Spoiler: He said nothing. Thanks, Billy.) We also meet a barbershop quartet called ‘The Febs,’ witness a syrup-smuggling operation worthy of its own heist movie, and learn why yodeling has been unfairly sidelined in modern rock music. Oh, and there’s an awkward encounter with naked strangers—because Vonnegut wouldn’t have it any other way.
Things to Listen For:
- That barbershop quartet? They call themselves "The Febs" (short for "Four-Eyed Bastards"). Yes, really.
- Yodeling.
- Jennifer’s refusal to ever eat family-style, and Dan’s pickle factory horror story.
- Billy sneaking syrup like it’s contraband and sharing it with a friend in need.
Banworthy to Bingeworthy:
"Need a pick-me-up? Check out Good News For Lefties! Host Beowulf drops quick, feel-good updates that remind you the world isn’t completely falling apart. It’s like a daily dopamine shot for progressives. Find it on goodnewsforlefties.com."
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Featured Clips:
This episode includes a short clip of yodeling rock music courtesy of Focus’s iconic track Hocus Pocus. All rights belong to their respective owners.
Disclaimer:
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment under fair use guidelines. Material from Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is used to provoke thought about literature, censorship, and societal issues. We strongly encourage listeners to purchase copies of the discussed works to appreciate them fully in their original context.
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.
Topics Covered:
Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim, plane crash, syrup smuggling, yodeling, communal showers, Dresden, banned books, censorship.