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Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship
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: Page vs. Screen (Crossover with Queer Cinema Catchup)
In this special crossover episode, Jennifer and Dan from Banned Camp team up with Joe and Allison from Queer Cinema Catch-Up to compare the Slaughterhouse-Five novel with its 1972 film adaptation. Is this a faithful adaptation? Does the nonlinear storytelling work on screen? Why did they cut a major character? And what does it all mean?
Along the way, they explore Kurt Vonnegut’s legendary letter on book censorship, dive into the philosophy of time travel and PTSD, and break down what makes Slaughterhouse-Five so timelessly relevant.
Plus, a look ahead at Season 8 of Banned Camp—George Orwell’s 1984, premiering Tuesday, February 11th!
Things to Listen For:
- How the movie captures—or fails to capture—Vonnegut’s unique storytelling.
- Does the sci-fi element of Tralfamadore work better in the book or film?
- What changed between the book and movie, and what stayed the same?
- Vonnegut’s “So It Goes” philosophy—wise insight or passive nihilism?
- The real-life historical horror behind the firebombing of Dresden.
- Why Vonnegut’s letter on book censorship is still painfully relevant today.
- The parallels between Slaughterhouse-Five and modern political discourse.
Banworthy to Bingeworthy:
Queer Cinema Catch-Up – Hosted by Allison Theveny and Joe Murphy, this podcast explores film through a queer lens, analyzing classics and cult favorites with insightful and often hilarious commentary. If you love thoughtful discussions on film, check them out!
Listen here: Queer Cinema Catch-Up on Apple Podcasts
Good News For Lefties (and America!) – Hosted by Beowulf Rochlen, this daily podcast delivers positive news stories from a progressive perspective—because we all need a break from doomscrolling.
Listen here: Good News For Lefties
Rate, Review & Follow:
Love Banned Camp? Help other Scary Book People find us! Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts here: Banned Camp on Apple Podcasts
Disclaimer:
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment under fair use guidelines. All rights remain with the original copyright holders. We encourage listeners to support authors by purchasing their books.
This podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Kurt Vonnegut’s estate or the publishers of Slaughterhouse-Five.
Topics Covered:
Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut, book bans, censorship, Tralfamadorians, firebombing of Dresden, time travel, PTSD, George Orwell, 1984, sci-fi in literature, war trauma, adaptation vs. source material, Vonnegut’s letter on censorship.
Thanks for listening—and remember… So it goes.
Don’t forget, you can grab a free ‘I Read Banned Books’ decal at BannedCampPodcast.com/stickers. Supplies are limited, so don’t wait.