.png)
Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship
If you think banning books is stupid, so do we.
Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books and try to figure out why they were banned in the first place.
If you’re new here, don’t sweat it. You can start anywhere. We’ll get you oriented fast (and if you get confused, there’s a good chance we’re confused too).
Here’s what makes us different: we actually read the book out loud, every chapter, cover to cover, and we’ve never read it before. So you hear us stumble through the text, mispronounce names, miss obvious foreshadowing, and slowly piece together what freaks Moms for Liberty and the pudding-fingered politicians out.
Our listeners are called The Scary Book People. You’ll fit right in.
Past seasons: 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 reading Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. A dystopia built on pleasure instead of fear. People are engineered, drugged, and distracted into obedience, and taught to love the system that controls them. It’s funny, creepy, and way too familiar right now.
Book bans are at a 20-year high. The people doing the banning usually haven’t read the books… so we read them out loud together, and by the end you can honestly say you’ve read it too.
Nine seasons in. #1 ranked banned books comedy podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Hit follow. The book banners are idiots. Come help us prove it.
Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship
Slaughterhouse-Five | Ch. 10 - So It Ends, So It Goes
This is it—Jennifer and Dan reach the final chapter of Slaughterhouse-Five, and they’re not alone! Special guest Beowulf Rochlen, host of Good News for Lefties, joins the discussion as they navigate Vonnegut’s signature blend of dark humor and existential dread. From corpse mines to Tralfamadorian philosophy to Billy Pilgrim’s last moments, this chapter packs a haunting punch. Plus, a reflection on why this book was banned, a deep dive into Vonnegut’s worldview, and the usual unhinged banter between Jennifer, Dan, and Robot.
Things To Listen For:
- Beowulf Rochlen joins the crew! How does Good News for Lefties stay optimistic in dark times?
- Vonnegut’s final “so it goes” spree. The most casual recounting of death ever.
- A deep dive into the corpse mines. (Not a metal band… yet.)
- Jennifer and Dan debate whether this book is a comedy or a tragedy. Spoiler: It’s both.
- PPP (Problematic Points to Ponder). The gang breaks down why Slaughterhouse-Five made it onto the banned books list.
- The latest in book bans. Yes, even picture books are under attack.
Banworthy to Bingeworthy:
Check out Good News for Lefties!
Start your day with an actual good news roundup (because doom-scrolling isn’t a personality trait). Hosted by Beowulf Rochlen, this daily show highlights progressive wins, political strategy, and, yes, some laughs along the way. Listen wherever you get your podcasts!
Big News for Banned Camp Fans!
Next episode: A special crossover event!
Jennifer and Dan team up with Joe and Alison from Queer Cinema Catch-Up to compare Slaughterhouse-Five the book vs. Slaughterhouse-Five the movie. Was the adaptation faithful? Did it capture Vonnegut’s weird, wonderful tone? Find out next episode!
Coming February 11: A new season of Banned Camp begins!
Next up? 1984 by George Orwell. Thoughtcrime, Big Brother, and the bleakest love story ever written—get ready.
Rate, Review, & Follow!
Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other Scary Book People find us!
Topics Covered:
Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut, Beowulf Rochlen, Good News for Lefties, censorship, banned books, corpse mines, war trauma, Tralfamadorians, Billy Pilgrim, book-to-movie adaptations.