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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
1984 | Ch. 4 – Memory Holes: Where Facts Go to Die
In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan dive into Chapter 4 of 1984, where Winston begins his thrilling new job at the Ministry of Truth—erasing inconvenient facts and rewriting history to fit Big Brother’s narrative. If you’ve ever wondered how propaganda gets mass-produced (or how many real-life politicians wish they had a memory hole at their disposal), this is the chapter for you. Plus, Dan has a theory about modern-day doublethink, and Robot fact-checks whether reality itself is still under warranty.
Things To Listen For:
- Winston’s day job: rewriting history for the Party—no pressure.
- Memory holes: Where yesterday’s facts go to die.
- Jennifer and Dan discuss real-world memory holes (looking at you, revisionist history).
- Robot fact-checks if "alternative facts" were actually Orwell’s idea.
Banworthy to Bingeworthy:
If you love Banned Camp, here are two podcasts you’ll want to check out:
🎙️ Good News for Lefties – Hosted by Banned Camp’s own newsman Beowulf Rochlen, this daily podcast delivers actual good news from a progressive perspective. In a world drowning in right-wing outrage, Good News for Lefties is a refreshing reminder that people are still fighting (and winning) for justice, democracy, and sanity. Get your daily dose of optimism—find it wherever you listen to podcasts.
🎙️ Jen Psaki’s Blueprint – Want an insider’s take on how politics actually works? Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki breaks down key issues, interviews political leaders and change-makers, and exposes the GOP’s latest schemes—without the media spin. If you like Banned Camp’s mix of insight and humor, Blueprint is your next must-listen. Available on all major podcast platforms.
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Full Disclaimer:
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of 1984 for the purposes of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines. Some sections may be lightly abridged for clarity and pacing, but we always honor the author’s intent.
The material from 1984 by George Orwell is used under these principles to spark discussion about censorship, propaganda, and free speech. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy to experience Orwell’s vision in full.
This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to George Orwell’s estate, publishers, or related entities. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.
Topics Covered:
1984, Winston Smith, Ministry of Truth, memory holes, historical revisionism, censorship, propaganda, doublethink, book bans.
Don’t forget, you can grab a free ‘I Read Banned Books’ decal at BannedCampPodcast.com/stickers. Supplies are limited, so don’t wait.