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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. 5 - The Ministry of Lunch and Other Nightmares
Winston’s lunch break turns into a lesson in state-sponsored misery as we step into Chapter 5 of 1984. The Party’s grip tightens, and so does our growing sense of dread (and nausea) as we explore the horrors of Newspeak, the lingering stench of synthetic gin, and the joyless routine of Party-controlled meals. Meanwhile, Syme is a little too excited about destroying words, and Jennifer and Dan wonder: If the Ministry of Truth had a Yelp review, how many stars would it get? Spoiler: Not enough to keep the rats away.
Things To Listen For:
- Syme’s unhinged enthusiasm for Newspeak (because fewer words = more freedom… somehow).
- The cafeteria’s "delicious" offerings—because nothing says totalitarian nightmare like watery stew and synthetic gin.
- Winston’s growing paranoia—someone’s definitely watching, and no, it’s not just us.
- Jennifer’s deep concern about the Party’s taste in beverages.
Bingeworthy Podcast:
Check out Good News for Lefties, the daily podcast that proves not everything is terrible. Hosted by Beowulf Rochlen, it’s the perfect antidote to dystopian despair.
Also, Support The Spine Bookshop!
We stand behind Lindsey’s mission of fighting back against book bans. Check out The Spine Bookshop and support indie bookstores that champion the right to read.
Rate, Review, & Follow:
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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. Some sections may be lightly abridged for clarity and pacing, but we always stay true to the author’s intent.
Topics Covered:
1984, Newspeak, Syme, Ministry of Truth, propaganda, totalitarianism, censorship, synthetic gin, banned books
Don’t forget, you can grab a free ‘I Read Banned Books’ decal at BannedCampPodcast.com/stickers. Supplies are limited, so don’t wait.