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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
1984 | Ch. 6: Winston’s Worst Date Ever
In this episode, Winston takes a trip down memory lane—unfortunately, it’s a dark alley leading to a sketchy basement. Jennifer and Dan dissect Orwell’s bleak vision of love, marriage, and the Party’s war on pleasure. Meanwhile, Jennifer develops an unexpected bond with Winston’s nervous system, Prudence has some thoughts about keeping things joyless.
Things To Listen For:
- Winston’s past romantic decisions, and why he regrets them deeply.
- Jennifer and Dan theorize about Party-approved lube. (Victory Lube™?)
- The Party’s real goal: making sex as appealing as an enema.
- How Nazi Germany rewarded childbirth—and why modern conservatives seem to like the idea.
- Beowulf Rochlen breaks down the data: What kind of books get banned the most? (Spoiler: It’s not about protecting the children.)
Bingeworthy Podcast:
🔍 Good News for Lefties – Need a break from doomscrolling? Beowulf Rochlen brings you actual good news from a progressive perspective. Stay informed, stay hopeful.
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Disclaimer:
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of 1984 by George Orwell for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines. While some passages may be lightly abridged for clarity and pacing, we remain true to the author’s intent and encourage listeners to experience the full work.
The material from 1984 is shared to spark discussion on censorship, authoritarianism, and free speech. Orwell’s work remains the property of its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage you to purchase a copy to support the author’s legacy.
This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to George Orwell’s estate or the publishers of 1984. Any monetization of this podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. We believe in fostering literary appreciation, critical thought, and open conversation—because when governments or extremists decide what can and can’t be read, freedom itself is at risk.
Topics Covered:
1984, Winston Smith, Party control, sexuality in dystopias, book bans, Nazi birth incentives, censorship, banned books, Moms for Liberty, political propaganda