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. 7.2 - The Forced Confessions of the Fallen Trio
In this episode, Jen and Dan read Chapter 7.2 of George Orwell's '1984'. They really wrestle with the big moment where Winston's mysterious evidence finally comes to light—struggling to grasp its significance. Robot, of course, instantly chimes in, making sure they know just how much smarter he thinks he is.
Things To Listen For:
- The "Big Brother’s Greatest Hits" of forced confessions—plot twists included!
- A breakdown of the diabolical dinner party where the main course is your freedom.
- How today’s political antics seem like child’s play compared to Orwell’s dystopian Olympics.
Featured Clips:
Featuring a timely throwback with "That Old Gang of Mine" by Billy Murray & Ed Smalle, because nothing says 'dystopia' like 1920s barbershop nostalgia.
Banworthy to Bingeworthy:
Don’t miss Good News for Lefties with Beowulf Rochlen, keeping the flame of hope alive one episode at a time. Check out Open Book with Jenna for a profound look into the narratives that shape our society, only on MSNBC.
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Disclaimer:
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purposes of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, all within the bounds of fair use. The material used from the book "1984" by George Orwell is shared under these principles, with the intent of sparking thought and discussion about literary censorship and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase the book in full to fully experience the nuanced arguments presented. Purchase "1984" here.
Topics Covered:
Forced confessions, dystopian tactics, 1984, Orwellian nightmares, political theater.
Don’t forget, you can grab a free ‘I Read Banned Books’ decal at BannedCampPodcast.com/stickers. Supplies are limited, so don’t wait.