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. 8.2 – You Can’t Buy a Revolution in Half-Liters
In this episode of Banned Camp, Winston ventures into a pub hoping to unearth truth from the lips of a prole old enough to remember the world before the Party. Instead, he gets vague memories, bladder complaints, and a pint of wallop. Jennifer and Dan spiral into a conversation about end-stage capitalism, billionaire control, and why two-liter Pepsi bottles ruined Dan’s childhood economy.
🎧 Things To Listen For:
- Jennifer compares Mussolini’s definition of fascism to Bezos and Trump’s bromance.
- Dan’s entrepreneurial dreams dashed by two-liter bottles.
- Is Winston gaslighting this old man… or just desperate?
- A pint of wallop vs. half-liter dystopia.
🎙️ Banworthy to Bingeworthy:
If you want more content about censorship, fascism, and actual hope, check out Good News for Lefties—a daily podcast by Beowulf Rochlen that reminds us all is not lost. Also check out Open Book with Jenna Bush Hager on MSNBC for a very different but thoughtful literary vibe.
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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 are lightly abridged for pacing, but we always stay true to the author’s intent. The material used from 1984 by George Orwell is shared to provoke discussion about censorship and societal control. We strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the full work.
This podcast is not affiliated with George Orwell, his estate, or the publishers of 1984. Our mission is to make banned books accessible, funny, and fiercely relevant—because the real danger is letting others decide what we’re allowed to read.
🧠 Topics Covered:
1984, Winston Smith, proles, capitalism, fascism, memory, thought police, Mussolini, corporate state, literary nostalgia, pint of wallop, two-liter bottles, censorship
Don’t forget, you can grab a free ‘I Read Banned Books’ decal at BannedCampPodcast.com/stickers. Supplies are limited, so don’t wait.