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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. 9 - Flirting Under Fascism
In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan dive into Chapter 9 of Orwell's 1984 (also known as Part Two). Sparks fly—literally and figuratively—as Winston receives a handwritten note in a government bathroom and tries to decode its meaning without peeing on it. The suspense builds as Winston navigates telescreens, paranoia, and a near-miss cafeteria meet-cute. Can love bloom in a dystopian cafeteria line?
Things To Listen For:
- The most paranoid cafeteria crush ever.
- How not to flirt under totalitarianism.
- A rare moment of Winston showing empathy.
- Jennifer's beef with Bruno Mars.
- Beowulf Rochlen breaks down why Finland is crushing us in happiness rankings.
Banworthy to Bingeworthy: Check out Good News for Lefties, where Beowulf Rochlen delivers daily progressive news with a side of bell dings. Also, tune into The Baggage Podcast for wild, real-life stories told by a doctor, a prosecutor, a comedian, and a writer. Search both wherever you get your podcasts!
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Featured Clips:
- Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You"
- "What is Love" by Haddaway ("Don't hurt me, no more")
- APT. by ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
All rights and copyrights are the property of their respective owners and are used here for entertainment and educational purposes under fair use guidelines. No copyright infringement intended.
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. To ensure the best listening experience, some sections may be lightly abridged for clarity and pacing. However, we always stay true to the author’s intent and encourage listeners to purchase the book in full.
The material used from the book 1984 by George Orwell is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the book in its entirety.
This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to George Orwell, his estate, or the publishers of 1984. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Our goal is to foster literary appreciation, critical discussion, and educational engagement within the fair use framework—because we all know what happens when people start letting governments or corporations decide what can and can’t be read.
Topics Covered: 1984, Winston and Julia, dystopian romance, telescreens, Thought Police, Oceania, government control, cafeteria crushes, banned books, censorship, Bruno Mars slander, prisoner convoys, Beowulf Rochlen, social democracy, Finland, happiness report
Don’t forget, you can grab a free ‘I Read Banned Books’ decal at BannedCampPodcast.com/stickers. Supplies are limited, so don’t wait.