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Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship
Love banned books? Hate censorship?
Same. You’re our kind of people.
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. 15 - She Had a Face Like a Monkey… and Then She Was Gone
Winston remembers the moment he stole chocolate from his starving little sister—and the moment she disappeared. Jennifer calls it one of the darkest scenes in the book. Dan agrees, then spirals. Julia calls him a swine. Somewhere between the guilt and the memory, something sticks… and it might be the first time we see what Orwell means by “thoughtcrime.” Also: the proles live free, Jennifer imagines Party-run summer camps, and Robot tells a joke that really shouldn’t land—but kind of does.
Things To Listen For:
- The gut punch of Winston’s chocolate confession
- Julia’s total lack of interest in ideology
- Dan and Jennifer’s descent into moral crisis
Banworthy to Bingeworthy:
Need a break from the emotional wreckage of Orwell’s childhood flashbacks?
Try Good News for Lefties—your daily hit of progressive wins, sharp commentary, and real hope. Hosted by Beowulf Rochlen, it’s like resistance… without the existential collapse.
Making Space with Hoda Kotb – gentle, inspiring interviews that feel like a warm reset button.
And Make It Weird – a true crime / gross science / obscure history podcast hosted by Haley Lovato and Harmony Houston. If it’s strange, they’re into it. New episodes every Wednesday.
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:
If you’re still with us after that chocolate story… rate and review us! It helps other scary book people find the show.
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. 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 Smith, Julia, chocolate ration, memory, guilt, proles, Party indoctrination, authoritarianism, thoughtcrime, censorship, book bans, banned books