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. 18.2 – Loudly, Abundantly, and Very Strongly
In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan finish Chapter 18 of 1984, and it’s a brutal one. Winston meets a series of broken people—including the tragically loyal Parsons—and we get a chilling glimpse into the cruelty of Room 101. There’s blood, betrayal, and even an unflushable toilet. Jennifer wonders how far people will go to save themselves, Dan can’t stop fixating on cabbage water and prisoner hierarchy, and Robot just tries to survive the smell.
Things To Listen For:
- Parsons proudly turning himself in for thoughtcrime… committed in his sleep
- A child ratting out her dad, and him being proud of it
- One of the bleakest betrayals in the book so far—and that’s saying something
Banworthy to Bingeworthy:
If you need a little sanity after that, check out Good News for Lefties and The Best People with Nicolle Wallace. Both remind us that truth still matters.
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:
Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us!
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. Some sections may be lightly abridged for clarity and pacing, but we remain faithful to the author’s intent. We strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the full text.
This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to George Orwell’s estate or his publishers. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Our goal is to foster literary appreciation, critical thought, and community engagement around banned and challenged books.
Topics Covered:
1984, Room 101, thoughtcrime, Parsons, authoritarianism, torture, betrayal, Orwell, banned books, free speech, cult behavior, family surveillance