Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship
If you think banning books is stupid, so do we.
Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books and try to figure out why they were banned in the first place.
If you’re new here, don’t sweat it. You can start anywhere. We’ll get you oriented fast (and if you get confused, there’s a good chance we’re confused too).
Here’s what makes us different: we actually read the book out loud, every chapter, cover to cover, and we’ve never read it before. So you hear us stumble through the text, mispronounce names, miss obvious foreshadowing, and slowly piece together what freaks Moms for Liberty and the pudding-fingered politicians out.
Our listeners are called The Scary Book People. You’ll fit right in.
Past seasons: 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, Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, and 1984 by George Orwell.
This season we’re reading Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. A dystopia built on pleasure instead of fear. People are engineered, drugged, and distracted into obedience, and taught to love the system that controls them. It’s funny, creepy, and way too familiar right now.
Book bans are at a 20-year high. The people doing the banning usually haven’t read the books… so we read them out loud together, and by the end you can honestly say you’ve read it too.
Nine seasons in. #1 ranked banned books comedy podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Hit follow. The book banners are idiots. Come help us prove it.
Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship
Brave New World Ch. 11.1 : When Grief Meets a Soulless Society | Banned Books Comedy
Linda returns to “civilization,” but comfort comes at a cost. While Bernard basks in sudden popularity, Linda disappears into her drug-induced haze...and her son John the Savage starts to see what happiness looks like when it’s manufactured.
Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter—we don’t read ahead, so you’re discovering the story with us.
Things To Listen For
- Dan comparing Huxley’s Soma addiction to modern-day painkillers (and Rush Limbaugh).
- The bleak humor of Linda’s “Return to Soma.”
- Bernard’s sudden ego trip after fame finds him.
- Jennifer calling out the way women’s aging is still punished—even in 2025.
Why Was Brave New World Banned?
For its frank treatment of drugs, sex, and state-controlled happiness. Huxley’s vision of pleasure as obedience still makes censors nervous.
Banworthy to Bingeworthy
If you love sharp, smart commentary and want more progressive voices in your queue, check these out:
- It’s Been a Minute — NPR’s weekly news roundup that helps make sense of the biggest stories with smart analysis and fresh perspectives.
- Good News for Lefties — A progressive show that shares real reasons for optimism, highlighting wins for equality, climate, and democracy.
- The Blueprint with Jen Psaki — Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki breaks down the week’s biggest political stories with depth and humor.
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Disclaimer
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley for purposes of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders—please purchase a copy here to experience the book in full.
🔖Topics Covered
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, Chapter 11, Bernard Marx, Linda, John the Savage, Lenina, Hemholtz Watson, Soma, addiction, aging, status, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast