Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship

Jennifer Davis and Dan Schulz – culture war censorship critics, satirical storytellers, banned books defenders, and irreverent humorists exploring challenged literature and book bans
  • 4.7 (170)
  • COMEDY
  • WEEKLY SERIES

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.

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  1. Brave New World | Ch. 1.1: Twins, Test Tubes, and the Dystopia Next Door

    EPISODE 1

    Brave New World | Ch. 1.1: Twins, Test Tubes, and the Dystopia Next Door

    In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan kick off Season 9 by opening the cold, clinical doors of Brave New World. Chapter 1.1 takes us into the Central London Hatchery, where humans are mass-produced in jars, scored for class, and occasionally pickled in x-rays and alcohol. Dan wonders if Elon Musk would be into this. Jennifer questions whether evolution ever had a chance. Robot’s trying to figure out how many siblings he technically has. Also, pudding fingers. Just trust us. Things To Listen For: Jennifer wonders if factory-made humans come with a signing bonusDan imagines giving your kid “the talk” with bullion cubes and sperm soupThe chilling truth behind why mass-producing twins equals “social stability”Robot gets assigned 15,000 siblings and starts glitchingPlus: pudding fingers, dystopian overalls, and a crash course in embryo radiationFeatured Clip: A short segment from “Butter” by BTS (방탄소년단), written by Rob Grimaldi, Stephen Kirk, Ron Perry, Jenna Andrews, Alex Bilowitz, and RM. Performed by BTS and distributed by HYBE LABELS. Used under fair use for commentary and critique in accordance with U.S. copyright law. Banworthy to Bingeworthy Big love to Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlen returns with actual good news. Also check out Here’s The Scoop from NBC — it’s a sharp daily news show clocking in under 15 minutes. And don’t miss Famous & Gravy, the podcast that reads celebrity obituaries and asks, “Would you want that life?” Smart, soulful, and weird in the best way. 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 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 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. We encourage you to purchase a copy of the book here to experience it in full. This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Aldous Huxley or his estate. Our mission is to foster literary appreciation and critical discussion 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: Brave New World, genetic engineering, mass production, eugenics, class control, book bans, pig peritoneum, ICE alerts, censorship, dystopia, free speech

    24 min
  2. Brave New World | Ch. 1.2: Genetically Engineered to Love Capitalism

    EPISODE 2

    Brave New World | Ch. 1.2: Genetically Engineered to Love Capitalism

    In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan finish Chapter 1 of Brave New World, where dystopia smells like formaldehyde and sounds like conveyor belts full of bottled babies. From mass-produced twins to racist ovary rankings and flaps of pig guts shooting up from the organ store, Huxley’s world is gross, precise, and disturbingly intentional. Dan wonders if Elon Musk would be into this. Jennifer starts asking if evolution even has a chance. And Robot? He’s just trying to figure out what to do with 15,000 siblings. Things to Listen For: How pig belly flaps became standard lab gear in dystopian delivery roomsJennifer wonders if genetic “oopsies” are part of the plan—for evolutionDan discovers you can assign job titles by messing with embryo oxygen levelsThe phrase: “we immunize the fish against the future man’s disease” (seriously, what?)Plus: a real PSA about ICE activity and the apps that fight backBanworthy to Bingeworthy: Shoutout to Good News for Lefties—Beowulf Rochlen joins us again with uplifting news about viral kindness and migrant day laborers. Also, check out Here’s The Scoop from NBC for sharp daily news in under 15 minutes. 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 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 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. We encourage you to purchase a copy of the book here to experience it in full. This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Aldous Huxley or his estate. Our mission is to foster literary appreciation and critical discussion 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: Brave New World, genetic engineering, mass production, eugenics, class control, book bans, pig peritoneum, ICE alerts, censorship, dystopia, free speech

    32 min
  3. Brave New World | Ch. 2.1: Why the Babies Hate Books Now

    EPISODE 3

    Brave New World | Ch. 2.1: Why the Babies Hate Books Now

    In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan read Chapter 2 of Brave New World, where things get... uncomfortably real. Babies are conditioned to hate flowers and books. Khaki-clad infants get electrocuted. Nature is labeled “gratuitous.” And hypnopædia, sleep learning, is born after a child accidentally memorizes something. Jennifer tries to make sense of caste systems and clone hierarchies while Dan compares everything to sourdough starters and American Eagle jeans. It’s dystopia at its most absurd—and somehow, still a little too familiar. Things To Listen For: Jennifer’s working theory: the more clones you have, the lower your casteDan’s sourdough starter metaphor for human replicationHow flower-hating babies are engineered through terrorBanworthy to Bingeworthy: Check out Good News for Lefties, a podcast that highlights real progressive wins every day—even when the news feels grim. A great counterbalance to dystopia. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Also check out Here’s The Scoop from NBC — it’s a sharp daily news show clocking in under 15 minutes.  Rate, Review, & Follow: Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! Disclaimer: Banned Camp features readings and discussions of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 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. We encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the full work. This podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Aldous Huxley, his estate, or the book’s publisher. All rights remain with their respective holders.  Topics Covered: Brave New World, Pavlovian conditioning, hypnopædia, book banning, dystopia, authoritarianism, flower torture, caste systems, electric shocks, banned books

    25 min
  4. Brave New World | Ch. 2.2: Elementary Sex Ed and Sleep Obedience

    EPISODE 4

    Brave New World | Ch. 2.2: Elementary Sex Ed and Sleep Obedience

    In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan dive deeper into Chapter 2 of Brave New World, where sleep is for indoctrination and moral education must never be rational. From creepy nursery whisper sessions to the bizarre idea of "elementary sex education," the chapter takes a dark turn.  Things To Listen For: Why even alphas tiptoe in sibilant hallwaysWhat happens when morality is whispered in your sleepA disturbing bit about Deltas and bad smellsJennifer’s impromptu TED Talk on racism, classism, and subconscious biasDan’s new favorite expletive: “Oh Ford!”Banworthy to Bingeworthy: Check out Good News for Lefties, a podcast that highlights real progressive wins every day—even when the news feels grim. A great counterbalance to dystopia. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Also check out Here’s The Scoop from NBC — it’s a sharp daily news show clocking in under 15 minutes.  Rate, Review, & Follow: Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! Disclaimer: Banned Camp features readings and discussions of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 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. We encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the full work. This podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Aldous Huxley, his estate, or the book’s publisher. All rights remain with their respective holders.  Topics Covered: Brave New World, sleep learning, subconscious conditioning, class indoctrination, moral education, asafoetida, dystopian satire, Ford as god, banned books, censorship, sibilance, loudspeakers, whisper propaganda, PillowGate

    21 min
  5. Brave New World | Ch. 3.1: History Is Bunk, Apparently So Are We

    EPISODE 5

    Brave New World | Ch. 3.1: History Is Bunk, Apparently So Are We

    In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan dive into Chapter 3 of Brave New World, where sunshine, roses, and children’s games quickly give way to dystopian creepiness. From naked playgrounds to helicopters buzzing overhead, the Director lectures about games designed not for fun—but for consumption. Jen and Dan connect this to modern-day corporate-government fusions, from billionaires at Trump’s inauguration to propaganda tucked inside a child’s name.  Things To Listen For: Centrifugal Bumble-Puppy (aka Golden Retriever tennis ball machine 2.0)Naked kids, corporate dystopias, and a very dark definition of “playtime”Polly Trotsky: why even rebellion gets branded with a bowThe return of Prudence (our Moms for Liberty bot)Hair of the Bear: dystopian blue movies or worst hangover cure?Mustafa Mond, the world controller, declaring that history is “bunk”Rate, Review, & Follow 👉 Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! 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 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 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 Aldous Huxley, his estate, or the publishers of Brave New World. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Topics Covered: Brave New World, dystopia, banned books, censorship, Polly Trotsky, Mustafa Mond, history is bunk, Prudence bot, corporate fascism, helicopter surveillance, feely theaters

    25 min
  6. Brave New World | Ch. 3.2: Vacuum Massages and Mar-a-Lago Face

    EPISODE 6

    Brave New World | Ch. 3.2: Vacuum Massages and Mar-a-Lago Face

    In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan continue through Chapter 3 of Brave New World. We move from sterile conditioning centers into a bizarrely mechanical “dressing room,” where women are processed like products, not people. Along the way, the conversation swerves into plastic surgery culture, Mar-a-Lago face, and the Hobby Lobby décor aisle. The Controller’s takedown of homes and mothers shocks the students (and us), while the introduction of “pregnancy substitutes” shows how even biology is managed for efficiency and control.  Things To Listen For:Vacuum massage machines and why Huxley’s “spa day” feels like a factory lineJennifer and Dan’s detour into plastic surgery, gristle arms, and clone sistersThe Controller describing “home” so disgustingly that a student nearly vomitsRobot’s bleak explanation of pregnancy substitutes as state control, not healthJennifer plotting a “Bless This Mess” wall decal for dystopia décorBanworthy to BingeworthyThis week’s bingeworthy picks: Here’s the Scoop from NBC News — smart breakdowns of the day’s biggest stories.Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlen’s daily dose of progressive sanity (and yes, he shows up in our episodes too).Check them out wherever you get your podcasts! Rate, Review, & FollowRate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! Featured ClipsFeatured clips include a few seconds from “The World’s Worst Saxophone Player – Canadian Idiot” on YouTube. 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. DisclaimerBanned Camp features readings and discussions of Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 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 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 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 Aldous Huxley, his estate, or the publishers of Brave New World. 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 CoveredBrave New World, Aldous Huxley, vacuum massage machines, Mar-a-Lago face, pregnancy substitutes, motherhood, family, censorship, banned books

    22 min
  7. Brave New World | Ch. 3.3 – Everyone Belongs to Everyone Else

    EPISODE 7

    Brave New World | Ch. 3.3 – Everyone Belongs to Everyone Else

    In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan continue chapter three of Brave New World, where intimacy without consequences defines society, and the idea of monogamy earns disapproval. They puzzle over Mustafa Mond popping into scenes unannounced, compare the dystopia’s “everyone belongs to everyone else” ethos to real-world absurdities, and question whether a world without pain could ever be truly human. Along the way, Dan reveals he talks to his plants, Jennifer ties satire back to Swift’s “Modest Proposal,” and Robot admits he may have overestimated their literary skills. Things To Listen For: The World State’s motto: “Everyone belongs to everyone else.”Why four months with one partner is considered scandalous.Jennifer comparing Huxley’s satire to Swift’s “Modest Proposal.”Dan’s confession about watering and talking to his 400 houseplants.The debate over whether pain and problems are necessary to being human.Robot accusing Jen and Dan of “literary disorientation.”Banworthy to Bingeworthy Looking for more great listening? Check out Here’s the Scoop from NBC News for quick daily updates, and Good News for Lefties for progressive wins and perspective in dark times. Rate, Review, & Follow Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! 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 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 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 Aldous Huxley, his estate, or the publishers of Brave New World. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Topics Covered: Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, Henry Foster, Lenina, Fanny, Mustafa Mond, monogamy, satire, Swift’s Modest Proposal, plant care, censorship, banned books

    24 min
  8. Brave New World | Ch. 3.4 – Locker Room Talk and Other Acts of War

    EPISODE 8

    Brave New World | Ch. 3.4 – Locker Room Talk and Other Acts of War

    In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan tackle Chapter 3.4 of Brave New World. Between locker room banter, state-mandated promiscuity, and Mustapha Mond’s lecture on “stability,” they pull apart the absurd ways Huxley’s society normalizes control. Lenina hesitates, Bernard fumes, and the so-called “pneumatic” praise makes everyone squirm. The conversation blends satire, disgust, and a few laughs about obstacle golf, mind control, and whether anyone really belongs to anyone else. Things To Listen For: Mustapha Mond’s booming call for “stability above all.”Fannie pressuring Lenina to be more promiscuous.The locker room scene where men casually reduce women to “pneumatic” commodities.Bernard’s growing alienation from his fellow Alphas.Dan and Jennifer’s riffs on swingers, trumpet-warm fuzzies, and obstacle golf.Robot’s reflection on instant gratification and the cost of stability.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 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 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 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 Aldous Huxley, his estate, or the publishers of Brave New World. 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: Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, locker room talk, Mustapha Mond, Lenina, Bernard Marks, stability, promiscuity, obstacle golf, censorship, banned books, satire

    21 min
See All Season 9 (43)

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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Jennifer Davis and Dan Schulz – culture war censorship critics, satirical storytellers, banned books defenders, and irreverent humorists exploring challenged literature and book bans
  • Episodes
    280
  • Seasons
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship
  • Show Website
    Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship

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