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Artwork for Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship
Censorship
1984
Brave New World
Slaughterhouse-Five
The Catcher In the Rye
The Handmaid's Tale
George Orwell
Aldous Huxley
Kurt Vonnegut
Book Banning
Banned Books
Soma
War
Donald Trump
Moms For Liberty
Billy Pilgrim
Big Brother
J.D. Salinger
Education
Free Speech

Love banned books? Hate censorship? Same. Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books out loud, cover-to-cover, and try to figure out why they were banned in the first place. If you've never read them, now's your chance to hear them for the first time with us. If you have, well, you already know what's coming and this will be your chance to laugh at us as we bumble our way through a... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes370Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureComedy

Listen to this Podcast

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

Latest Episodes

Dan and Jennifer finally tell the whole story. A Charlotte Airbnb with lights that flicker on their own and a bed that won’t stop shaking. Then a night in Miss Laura’s Cottage in Savannah, one of the most haunted rentals on Airbnb, with a pair of $15... more

It’s a Halloween special, so there’s no chapter this time. Jennifer reads Margaret Atwood’s poem “Half-Hanged Mary,” about the real woman The Handmaid’s Tale is dedicated to. Mary Webster was accused of witchcraft in the 1680s, hanged by a mob, and s... more

In Chapter 43, the day on the lawn at the old university is not over yet. Dan and Jennifer try to work out what Gilead is asking of these women now, and why the chapter ends the way it does. It is a hard chapter, and they say so.

This episode includ... more

In Chapter 42, the handmaid goes to a Salvaging, and it is nothing like a rummage sale. Dan and Jennifer try to figure out what the word even means, what the crowd is really there to see, and why the people running Gilead decided to stop saying out l... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Corey Brettschneider
Constitutional law professor at Brown University and cohost of The Oath and the Office
Brown University
Episode: The Handmaid's Tale Chapter 38. 1: Reunited in a Pink Bathroom | Banned Books Comedy
Beowulf Rocklin
New speaker, truth seeker
Two Squared Media Productions
Episode: Introducing the Bookshelf Initiative | Banned Camp
Beowulf Rochlen
Beowulf Rochlen, remote correspondent
Episode: The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 28.2: The Day Her Money Stopped Working | Banned Books Comedy
Ryan Holiday
Best-selling author and owner of the Painted Porch Bookshop
Painted Porch Bookshop, Bastrop, Texas
Episode: The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 25: For Him, She’s Only a Whim | Banned Books Comedy
Martha Hickson
School librarian featured in The Librarians documentary
Librarian, The Librarians (PBS Independent Lens)
Episode: Banned Camp Presents: They Came After the Librarian
Unnamed guest
The surprise guest reading a Christmas story
Episode: 2025 Banned Camp Christmas
Liz Gotauco
Librarian and author of F***ed Up Fairy Tales
Episode: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark — Halloween Spooktacular ft. Liz Gotauco | Banned Books Podcast
Bay Wolf Rocklin
A guest speaker providing news updates
NBC News
Episode: Brave New World | Ch. 3.3 – Everyone Belongs to Everyone Else
Jon Scieszka
Children's author and first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature
Author of The Stinky Cheese Man
Episode: They Fired the Librarian. We Called a Children’s Book Legend.

Hosts

Jennifer Davis
Host of the show; guides readings and leads discussion with engaging, accessible commentary; often reads chapters aloud and connects themes to censorship and free expression.
Dan Schultz
Co-host who participates in discussion, reads excerpts, and provides context; known for engaging with material and guests.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 314 ratings
  • Listen for all the right reasons

    It’s wonderful to see the growth taking place in Banned Camp. I’ve rejoined. Couldn’t stay away. Keep going. We need your courage today.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Written Art
    United States12 days ago
  • Started with handmade

    Awesome. I heard about it from another podcast. There is so much added humor. Love the Trump clips, love robot, love the hosts. I can’t put this podcast down like a really good book.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vegan for animals
    Canadaa month ago
  • Fight Book Bans 👏🏻

    I really like the concept behind Banned Camp and the bigger conversation they’re creating around banned books and censorship. I especially enjoyed learning more about why certain books have been challenged or banned and hearing the context around what’s actually in them versus what people claim is in them.

    The hosts clearly care about the subject, and I appreciate that they’re willing to dig into the books themselves rather than just repeating the conversation happening around them.

    For me per... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EmmieB05
    United Statesa month ago
  • A very creative

    I love the idea that you share what is banned inside of the different books and I’ve been able to make it funny and entertaining at the same time. I’m looking forward to listening to many more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chad Coe
    United States2 months ago
  • 5 Stars

    This is the best podcast! Viewers vote on the book to be read and there is commentary to explain what’s happening in each chapter. Looking forward to every episode! Thanks.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J.b.303
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the engaging banter and educational blend of humor with deep literary discussion.
Audience notes the show helps them understand complex censorship debates while staying entertaining and approachable.
Fans value the explicit stance against censorship and the exploration of why titles are banned.
Some criticism centers on heavy political commentary at times, but many appreciate the thought-provoking discourse.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Handmaid's Tale Chapter 38. 1: Reunited in a Pink Bathroom | Banned Books Comedy
Q: What do these people want? Why do they want to do this? Why do they want to shut down free speech? Why do they want to ban the books?
Brettschneider says it is about control and an authoritarian instinct to dislike criticism and disorder.
The Handmaid's Tale Chapter 38. 1: Reunited in a Pink Bathroom | Banned Books Comedy
Q: Separation of church and state, is that just bullshit? Is that a thing?
Brettschneider says the First Amendment prohibits laws respecting an establishment of religion. Laws must be justified with reasons people can accept regardless of their religious beliefs.
The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 4: She Still Has One Power Left | Banned Books Comedy
Q: What was the most ban-worthy moment in this chapter, according to the hosts?
They point to intimate, everyday acts—like the Handmaid's understudied resistance through body language at the checkpoint—as the most controversial, because it exposes how power can be subverted in small but meaningful ways.
Banned Camp Presents: They Came After the Librarian
Q: Was this the first time you were targeted, or had you faced prior challenges before 2021?
There were previous complaints, but the scale and aggressiveness of 2021 was unlike anything before, demanding rapid coordination with professional bodies and a strategic response.
The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 8: The Most Honest Liar on the Train | Banned Books Comedy
Q: What, if anything, would be considered banworthy in this chapter?
There was nothing in that. That was a really fun chapter. Like, it is so hard to... We have to remember this kid is 16 years old and not 48.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A humorous, thought-provoking show that reads banned books aloud to explore why they've been challenged, while unpacking themes around free speech, censorship, and political discourse. Hosts Jennifer Davis and Dan Schultz guide conversations that mix live reading, witty banter, and social commentary, often tying book-banning debates to current events and policy debates. The format blends educational discussion with entertainment, and a robot-style fact-checking bit keeps the conversation lighthearted yet informative. The season's focus on a cornerstone dystopian novel highlights power, gender, and autonomy, but the broader catalog spans a wide range of classic and modern works — all treated as participatory, conversation-worthy experiences ... more

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1. Good News for Lefties | Daily News for Democracy
2. The Oath and The Office
3. The John Fugelsang Podcast
4. All In with Chris Hayes
5. The Lincoln Project

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this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 370 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Corey Brettschneider
2. Beowulf Rocklin
3. Beowulf Rochlen
4. Ryan Holiday
5. Martha Hickson
6. Unnamed guest
7. Liz Gotauco
8. Bay Wolf Rocklin

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