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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
George Orwell
Aldous Huxley
The Handmaid's Tale
Kurt Vonnegut
Banned Books
Book Banning
Soma
War
Donald Trump
Moms For Liberty
Billy Pilgrim
Big Brother
Education
J.D. Salinger
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

PublishesDailyEpisodes363Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureComedy

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

Latest Episodes

Moira finishes the story of how she got out of the Red Center. She goes from a Quaker safe house to a mail sack to a truck full of carsick chickens, and she gets within sight of a boat to freedom. The escape plan runs into a problem, and what Moira c... more

The Handmaid slips into the women's washroom of the hotel club, where an Aunt in a purple caftan and gold eyeshadow guards the door. Inside, behind the smoke and the pink walls, she finds Moira. Then Moira starts whispering the story of how she got o... more

The Commander walks the Handmaid into a secret club hidden inside the same hotel she used to visit with Luke. It's packed with powerful men and women in scavenged costumes, all the things Gilead publicly banned. Then, across the room, Offred spots so... more

The Commander summons the Handmaid to his study for what starts as an awkward round of Scrabble and turns into something much stranger: a smuggled costume covered in feathers and sequins, a stolen cloak, and a car ride into the dark. By the end of th... more

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Recent Guests

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.
Lindsey Schultz
Owner of the Spine Bookshop
Spine Bookshop
Episode: Banned Camp Bonus: The Bookstore Fighting Back—with a Taser
Baywolf Rocklin
Podcaster and personality known for Good News for Lefties
Good News for Lefties
Episode: 1984 | Ch. 5.1 – Hate Week, Face Crimes, and Big Brother’s Lies

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 311 ratings
  • 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 States24 days 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 Statesa month 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
  • Really cool premise.

    I love this idea.

    I wish I’d thought of it.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    SoulNotSkin
    United States2 months ago
  • Smart, Funny, and Thought-Provoking

    If you enjoy books and thoughtful discussion with a healthy dose of humor, Banned Camp is a fantastic listen. The hosts don’t just talk about banned books—they actually read them and unpack the context, themes, and reasons they’ve been challenged. Whether you agree with their conclusions or not, they make the conversation engaging, entertaining, and encourage listeners to think for themselves. It’s one of those rare podcasts that’s both educational and genuinely fun to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cdhHrt
    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 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.
Brave New World Ch. 16.1: Why Ban Shakespeare? | Banned Books Podcast
Q: What, if anything, would be considered banworthy in this chapter?
There really were no reasons to ban this book based on this section.
Brave New World Ch. 13.2 : Purity Culture Meets Panic | Banned Books Comedy
Q: What, if anything, would be considered banworthy in this chapter?
There are themes of drug use and instances of abuse that could be considered banworthy.

Audience Metrics

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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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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Good News for Lefties | Daily News for Democracy
2. The John Fugelsang Podcast
3. The Oath and The Office
4. Clock It with Symone & Eugene
5. Main Justice

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 363 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. Beowulf Rochlen
2. Ryan Holiday
3. Martha Hickson
4. Unnamed guest
5. Liz Gotauco
6. Bay Wolf Rocklin
7. Jon Scieszka
8. Lindsey Schultz

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