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

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

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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, Slaught...

Recent Episodes

The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 16.2: The Museum That Never Changes | Banned Books Podcast
APR 2, 2026
The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 16.2: The Museum That Never Changes | Banned Books Podcast
The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 16.2 | Banned Books Comedy Podcast Holden goes to Central Park looking for Phoebe, helps a little girl tighten her skate, walks all the way to the Museum of Natural History remembering every detail from his childhood field trips, and then does something nobody expected — he won't go inside. This is the chapter where Salinger finally shows you what the whole book is about. 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: Holden asking a random kid on a bench if she knows Phoebe — and Jennifer pointing out that's the most kid move in the entire book The skate key moment: "you could put a skate key in my hand 50 years from now in pitch dark and I'd still know what it is" A detour into whether Trump's animatronic at Disney's Hall of Presidents was actually a repainted Hillary Clinton figure — Robot investigates Jennifer's observation that Holden isn't what he was anymore and doesn't know what he's becoming Dan connecting the dots: trying so hard not to be phony is its own kind of phony The glass case passage — one of the most important paragraphs in the entire novel Why was The Catcher in the Rye banned? Sixteen chapters in and the hosts still can't find a single thing worth banning. What they did find is a teenager standing outside a museum he used to love, unable to go in, because going in would prove he's not the same kid anymore. The real threat of this book isn't language or behavior — it's a kid admitting that growing up is terrifying, and no adult in his life has noticed. If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers). Banworthy to Bingeworthy: If you're looking for more great podcasts, check these out: Dateline Presents: Trace of Suspicion — A young Marine and the woman who didn't care about convention made a life together. Then one night the Marine died, and the death investigation took a wild, unexpected, and utterly bizarre turn. MS NOW Presents: Clock It — Simone Sanders Townsend positions herself at the intersection of culture and politics, breaking down what's happening in the news so you can start to clock it too. New episodes drop Thursdays. 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. The material used from the book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 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 J.D. Salinger, their estate, or the publishers of The Catcher in the Rye. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Topics Covered: The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, Chapter 16, Holden Caulfield, Phoebe, Sally Hayes, Central Park, Museum of Natural History, glass cases, growing up, nostalgia, identity, phoniness, Disney Hall of Presidents, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast
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32 MIN
The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 16.1: If a Body Catch a Body Coming Through the Rye | Banned Books Comedy
MAR 31, 2026
The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 16.1: If a Body Catch a Body Coming Through the Rye | Banned Books Comedy
The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 16.1 Holden walks through New York on a Sunday morning still haunted by the nuns, buys a record for his little sister that makes him happier than anything in sixteen chapters, finally calls the girl he's been afraid to call, and hears a six-year-old kid singing a song on a curb that changes everything. This is the chapter where the title of the book finally shows up. 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: Robot's stunned reaction when Jennifer remembers something from season one without flashcards The Katherine Heigl charity dog rescue tangent that ends with Dan's greatest verbal stumble of all time (you'll know it when you hear it) Holden finally calling Jane after sixteen chapters of excuses — and what happens when her mom picks up The moment Jennifer and Dan read the line the entire novel is named after and has no idea what it means Robot refusing to explain it "You'll get there." Dan's insight that Holden performs realness as his own kind of phoniness — which might be the smartest thing anyone's said about this book all season Why was The Catcher in the Rye banned? Sixteen chapters in and there's still nothing ban-worthy in the text. What there is: a teenager who notices that charity can be performance, that actors are phonier than the people they play, and that the only authentic moment in Hamlet was a girl horsing around with a dagger while nobody was watching. The real threat of this book is a kid who can tell the difference between what's real and what's for show — and who keeps choosing real. If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers). Banworthy to Bingeworthy:If you're looking for more great podcasts, check these out: Dateline Presents: Trace of Suspicion — A young Marine and the woman who didn't care about convention made a life together. Then one night the Marine died, and the death investigation took a wild, unexpected, and utterly bizarre turn. MS NOW Presents: Clock It — Simone Sanders Townsend positions herself at the intersection of culture and politics, breaking down what's happening in the news so you can start to clock it too. New episodes drop Thursdays. 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. The material used from the book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 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 J.D. Salinger, their estate, or the publishers of The Catcher in the Rye. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Topics Covered: The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, Chapter 16, Holden Caulfield, Phoebe, Jane Gallagher, Sally Hayes, Little Shirley Beans, Sir Laurence Olivier, Hamlet, Ophelia, the Lunts, phoniness, authenticity, coming of age, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast  
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29 MIN
The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 15.2: Holden Talks Romeo and Juliet with a Nun | Banned Books Podcast
MAR 26, 2026
The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 15.2: Holden Talks Romeo and Juliet with a Nun | Banned Books Podcast
The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 15.2 | Banned Books Comedy Podcast Holden finishes his conversation with the two nuns at the lunch counter, gives them ten dollars he can't really afford, discusses Romeo and Juliet with an English teacher in iron-rimmed glasses, accidentally blows smoke in their faces, and then watches them leave. It's one of the warmest scenes in the book, and it ends with one of Salinger's most devastating lines. 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: Holden's take on Romeo and Juliet: he cared more about Mercutio dying than Romeo or Juliet, because it was somebody else's fault Robot's history of how nuns had their cultural moment in the 1960s, complete with Vatican Two described as "ComicCon for bishops" Holden connecting the Catholic identity thing to the suitcases from last episode — the invisible walls between people who were getting along fine Dan calling the chapter a dud and Jennifer pushing back with one of the sharpest observations of the season Why was The Catcher in the Rye banned? This chapter is about a teenager having a kind, honest conversation with two nuns about literature. He gives them money. He feels guilty he didn't give more. And then he connects religion to class — the labels people carry that end good conversations before they should. That's the threat: a kid learning to see the invisible walls that divide people, and questioning whether they need to be there at all. If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers). Banworthy to Bingeworthy:If you're looking for more great podcasts, check these out: Dateline Presents: Trace of Suspicion — A young Marine and the woman who didn't care about convention made a life together. Then one night the Marine died, and the death investigation took a wild, unexpected, and utterly bizarre turn. MS NOW Presents: Clock It — Simone Sanders Townsend positions herself at the intersection of culture and politics, breaking down what's happening in the news so you can start to clock it too. New episodes drop Thursdays. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! Featured Clips: This episode includes a short clip from The Blues Brothers (1980). All rights belong to their respective owners and are used here under fair use for the purpose of cultural commentary and education. 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. The material used from the book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 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 J.D. Salinger, their estate, or the publishers of The Catcher in the Rye. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Topics Covered: The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, Chapter 15, Holden Caulfield, Mercutio, Romeo and Juliet, nuns, religion, class identity, suitcases, Thomas Hardy, Eustacia Vye, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast  
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25 MIN
The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 15.1: Holden Meets Two Nuns at Grand Central | Banned Books Podcast
MAR 24, 2026
The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 15.1: Holden Meets Two Nuns at Grand Central | Banned Books Podcast
Holden finally sleeps, checks out of the hotel (while avoiding the pimp who punched him), and calls the one girl he doesn't actually want to talk to instead of the one he does. Then he sits down at a lunch counter next to two nuns with cheap suitcases, and something quietly shifts. 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 asking the question everyone's been thinking: why won't Holden just call Jane? Jennifer's callback to the biblical lunatic with the sharp rocks — "he reaches for the thing that will cut him" The suitcase scene where two roommates liked each other but couldn't get past their luggage Dan's life advice: "one thing my dad always told me growing up — don't make fun of nuns' suitcases" Why was The Catcher in the Rye banned? This chapter has almost nothing a book banner could point to — it's a kid eating breakfast and meeting nuns. But that's the point. The real threat isn't the sex or the language. It's a teenager processing class, shame, loneliness, and the fear of disappointing his parents — the exact things a kid reading this book might recognize in themselves. If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers). Banworthy to Bingeworthy If you're looking for more great podcasts, check these out: Dateline Presents: Trace of Suspicion — A young Marine and the woman who didn't care about convention made a life together. Then one night the Marine died, and the death investigation took a wild, unexpected, and utterly bizarre turn. MS NOW Presents: Clock It — Simone Sanders Townsend positions herself at the intersection of culture and politics, breaking down what's happening in the news so you can start to clock it too. New episodes drop Thursdays. 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. The material used from the book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 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 J.D. Salinger, their estate, or the publishers of The Catcher in the Rye. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Topics Covered: The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, Chapter 15, Holden Caulfield, Sally Hayes, Jane Gallagher, Dick Slagel, Maurice, Sunny, class and identity, suitcases, loneliness, parenting, coming of age, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast  
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31 MIN
The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 14: Maurice Returns and Holden Gets Hit | Banned Books Podcast
MAR 19, 2026
The Catcher in the Rye Ch. 14: Maurice Returns and Holden Gets Hit | Banned Books Podcast
Holden Caulfield starts this chapter talking to his dead brother Allie in an empty hotel room at dawn, and it only gets heavier from there. Maurice the elevator pimp and Sunny come back for the money Holden insists he doesn't owe, and what follows is a confrontation that leaves Holden on the floor in his pajamas imagining a revenge movie that will never happen. 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: Jennifer catches that Holden's favorite person in the Bible — the lunatic cutting himself with stones in the tombs — is basically Holden describing himself Dan keeps forgetting this is all still the same night as the Stradlater fight Jennifer argues she'd stand on principle too, and Dan says that worries him about her Holden's elaborate movie revenge fantasy after getting punched, complete with Jane bandaging his guts while holding his cigarette Why was The Catcher in the Rye banned? This chapter features a teenager hiring a prostitute, getting shaken down by a pimp, religious questioning that dismisses the disciples and organized religion, and a passing reference to suicidal thoughts — exactly the kind of raw, honest adolescent experience that book banners want to pretend doesn't exist. If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers). Banworthy to Bingeworthy This week we've got two podcasts worth checking out: Dateline: Trace of Suspicion — A young Marine and the woman who didn't care about convention built a life together. Then one night the Marine died, and the death investigation took a wild, unexpected turn. Hosted by Josh Mankiewicz. MSNOW Presents: Clock It — Simone Sanders Townsend positions herself at the intersection of culture and politics, breaking down what's happening in the news so you can start to clock it too. New episodes drop Thursdays. 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. The material used from the book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 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 J.D. Salinger, his estate, or the publishers of The Catcher in the Rye. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Topics Covered: The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger, Chapter 14, Holden Caulfield, Allie Caulfield, Maurice, Sunny, Arthur Childs, Bobby Fallon, Jane Gallagher, religion and atheism, self-destruction, grief and guilt, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast
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32 MIN