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

Епизоде

• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Chapter 33: Janine’s Baby and the Shredder | Banned Books Podcast 16.09.2026 32мин

  The Handmaid and Ofglen walk to a Prayvaganza past lawns stripped clean of dandelions, and Jennifer can't stop thinking about how something so many people call a weed is actually one of the happiest memories of being a kid. Once they arrive, a whispered phrase from Ofglen about another Handmaid's baby forces Jennifer and Dan to figure out exactly what Gilead does with a child the regime decides isn't good enough to keep. This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot. 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's dandelion monologue turns into a debate about who invented "mama had a baby and her head popped off," and yes, that's a real childhood rhyme Dan explains Gilead's tiered Prayvaganza system using a Pop Warner football analogy, and Robot confirms it actually holds up The moment Ofglen tells the Handmaid "it was a shredder after all," and what that phrase turns out to actually mean for Janine's baby Beowulf brings good news about the American Library Association's Banned Books Week 2026 theme and the show's new Bookshelf Initiative Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? This chapter shows exactly how Gilead gets away with what it does to the Handmaids, by convincing everyone around them that they simply don't feel things the way other people do. That same language, used historically to justify slavery and used today to justify forced birth laws, is the part of this book that keeps getting it challenged. 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). Nominate a Librarian for the Bookshelf Initiative Every quarter, Banned Camp donates a full set of every banned book we've ever covered on this show to one nominated high school librarian, and the big one happens every October during Banned Books Week. Nominations are open now through September 27th. If you know a high school librarian who's fought a book challenge or is just quietly doing great work, nominate them at bandcamppodcast.com/thebookshelfinitiative. It takes about ninety seconds. Banworthy to Bingeworthy Beowulf from Good News for Lefties stops by with an actual bright spot this week. Good News for Lefties — Beowulf reports that the American Library Association just announced the theme for Banned Books Week 2026, "Let Books Be: Protect the Freedom to Read," running October 4th through 10th, plus details on Band Camp's new partnership with the ALA's Unite Against Book Bans campaign. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has
• 
  Introducing the Bookshelf Initiative | Banned Camp 14.09.2026 4мин

  This is a bonus episode, not a chapter. Jennifer and Dan are launching something new called the Bookshelf Initiative: every quarter, Banned Camp is giving away a full set of every banned book they've ever covered on the show to one nominated high school librarian. Here's how it works and how to nominate someone before nominations close. Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter. We don't read ahead. Things To Listen For: Why eleven seasons of banned books turned into a plan to actually give the books away Why this round is scoped to high school librarians specifically, and how that ties back to what's on the shelf, including The Handmaid's Tale The one thing they're looking for in a nominee: someone who's fought a book challenge, or is just quietly doing great work while people try to make their job harder How short the nomination actually is (school, one line on why, your name and email, no essay required) Why you don't need to know the librarian's name to nominate their school The full timeline: nominations close September 21, a winner gets picked the following week, and the winner is announced during Banned Books Week, October 4 to 10, the same week the books ship A shoutout to the free-expression and library organizations helping spread the word, who'll get named by name when the winner is announced How to nominate a librarian for the Bookshelf Initiative Nominations are open now through September 21 at bannedcamppodcast.com/the-bookshelf-initiative. It takes about ninety seconds. Jennifer and Dan go through every nomination themselves and pick a winner September 22 through 28, then announce it in a special bonus episode during Banned Books Week. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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. This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions What is the Bookshelf Initiative? The Bookshelf Initiative is a new quarterly giveaway from Banned Camp. Every quarter, the show donates a full set of every banned book it has ever covered to one nominated high school librarian. The flagship round happens every October, timed to Banned Books Week. How do I nominate a librarian for the Bookshelf Initiative? Visit bannedcamppodcast.com/the-bookshelf-initiative and submit the school, one line on why, and your name and email. You don't need to know the librarian's name. Nominations for the first round close September 21, 2026. Topics Covered: Bookshelf Initiative, Banned Camp, banned books, book donation, high school librarians, Banned Books Week, book bans, censorship, nominate a librarian, banned books podcast  
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Chapter 32: What She Keeps Under the Mattress | Banned Books Comedy 09.09.2026 34мин

  Rita's cutting radishes into little Aztec hearts and Offred just wants a match. That's it, that's the whole ask, and somehow it turns into the most loaded transaction in the house. This chapter gives us a stolen cigarette, a hidden plan, and a commander who wants credit for building the world he broke. This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot. 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 calls his shot early: someone in this book is going to cut themselves, and he wants credit if he's right Robot traces the Marthas back to Luke 10 and roasts Martha Stewart along the way The Commander explains why "better" never means better for everyone, and Dan explains what he'd have asked for instead A detour through Real Sex, powerful men, and dominatrix economics that somehow loops back to who really holds the power in this house Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?This chapter's version of the Commander explaining away a system built on controlling women's bodies, paired with the quiet menace of Rita's "burn the house down" line, is exactly the kind of content that gets books like this pulled from shelves. It's not the sex or the violence that scares people, it's how reasonable the man justifying it sounds. 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). Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale, and every episode includes the chapter reading, discussion, a fact-checking Robot, and a segment on why books get banned. Do I need to start Banned Camp from the beginning? No. Every episode opens with Robot's recap of the previous chapter, so you can jump in anywhere. Most listeners tell us they started mid-season and went back to the beginning after they were hooked. Why does Offred want a match in The Handmaid's Tale? In
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Chapter 31: Serena Joy’s Dangerous Offer | Banned Books Comedy 07.09.2026 37мин

  The Handmaid counts her days, walks the wall with Ofglen, and gets pulled aside by Serena Joy for a yarn-winding session that turns into something a lot more calculated. Dan and Jennifer dig into what's really going on with the Commander's Scrabble habit, a body on the wall marked with a mysterious "J," and an offer from Serena that could get everyone involved killed. This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot. 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 fact-checks whether Handmaids wear corsets or restrictive clothing under their robes, and the real answer is somehow worse Dan and Jennifer try to work out what peyot are, and Robot shuts down the "braided hair" theory for good A full Secret Service codename detour, including Trump's real one and Robot's better suggestions The toilet-cleaning dare: Dan challenges listeners to skip cleaning theirs for two weeks and report back Serena Joy hands Offred a skein of wool to hold, then an offer that could end in a hanging Robot's closing log on hope, coercion, and what "but only maybe" is really built to do Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?This chapter's wall scene, where a body is marked only with a "J" and its meaning is left deliberately unclear, sits right on top of the book's religious persecution imagery, one of the exact reasons challengers cite when they call the book "offensive." Add in Serena Joy's proposal to break the law around adultery and reproduction, and you've got two of the most commonly flagged reasons for banning this book in one chapter. 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 No promo swap this episode, but we always make room for the news. Good News for Lefties — Beowulf covers a Somerset County, Maryland school board that tried to lock young adult books away from almost every student in the district, and the appeal that says it violates both the First Amendment and the state's Freedom to Read Act. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Han
• 
  The Handmaid's Tale Chapter 30: Luke Kills the Cat Before They Run | Banned Books Podcast 02.09.2026 36мин

  The Handmaid is one night away from fleeing the Republic of Gilead when Luke makes her a quiet, terrible promise about their cat — and by the time chapter 30 ends, she's questioning whether talking to God is any different from talking to a wall. Jennifer and Dan dig into betrayal, forced prayer, and the particular kind of grief you build before you let yourself feel it, while Robot ties one especially dark real-world case straight back to the page. This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot. 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: The moment Luke says "I'll take care of it" the night before they run, and what Offred realizes he actually means Dan's ongoing debate over whether his own dog, Beatrix, would forgive him under the same circumstances Aunt Lydia's "a little pain cleans out the mind" and the genuinely disturbing prayers the Handmaids are forced to recite The reveal of what "Nolite te bastardes carborundorum" actually means, finally answered after a listener called out the omission Beowulf's news segment on a library director who just won $275,000 after being fired for refusing to pull books from the shelves Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? This chapter pairs a quietly devastating act of complicity — Luke and the cat — with a passage on suicidal ideation and forced religious ritual, exactly the kind of content challengers flag as "disturbing" or "anti-family." But it's also the book's clearest argument for how ordinary people go along with cruelty, which is the part that actually makes banners uncomfortable. 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 episode's only shoutout goes to Beowulf's own show: Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlen's news show digs into real-world stories Banned Camp doesn't have time for, broadcasting live from deep inside his "socialist safe house" hidden in the Oregon woods.  Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Cam
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 29: The Latin Words Written in a Textbook Margin | Banned Books Podcast 31.08.2026 37мин

  The Handmaid and the Commander settle into an unsettling new nightly routine of forbidden magazines, banned novels, and word games in his private study. When she finally works up the nerve to ask him about four mysterious Latin words, his answer connects her to a woman who sat in that exact chair before her, and isn't sitting anywhere now. This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot. 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 renames the Commander "Word Perv" after realizing what he actually gets out of watching Offred read The exact moment Offred realizes she isn't the first Handmaid to sit across from him and play word games What really happened to the Handmaid who had the room before her, and why the light fixture was removed Jennifer and Dan debate what "Commander" even means as a title, landing somewhere between Kentucky Colonel and cosplay Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? This chapter centers on a woman risking real danger just to read and write in secret, and on the quiet horror of learning her predecessor died by suicide in the same room. Banners tend to flag the sexual tension; they usually miss that the actual threat in this chapter is a woman being handed a pen. 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 liked what you heard, here's another show worth your feed: Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rocklynn's news segment, broadcasting live from what he calls his socialist safe house deep in the Oregon woods. This episode he covers Dolly Parton's legacy and the Imagination Library, the childhood literacy program she built that's sent over 318 million free books to kids around the world. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale, and every episode includes th
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 28.2: The Day Her Money Stopped Working | Banned Books Comedy 26.08.2026 38мин

  One morning her debit card stops working. By that afternoon, armed soldiers have shut down her workplace and the government has frozen every woman's bank account in the country. In this chapter of The Handmaid's Tale, Jennifer and Dan watch an entire life get taken apart in the space of a single day — one bureaucratic switch at a time. This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot. 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: The Handmaid's card gets declined at the store, and the reason turns out to be much bigger than a mix-up Robot fact-checks the real 1970s feminist "women's collectives" behind Moira's new job Dan draws an unsettling parallel between Gilead's F/M account freeze and modern-day disaster-funding fights A flashback to the narrator's activist mother sparks a debate about who actually fights back when it counts Dan's theory about which character in this book never gets named — and what that says about how she's coping The chapter's gutting final line, and why Jennifer calls it "the one to pay attention to" Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? This chapter's central image — a government freezing women's bank accounts overnight simply because they're women — is exactly the kind of scene that makes The Handmaid's Tale a perennial target for challenges. It's less about explicit content and more about how plainly it shows a society building oppression through paperwork instead of force. 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 Beowulf closes out this episode's news segment with a plug for his own show: Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlen's own program, straight news for people who are sick of being lied to. Find it wherever you get your podcasts. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 cover
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 28.1: This Number’s Not Valid | Banned Books Comedy 24.08.2026 33мин

  The Handmaid spends the hour picking at old wounds — her friendship with Moira, her guilt over Luke, and the day the government quietly stopped being a democracy. By the end of the chapter, the past and present collide in the worst possible way: a corner store, a declined card, and three words that change everything. This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot. 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 and Jennifer imagining Moira as pure MacGyver energy — ready to take the bedroom fan apart and "start slicing people" Jennifer's blunt read on Moira's sexuality ("She decided? Give me a break") and a real conversation about who books like this one are actually written to protect Offred laying out, in her own words, exactly how Gilead seized power: the president shot, Congress machine-gunned, the blame pinned on "Islamic fanatics," and the Constitution suspended as a "temporary" measure Jennifer's unscripted reveal that she already has a go bag and a German passport ready to go — tied back to her grandparents' stories of people disappearing in Nazi Germany Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?This chapter pairs two things banners hate seeing together: a step-by-step account of how a democracy gets replaced by martial law, and an unflinching, funny conversation about Moira's sexuality and what "acceptable" relationships even means. That combination — political extremism plus open queerness — is exactly the kind of content that gets books like this one pulled from shelves. 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 Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlen's  good-news roundup.  Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale, and every episode includes the chapter reading, discussion, a
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Chapter 27: Two Women, One Whispered ”Neither Do I” | Banned Books Comedy 19.08.2026 33мин

  The Handmaid and Ofglen walk the summer streets past a franchise called Soul Scrolls, where machines print prayers to order so no human has to bother saying them. What starts as small talk about a prayer vending machine turns into the most dangerous conversation either woman has had in years, and Gilead reminds everyone exactly what's at stake before the chapter's out. This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot. 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 fact-checks where Gilead is actually located, and reveals Margaret Atwood set her secret police headquarters at a real university on purpose Dan solves a rebus puzzle and the answer is not safe for a Bible study The pitch for a Soul Scrolls Patreon tier where Robot reads prayers in his "metallic voice" for $9.99 a month Ofglen and Offred meet eyes in a store window reflection and risk everything on two words: "Neither do I" The chapter's gut-punch ending, a man grabbed off the sidewalk in broad daylight while the street just keeps moving Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? This chapter turns two women quietly finding out they can trust each other into an act of treason, and a religion you can outsource to a vending machine into something believable rather than absurd. That's the part that unsettles people: solidarity and commodified faith both being treated as dangerous. 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 Beowulf's segment name-checks his own show — give it a listen: Good News for Lefties — Dave Roth's show, broadcasting the actual good news happening in America while Dan and Jennifer look for some themselves and come up empty. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale, and every episode includes the chapter read
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Chapter 26: Why Didn’t Gilead Just Use IVF? | Banned Books Podcast 17.08.2026 30мин

  Chapter 26 finds Offred and the Commander drifting into something neither Dan nor Jennifer expected, which kicks off a debate about why Gilead does any of this the hard way when an obvious shortcut has existed since the 1970s. This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot. 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 and Jennifer's confused deep dive into why Gilead doesn't just use IVF, answered by a visibly exasperated Robot. A word starts as "filching" and ends somewhere much dirtier The secret Scrabble nights turn into the real power struggle A five-star listener review gets read on air, immediately followed — and probably not by accident — by a Trump soundbite that proves the review's own point. Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? This chapter's clinical, uncomfortable look at the Ceremony, and the forbidden intimacy that quietly grows out of it against every rule of the system, is exactly the kind of content that gets this book challenged — not because it's gratuitous, but because it makes coerced reproduction and stripped autonomy impossible to look away from. 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 Stick around after the chapter for more shows worth your feed: Good News for Lefties — Beowulf's weekly good-news segment. This week: a Knox County, Tennessee school district that got so much pushback over banning 123 books that it's creating a new committee — with actual teachers and students on it — to review book bans going forward. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale, and every episode includes the chapter reading, discussion, a fact-checking Robot, and a segment on why books get banned. Do I need to start Banned Camp from the beginning? No. Every episode opens w
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 25: For Him, She’s Only a Whim | Banned Books Comedy 12.08.2026 39мин

  The Handmaid fakes her way through a dropped breakfast tray, spends an afternoon watching Serena Joy take her frustrations out on the tulips, and settles into her strange, quiet arrangement with the Commander — Scrabble, small gifts, and a forbidden magazine he keeps just for the two of them. This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot. 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 and Jennifer diagnose the most efficient way to build a shiv out of a breakfast tray Serena Joy takes her rage out on the tulips, and the Handmaids have theories The Commander pulls a forbidden Vogue magazine out of his desk drawer like it's the ultimate gift Dan pitches the Commander for Undercover Boss The exact line the Commander says that Robot can't let go of: "We can always look it up" Why butter, of all things, becomes the funniest and saddest moment in the chapter Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?This chapter's forbidden Vogue magazine and Scrabble sessions get right at what makes school boards nervous: a world where owning a dictionary or a fashion magazine is treated as more dangerous than the man who controls every other part of a woman's life. 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 Robot's not the only one keeping tabs on the news. Check out: Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlen's show covering the good stuff happening for progressives, since somebody has to. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale, and every episode includes the chapter reading, discussion, a fact-checking Robot, and a segment on why books get banned. Do I need to start Banned Camp from the beginning? No. Every episode opens with Robot's recap of the previous chapter, so you can jump in anywhere. Most listene
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 24: The Mistress Who Said He Was Not a Monster | Banned Books Podcast 10.08.2026 30мин

  The Handmaid plays Scrabble, gets asked for a kiss she doesn't mean, and then spends a sleepless night remembering a TV documentary about a woman who spent her whole life insisting the man she loved wasn't a monster. Dan and Jennifer end up somewhere they didn't expect: a real conversation about how anyone learns to live next door to something horrible without ever looking at it directly. This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot. 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: Aunt Lydia's "men are sex machines" line turns into a real back-and-forth about who that kind of thinking actually protects Robot IDs the real 2023 film hiding behind Dan and Jennifer's half-remembered movie reference, and gets a genuinely dark joke out of it Jennifer gets unusually honest about how much this book is starting to feel like a warning label A closet, a scratched-in Latin phrase, and a laugh that isn't really a laugh Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?This chapter's mistress-of-a-camp-commandant flashback is the kind of thing school boards flag as "graphic" or "inappropriate for age," when the actual discomfort is what it says about ordinary people convincing themselves not to see what's in front of them. 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 Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlen's news segment, an entire show dedicated to the good news you're not hearing anywhere else. This week: a Bay Area family's decades-long collection of LGBTQ children's books just found a permanent public home. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale, and every episode includes the chapter reading, discussion, a fact-checking Robot, and a segment on why books get banned. Do I need to start Banned Camp from the b
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale | Ch. 23: Not Like That, As If You Meant It 05.08.2026 38мин

  The Handmaid gets called into the one room in the house she's never been allowed to enter, and what's waiting for her isn't what anyone expects, her included. This episode, Dan and Jennifer read chapter 23 of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, and figure out why a board game turns out to be the most dangerous thing in Gilead. This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot. 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: What's actually sitting on the shelves in the Commander's forbidden study (hint: it's not what anyone was bracing for) The moment Offred imagines dismantling a toilet to make a weapon, and what it says about who she's been thinking about Why "I want you to kiss me" turns out to be a much bigger deal than it sounds Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?This chapter is a good example of why: a scene that's ostensibly "just" two people playing a board game turns out to be about consent, power, and what happens when wanting something can't be commanded into existing — exactly the kind of nuance that gets flattened when a book gets pulled for being "inappropriate." 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 Beowulf brought the news this episode, and he's got a good one: Good News for Lefties: Beowulf covers Baltimore libraries partnering with Johns Hopkins to hand out free gun locks and safes, an effort aimed at preventing suicides and accidental shootings, funded in part by a $245,000 federal investment secured by Rep. Kweisi Mfume. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale, and every episode includes the chapter reading, discussion, a fact-checking Robot, and a segment on why books get banned. Do I need to start Banned Camp from the beginning? No. Every episode opens with
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale | Ch. 22: Lava Beneath the Crust of Daily Life | Why Books Get Banned 03.08.2026 32мин

  The Handmaid comes home from the birth exhausted, lies down under the ceiling wreath, and tells herself a better story. It's the story of what happened to Moira, passed hand to hand through four different people before it reached her. What follows involves an overflowing toilet, a piece of plumbing hardware, and a woman walking straight out the front gate in someone else's clothes. Whether any of it actually happened is the argument Dan and Jennifer cannot settle. This episode includes AI-voiced content, including our trusty fact-checking robot, Robot. 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's take on Aunt Elizabeth being assigned to "shitter gargoyle duty" again Moira tells Aunt Elizabeth to remember she didn't kill her, and both hosts agree that defense is not going to hold up in court Dan calls a major-league prediction on Moira's future and tries to get Robot to open a betting market on it Jennifer builds the case that Aunt Lydia planted the whole story on purpose, and it's a better theory than Dan's A story about Dan's grandmother, a one-legged man named Joe who sold pencils, and the first business question five-year-old Dan ever asked Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? This chapter is the closest the book has come to a straight adventure story, and there's nothing in it a school board could point to. That's the problem. What's actually dangerous here is Moira herself — a woman who takes a machine apart, holds her captor at knifepoint, refuses to kill her, and walks out. Books that show women escaping engineered obedience tend to make the people engineering it nervous. 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 One show worth your time this week: Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlén's roundup of the political news that actually went right, which this week means following the money on a book-banning group that suddenly can't afford to bankroll school board candidates anymore. Find it wherever you get podcasts. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads Th
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 21: You Wanted a Women’s Culture | Banned Books Comedy 29.07.2026 28мин

  Chapter 21 is the birth chapter. Janine delivers at the Warren household in full Gilead ceremony — the wife on the birthing stool, the Handmaids chanting, the baby named Angela and handed away before Janine can hold her. Offred rides home leaking fake milk, holding a ghost baby in her lap. And then Margaret Atwood drops an ice pick of a closing line that reframes everything that just happened. 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's point that the natural birth requirement isn't anti-science, it's anti-woman — and why that distinction matters The Kool-Aid surviving the apocalypse observation (you'll know it when you hear it) The closing two paragraphs of the chapter read aloud — "You wanted a women's culture. Well, now there is one."  Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? Chapter 21 shows exactly why. The birth ceremony isn't graphic in a conventional sense — it's grotesque in a political sense. A woman delivers a baby surrounded by women performing joy, and the baby is handed to someone else before the mother can catch her breath. The book gets banned because it makes this feel plausible. Because it already happened, in pieces, in different places, across history. That's the part that scares people. 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 to listen to, check out what we're loving right now: Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlén's weekly segment delivers actual good news for progressives who are tired of doom scrolling. It's in every episode of Banned Camp and available as a standalone show wherever you listen. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale, and every episode includes the chapter reading, discussion, a fact-checking Robot, and a segment on why books get banned. Do I
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 20: The Birth Ceremony & The Propaganda Film | Banned Books Podcast 28.07.2026 33мин

  Chapter 20 takes Offred to a birth ceremony at the home of another Commander — a ritualized, militarized event that reveals just how thoroughly Gilead has colonized every human experience, including childbirth. Then Aunt Lydia dims the lights and starts the film. What Offred sees on that screen will change everything she thought she understood about how she got here. 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: The birth ceremony at Warren's house — Dan and Jennifer try to figure out who the actual victim is in this entire arrangement and land somewhere uncomfortable Robot's fact-check on the Aunts as Gilead's female paramilitary — why a midwife was never part of the plan The Karl Marx slogan flip — Gilead rewrote "from each according to his ability" and Jennifer catches exactly what they did with it The propaganda film and the feminist magazines — same material, completely opposite purpose, and Atwood did it on purpose Offred's mother on the screen — young, serious, fist in the air, holding a Take Back the Night banner — and what it costs Offred to see her there Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?Chapter 20 contains the exact content that makes book banners most uncomfortable — explicit depictions of sexual violence shown in a political context, and a direct argument that the people claiming to protect women are the same ones controlling them. That argument lands in 2026 the same way it landed in 1985. 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 We recommend these podcasts to our scary book people: Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlén brings you actual good news from the progressive world, including this week's deeply satisfying update on Moms for Liberty's ongoing implosion. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale, an
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 18-19: Believing the Impossible to Stay Alive | Banned Books Comedy 23.07.2026 36мин

  The handmaid lies in bed and builds three impossible versions of what happened to Luke — all of them contradictory, all of them believed at the same time. Then a red siren pulls up to the house and everything shifts to Janine, who's about to give birth in a world where the women feeding her cookies will call her a whore the second she leaves the room. 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: Offred constructs three completely different fates for Luke and believes all of them simultaneously — and why that might be the sanest thing she does Dan's theory about why nobody in a dictatorship would actually wonder what they did wrong, and Jennifer connecting it to ICE detention centers The Stockdale Paradox — how POWs who survived Vietnam connect directly to what Offred is doing Jennifer's discovery that Atwood thinks God looks like an egg, and Dan's concern about what happens when you get to heaven and find out Cory Booker is running the resistance The wives petting Janine like a golden retriever, feeding her cookies, calling her "practically family" — and what they say the second she leaves the room Dan makes a case that the book was banned because Margaret Atwood compared God to an egg. His old boss Keith also looked like an egg. Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?These chapters feature Offred's reference to masturbation, a graphic imagined description of Luke shot in the head, and Atwood comparing God to an egg — the kind of passage that gets a book pulled from shelves for being "offensive to Christians." The wives calling handmaids "little whores" while treating them like pets doesn't help either. 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 Every week we highlight podcasts worth your time: Good News for Lefties — Banned Camp's own Beowulf Rochlén delivers the week's best news for progressives, including a story about Indiana librarians being trained to help people in mental health crises. Libraries literally saving lives. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 Featured Clips This episode includes short clips from "Hey There Hobo" by The Hackensaw Boys. 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protec
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 16-17: Nobody Wanted to Be in That Room | Banned Books Comedy 21.07.2026 34мин

  Chapter 16 finally takes us inside the Ceremony — the state-sanctioned act that gets this book banned more than anything else. It's not what you'd expect. Then Chapter 17 sends Offred wandering through the dark house with butter on her face and a stolen daffodil, straight into an encounter she didn't plan and isn't sure she can trust. 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 tries to reverse-engineer the physical logistics of the Ceremony using a mechanic scooter and some creative problem-solving Jennifer's observation that nobody in the room wants to be there — and what that says about 2026 The moment Jennifer reads "the Commander fucks" out loud and Banned Camp drops its first unbleeped F-bomb of the season Dan and Jennifer debate whether Elon Musk would be a Commander in Gilead (Jennifer's answer is immediate and confident) Jennifer immediately distrusts Nick after the kiss — Dan thinks it's romantic, Jennifer is not having it Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? Chapter 16 is the scene book banners point to most — explicit sexual positioning, the word "fuck," bodily fluids. But Atwood wrote a scene where three people perform a joyless duty that nobody wants, stripped of every trace of intimacy. The book gets banned for depicting sex. It's actually depicting the absence of it. 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 Every week we shout out podcasts worth your time: Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlén brings you the stories the doom-scrolling algorithm doesn't want you to see. This week: a California library is hosting Mexican wrestlers who body-slam each other between the bookshelves to get kids reading. It's called Lucha Libro and it's exactly as amazing as it sounds. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a lot like Tuesday. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's T
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Ch. 15: Blessed Are the Silent | Banned Books Comedy 16.07.2026 35мин

  The commander unlocks the only Bible in the house, reads the parts that serve him, and leads a ceremony nobody in the room wants to be part of. Meanwhile, the handmaid flashes back to her friend Moira's escape attempt from the Red Center, a plan involving faked scurvy, an ambulance ride, and consequences that will stick with you long after the chapter ends. 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 explains the very specific type of guy who looks like a "vodka ad in a glossy magazine" and somehow ends up wanting perimenopause medication Robot reveals that "Blessed are the silent" was never in the Bible and the aunts invented it to replace "Blessed are the meek" Dan connects a pattern across three dystopian books: 1984's telescreens, Brave New World's hypnopedia, and Gilead's locked Bible Moira's scurvy escape plan and Robot's medical breakdown of what actually happens when you stop taking vitamin C Dan's plan to set calendar reminders to stop eating fruit six weeks before any event he doesn't want to attend The sugar packets the women stole for Moira, not because she needed sugar, but because it was the only thing they could find to give Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? This chapter shows a man reading selectively from a locked Bible while the women in the room have no way to verify what he's saying. The aunts altered the Beatitudes to say "Blessed are the silent." That's not anti-Christian. That's showing what happens when people in power get to decide which parts of scripture you're allowed to hear, and that's exactly why this book gets challenged. 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 Every week we share podcasts worth checking out. Here's this week's pick: Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlen brings you the good news the mainstream media isn't covering. This week: libraries in Oregon are lending trail cameras to patrons to help track porcupine populations, turning everyday library visitors into citizen scientists. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. That's the part that actually scares book banners, because it looks a
• 
  The Handmaid’s Tale Chapter 14: Is It Bad Enough Yet? | Banned Books Comedy 14.07.2026 35мин

  The Handmaid kneels in a sitting room full of expensive objects, waiting for the Ceremony to begin. She's surrounded by velvet drapes, a china cupid, and dried flowers, and she realizes she's no different than any of them. Then the chapter takes a hard turn into a flashback nobody saw coming, and suddenly she's in a car with forged passports, hard-boiled eggs, and a drugged child heading for the Canadian border. 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's theory about Serena Joy's "cuck chair" and what the sitting room is actually designed for Jennifer's observation that all the "civilized" objects in the room are set dressing for something beastly The moment Dan asks Jennifer to roleplay as a uterus in a fancy room, and her answer gets unexpectedly real Nick touching Offred's foot with his boot while everyone else is in the room Jennifer comparing the Gilead news broadcast to 1984's permanent war, and whether any of it is real Jennifer revealing she's actually planning escape routes to Canada from Washington state, and the moment Dan tells her to just go now while she still can Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned?This chapter shows a woman kneeling in a room designed for a ritual she has no power to refuse, watching state propaganda she knows is fake but wants to believe anyway. The book has been challenged for showing how religion and tradition can be used to strip women of their autonomy, and Chapter 14 puts the reader inside that experience with unbearable specificity. 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 like Banned Camp, check out these shows we think are worth your time: Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlén delivers daily good news stories for progressives who are tired of doom-scrolling. This week he found a Republican governor who actually vetoed a book ban. Twice. Find him wherever you find podcasts. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/banned-camp-banned-books-comedy-and-free-speech-vs/id1676866857 Featured Clips This episode includes short clips from a 1977 Sucrets TV commercial. 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 Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 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. https://bookshop.org/a/20953/9780385490818 This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged or banned in American schools and libraries every single year since its publication in 1985. It was the most challenged book in the United States in 2023. It has been targeted for profanity, sexually explicit content, and content deemed "offensive to Christians." But the deeper reason is that Margaret Atwood showed what happens when a government uses religion, tradition, and "protecting families" as justification for stripping women of their rights, their names, and their autonomy. T