Show notes
Japanese tourists walk through Gilead with cameras and smiles, and our protagonist can't stop staring at a woman's painted toenails. She used to dress like that. She used to be that. And somewhere between then and now, her mind changed... and she doesn't even know it 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:
Dan discovers that "All Flesh" is a meat market, not a grocery store like Sprouts, and is briefly devastated
Jennifer announces she's done dressing for men and has fully committed to flat Skechers and elastic waists
The phrase "dark moist holes" gets said on a comedy podcast about banned books, and Dan immediately tries to make it the episode title before thinking better of it
Dan and Jennifer connect Aunt Lydia's bumper sticker slogans to 1984, Brave New World, Trump, and the entire machinery of disinformation — and get there completely on their own
The interpreter asks "are you happy?" and the only safe answer is...
Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? This chapter shows exactly why. A woman stares at painted toenails and feels hungry for a life that was taken from her — and the book banners need you to believe that kind of hunger doesn't exist, that women adapt, that the system works. This chapter says otherwise.
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
Two shows worth adding to your feed this week:
Good News for Lefties — Beowulf Rochlen brings actual good news from the fight against book banning, including a Massachusetts bill that just passed 153-3 to protect librarians from retaliation. Find it wherever you get your podcasts.
Here's The Scoop from NBC News — daily news with NBC's journalists, hosted by Yasmeen Sassaman. Sharp, thoughtful, and actually informative. Listen daily wherever you get your podcasts.
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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.
Topics Covered:
The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood, Chapter Five, Ofglen, Aunt Lydia, Janine, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, disinformation, women's rights, literary analysis, comedy podcast