The Controller finally steps into the room, and everything shifts. John speaks his mind, Bernard panics, and Mustafa Mond lays out the tradeoffs that built this so-called perfect world. Shakespeare, happiness, censorship, and the entire machinery of the World State collide.

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:

• Bernard choosing the most uncomfortable chair in the room out of pure fear
• John stumbling onto My Life and Work… basically the Ford Bible
• Jennifer and Dan’s riff comparing Ford worship to Trump’s fake FIFA peace prize clip (yes, the hands dragging the earth to hell one)
• Mustafa Mond admitting he bans Shakespeare because beauty is dangerous
• The reveal that tragedy can’t exist without instability
• Robot explaining why happiness looks “squalid” next to a dumpster fire, and how even a dumpster fire sometimes gets a soccer peace award

Why was Brave New World banned?

Huxley’s novel challenges ideas of state control, conformity, morality, sexuality, and the elimination of family and art. This chapter especially hits the nerve: a government that bans beauty and literature to preserve obedience.

New to Banned Camp? Start anywhere — each episode stands alone while building on the story.

Banworthy to Bingeworthy

If you’re looking for something new once you finish the chapter, here are the shows we spotlighted this episode:

• Rachel Maddow Presents: Burn Order
  A gripping investigation into how state power can target entire communities… and then try to hide the evidence.
• Dead Certain: The Martha Moxley Murder
  A deep re-examination of a notorious case shaped by celebrity, privilege, and decades of questions.
• The Baggage Podcast
  Thoughtful, surprising interviews including a recent conversation with a librarian who outmaneuvered a book-banning group with pure librarian jujitsu.

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Featured Clips

This episode includes a short clip from Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update referencing Trump’s invented “soccer peace prize.” 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 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 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 Aldous Huxley, his estate, or the publishers of Brave New World. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed.

Topics Covered:

Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, Chapter 16.1, John the Savage, Bernard Marx, Helmholtz Watson, Mustafa Mond, Ford, World State, caste system, Shakespeare, censorship, stability, happiness, fear of art, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy