Episodes

Send us a text Jennifer and Dan are back, and this time, they’re wrapping up Chapter 5 of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. Get ready for Howard W. Campbell Jr.’s scorching takedown of America’s wealth obsession, Billy Pilgrim’s cringe-worthy zoo moments, and a whole lot of laughs and insights along the way. They’re not holding back on billionaires, bad propaganda, or Vonnegut’s eccentric word choices. It’s absurd, funny, and oh-so-relevant. Things To Listen For: Campbell’s biting monograph:...

Send us a text In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan continue chapter 5 of Slaughterhouse-Five, where time travel is real, PTSD gets metaphorical, and barbed wire proves surprisingly good at teaching Billy Pilgrim ballet. Between dissecting an awkward honeymoon chat about war (nothing says romance like trauma!) and pondering the existential significance of latrine signage, we shine a light on Vonnegut’s masterful commentary on the absurdity of human existence. Things to Listen For Bi...

Send us a text In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan explore Chapter 5.5 of Slaughterhouse-Five. From alien zoos with woke Tralfamadorians to Billy Pilgrim’s existential tunnel vision and rusty hinge romance, this chapter balances Vonnegut weirdness and harrowing truths about war, identity, and free will. Can humanity learn to focus on the good? Probably not, but we’re along for the ride anyway. Things to Listen For: Billy Pilgrim’s alien zoo workout routine and unexpected body posit...

Send us a text In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan dig into Slaughterhouse-Five’s Chapter 5.4, where Billy Pilgrim’s life reaches peak absurdity. Picture this: he’s naked in an alien zoo, under a dome of cyanide gas, with a cowboy photo taped to his broken TV. Meanwhile, Vonnegut’s satirical rewriting of the Bible suggests Jesus was the OG Nepo Baby, raising the stakes for “ban-worthy” literature. Oh, and Jennifer accidentally promotes “Colonel Moonlight” as the next great sci-fi he...

Send us a text Why listen to this episode? Because where else will you find a discussion that careens from Billy Pilgrim’s mental unraveling to the mystical fourth dimension, with a pit stop to clarify that William Blake did not play Beretta? This chapter of Slaughterhouse-Five is full of existential dread, awkward family dynamics, and war-torn surrealism—all while Dan wrestles with a squeaky chair. Join us for a conversation that’s as chaotic and thought-provoking as Vonnegut’s own prose. Thin...

Send us a text Strap in, scary book people—things get absurd (and flammable) in Chapter 5.2 of Slaughterhouse-Five. Billy Pilgrim stumbles into a series of surreal scenarios, from setting himself on fire (casually, of course) to hallucinating about giraffes, all while wearing a coat that would make any fashion critic weep. Jennifer and Dan break it all down, with Robot stepping in to introduce us to Kilgore Trout. Things To Listen For: The tragic hilarity of Billy catching on fire—and not noti...

Send us a text In this episode, Jennifer and Dan take a wild ride through time and space, exploring the mind-bending philosophy of the Tralfamadorians. And let's not forget Dan's own personal tale of wartime trauma - apparently, he once threw up on a rodent. So it goes. Things to Listen For: The mind-bending concept of Tralfamadorian time perception Billy Pilgrim's surreal experiences as a prisoner of war Dan's gets vertigo and throws up on an animal Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:...

Send us a text In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan dive into Chapter 4.2 of Slaughterhouse-Five, where Billy Pilgrim’s strange and surreal journey continues. From a frozen "coat" that looks more like a three-cornered hat to a delousing station reminiscent of a nightmare, the absurdity of war meets the tragedy of human suffering. Along the way, they tackle tinsel-covered coats, encounter a glowing Russian, and reflect on the peculiar philosophy of free will—or the lack of it. Things...

Send us a text In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan read part 1 of Chapter 4 of Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. Billy Pilgrim’s strange journey takes a cosmic turn as he prepares to be kidnapped by a flying saucer. Billy’s story oscillates between absurd and profound. But wait—there’s more! Jennifer goes on a mini-rant about double beds (spoiler: she’s not a fan), Dan considers a career as a hobo (spoiler: he might thrive). Things to Listen For: The Tralfamadorians’ unique ta...

Send us a text In this episode of Banned Camp, we’re diving into Chapter 3.2 of Slaughterhouse-Five. Picture this: Billy Pilgrim, a time-traveling optometrist, just trying to get through his day, napping on a bed with a vibrating "Magic Fingers" contraption (doctor’s orders, apparently). There’s Wild Bob, a guy you’ll never forget, who dreams big—like "barbecue-an-entire-steer" big. And let’s not forget the surreal glow of St. Elmo’s Fire. You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, and you might even wonder ...

Send us a text Happy Thanksgiving, Scary Book People! 🦃 We hope you enjoy a relaxing Thanksgiving with good food and great company—even if you don’t all agree on politics. Let’s face it, this year feels like it might be extra challenging. So, take a deep breath, pass the mashed potatoes, and remember, pie is always bipartisan. Oh, and exciting news—we’re on Bluesky now! Come join us there! We’ll be back on Tuesday with more banned books fun. See you then!

Send us a text Ever stare into a pair of boots and find yourself thinking about Adam and Eve? No? Well, that’s just another day in the life of Billy Pilgrim. In this episode, we dive into Chapter 3.1 of Slaughterhouse-Five, where Vonnegut takes us on a wild ride through war-torn Germany, surreal time-travel moments, and... a dog named Princess. You’ll meet golden cavalry boots, hear about raspberry sherbet snow (yum?), and get a taste of why Vonnegut’s humor is as sharp as it is bizarre. If yo...

Send us a text Hey, Scary Book People! In this episode, we’re reading Chapter 2.3 of Slaughterhouse-Five. Billy Pilgrim is back with more time-traveling chaos, drifting from near-death moments in the woods to hallucinations of ice skating in sweat socks. Meanwhile, Roland Weary continues to cling to his Three Musketeers fantasy—scarves and all. Along the way, Jennifer and Dan tackle life’s big questions: Why would anyone invent floating toilets? What happened to girdles? And how do you even sur...

Send us a text This one’s got it all—awkward trench buddies, a filthy flamingo, and a history lesson on torture devices you didn’t ask for (but can’t look away from). Billy Pilgrim is still stuck in the chaos of war, dodging bullets while Roland Weary lectures anyone who’ll listen about triangular knife wounds and Iron Maidens. Oh, and the history of the world’s first dirty photograph makes an unexpected cameo. Yeah, things get weird. Things to Listen For: Who—or what—is the filthy flamingo, a...

Send us a text In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan delve into the mind-bending world of Chapter 2.1 of Slaughterhouse-Five, where Billy Pilgrim finds himself “unstuck in time.” From abrupt visits to moments spanning his life to peculiar intergalactic encounters, listeners are pulled through Billy's unique perception of time and space. Jennifer and Dan ponder the surreal concept of life on Tralfamadore, where aliens see time as one continuous moment, and wonder how Billy’s newfound u...

Send us a text This unique episode of Banned Camp takes a break from the usual book commentary to reflect on the recent election and its emotional aftermath. Dan and Jennifer share their thoughts on the results, the direction of the country, and how censorship and suppression impact communities. We get candid about our worries for the future, recounting personal stories that underline the importance of staying connected, hopeful, and ready to push back against forces that threaten inclusivity an...

Send us a text In this episode, Jennifer and Dan take us through the rest of Chapter 1 of Slaughterhouse-Five, where Kurt Vonnegut introduces his own war reflections, setting the stage for Billy Pilgrim's story. This section offers everything from absurdity to dark revelations—like Vonnegut’s promise to his friend’s wife, Mary O’Hare, to portray war as it truly is, free from Hollywood heroics. Along the way, Jennifer and Dan dive into a few memorable tangents, from Taco Bell’s pneumatic food tub...

Send us a text Welcome to Season 7 of Banned Camp! Jennifer and Dan are back, diving into Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut—a novel that’s been banned, burned, and beloved since it first hit shelves. In Part 1 of Chapter 1, Julia Whitehead from the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library stops by with insights into the book’s turbulent history with censorship. From fires in North Dakota to free copies in Florida, Vonnegut’s story has faced it all. As Jennifer and Dan unpack the first pages, they try...

Send us a text In this special Halloween edition of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan, joined by Butch the dog along with his dog wife, Baby, (or Eddie Munster lookalike), bring you some creepy tales from "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark." Dan takes over the reading duties this time, bringing to life short, spine-tingling stories that were once banned for being too scary for children. Listen as they discuss talking cats, giant felines, and mysterious transformations, all while diving into why thes...

Send us a text In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan are joined by Allison and Joe from Queer Cinema Catchup for a lively discussion comparing the Aristotle and Dante book to its movie adaptation. The group dives into whether Hollywood captured the heart of this coming-of-age story, examining the portrayal of the characters, themes, and the changes made from page to screen. Did the movie stay true to the book's essence, or did it miss the mark? Tune in for a deep dive into how well th...

Send us a text Dan shares a quick update on what's coming next for Banned Camp. Next week kicks off with a crossover episode featuring Allison and Joe from Queer Cinema Catch Up, where they’ll compare the book and movie versions of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. And don’t miss out on the Halloween Spooktacular on Thursday, where Dan will (attempt to) read from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Plus, get ready for the premiere of Season 7 on election day, featuring S...

Send us a text This week, Jen and Dan dive headfirst into their inbox and take on the best of the worst: negative emails and reviews. Oh, and of course, Robot gets involved, lending his voice to one of the angrier emails. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts: Love the show? Hate it? Either way, let us know! Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, and don't forget to follow so you never miss an episode. Featured Clips: This episode includes a brief clip from Classic Dairy Queen Commercial Mou...

Send us a text In this special episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan reveal the fan vote winner for the next banned book to be featured on the podcast: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut! After a heated competition, this classic anti-war novel emerged victorious, beating out The Handmaid’s Tale, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Lord of the Flies, and Catcher in the Rye. The new season will officially debut on Election Day, November 5th—perfect for listening while you wait in line to vote. Tune...

Send us a text In this special episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan get political (sort of) as they prepare for Season 7. The Scary Book People have the power to decide which banned book they will cover next, with five exciting (and controversial) options to choose from. The five contenders include: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Lord of the Flies by Wil...