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 tubes to Vonnegut’s awkward moments as a young journalist.

Things To Listen For:

• The origins of the book’s subtitle, “The Children’s Crusade.”
• A strange elevator accident that’s pure nightmare fuel (so it goes).
• What it means when Vonnegut’s only way to capture a massacre is with a bird’s simple “poo-tee-weet.”

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:
If you’re enjoying Banned Camp, don’t forget to rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts.

Disclaimer:
Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books, including Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, for the purposes of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment in accordance with fair use guidelines. The material used from Slaughterhouse-Five is shared to spark thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. We do not claim ownership of the original work; all copyrights remain with the original copyright holder. We encourage listeners to purchase a copy to experience the book fully.

This podcast is not endorsed by Kurt Vonnegut, his estate, or the publishers of Slaughterhouse-Five. Any monetization of this podcast is independent and not derived directly from the copyrighted material. Our intent is to foster educational and critical discourse within the framework of fair use.

Topics Covered:
Vonnegut, anti-war, The Children’s Crusade, Mary O’Hare, satire, journalism ethics, Hollywood heroism, Taco Bell tubes, censorship

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 to make sense of the phrase “duty dance,” and Robot explains why Vonnegut compares Dresden to Dayton. Get ready for an exploration of why this darkly funny, deeply disturbing classic was seen as so dangerous.

Things To Listen For:

• Julia Whitehead explains the reasons Slaughterhouse-Five continues to be banned.
• Jennifer’s theories on “duty dance”—spoiler: Dan has thoughts.
• Robot’s explanation of how Dresden and Dayton are “practically twins.”
• Vonnegut’s use of “So it goes” as a reflection on life, death, and everything in between.

Special Shoutout - Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library!
Want to dive deeper into Vonnegut’s world? Check out the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library in Indianapolis. This unique space celebrates Vonnegut’s life, work, and advocacy for free expression, including their mission to send banned books like Slaughterhouse-Five to students across the country. If you’re ever in Indy, don’t miss this incredible museum!

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:
If you’re enjoying Banned Camp, please consider rating, reviewing, and following us on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more “scary book people” who want to join the fight against censorship.

Disclaimer:
This podcast, Banned Camp, features readings and discussions of banned books for criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment in accordance with fair use guidelines. The material used from the book Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. We do not claim any ownership over the original work, and all copyrights remain with the original copyright holder. We strongly encourage listeners to purchase copies of the discussed works to appreciate them in their original context fully.

This podcast is not endorsed by Kurt Vonnegut, his estate, or the publishers of Slaughterhouse-Five. Any monetization of the podcast is separate and not derived directly from the copyrighted material discussed. Our intent is to engage in, promote, and support critical and educational discourse around these works within the framework of fair use.

Topics Covered:
Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five, censorship, book bans, Tralfamadorians, Dresden bombing, satire, aliens, war literature, Julia Whitehead, Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, Indiana, banned books, peace and war themes, duty dance.

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 these tales were considered too frightening. Robot also joins the party to share why this book was banned. It's a fun, spooky ride full of Halloween vibes, humor, and great commentary on book censorship.

New Season Announcement:

And don’t forget! Season 7 of Banned Camp kicks off on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, as Jennifer and Dan dive into Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. Don’t miss it—it’s going to be out of this world (literally)!

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:

Love spooky banned books and fun commentary? Then be sure to rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts. Every review helps more "scary book people" find us!

Disclaimer:

This podcast, 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 "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" by Alvin Schwartz and illustrated by Stephen Gammell is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. We do not claim any ownership over the original work, and all copyrights remain with the original copyright holder. We strongly encourage listeners to purchase copies of the discussed works to appreciate them in their original context fully.

This podcast is not endorsed by Alvin Schwartz, his estate, or the publishers of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Any monetization of the podcast is separate and not derived directly from the copyrighted material discussed.

Topics Covered:

banned books, scary stories to tell in the dark, talking cats, giant cats, alligator transformations, banned children’s books, spooky stories, book censorship, Halloween special