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In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan continue reading Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe with Chapter 11. Ari and his dad head out on a road trip to Tucson, sparking some quiet but meaningful conversations about family, loss, and old memories. Along the way, there’s coffee, reflections on Ari’s aunt, and a little help from Dante’s family as they look after Ari’s dog, Legs. Join us as Ari grapples with his complicated family history, all while Dan and Jennifer share their thoughts on road trips, family dynamics, and some unexpected moments of humor.

Things To Listen For:

• Ari and his dad’s strained yet revealing conversation during their drive to Tucson.
• Dante’s reaction to waking up early to dog-sit Legs and how dogs always seem to win people over.
• The mystery surrounding Ari’s Aunt Ophelia and why she distanced herself from the family.
• Musings on menudo, truck-stealing jokes, and memories of long summer stays with distant relatives.

Banworthy to Bingeworthy:

• Velshi Banned Book Club: Join Ali Velshi as he interviews authors of banned books, exploring why these powerful stories face censorship. Listen on Apple Podcasts.
• Nevermorphed: A millennial’s humorous journey to read the entire Animorphs series as an adult. Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to rate, review, and follow Banned Camp on Apple Podcasts. It helps fellow listeners discover the show! Click here to leave a review.

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 Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz is shared under these principles, to provoke 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 fully appreciate them in their original context.

This podcast is not endorsed by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, his estate, or the publishers of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. 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:
Tucson, family relationships, road trips, Aristotle and Dante, Legs the dog, family dynamics, Aunt Ophelia, secrets, book banning, censorship.

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In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan read chapters 8 and 9 of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. The awkward blending of Ari and Dante’s social circles leaves Ari deeply uncomfortable as Dante’s friends start asking too many personal questions. Meanwhile, the duo dives into existential humor, as Jennifer and Dan muse over the peculiar quirks of Ari’s relationships and how his secrets are coming undone. Dan also reveals his fear of worlds colliding, especially when it comes to awkward social encounters. Oh, and there’s talk about running around naked in the rain, which feels pretty on brand for this book.

Things To Listen For:

• Ari's discomfort with his worlds colliding (and Dan's personal connection to that fear).
• Jennifer's bad memory resurfacing with a hilarious mix-up involving an abduction by a gang.
• Ari and Dante’s emotionally charged argument about revealing secrets to friends.
• The wild concept of Mexican edibles and Dan’s idea of chicken enchiladas infused with pot.
• Ari and Dante getting high and running naked in the rain (and what Dan and Jennifer think might happen next!).

Banworthy to Bingeworthy:
Check out Velshi Banned Book Club hosted by MSNBC’s Ali Velshi. In season two, Velshi talks to authors of banned books, uncovering the rising tide of censorship and how it impacts storytelling. This is the perfect companion for fans of Banned Camp who are passionate about fighting book bans. Listen now on your favorite podcast app. Velshi Banned Book Club.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please consider rating, reviewing, and following us on Apple Podcasts. Every review helps other scary book people find our show and join in on the fun!

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 Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz 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 Benjamin Alire Sáenz, his estate, or the publishers of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. 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:
Ari and Dante’s friendship, secrets and vulnerability, awkward social interactions, running naked in the rain, Mexican edibles, existential teenage crises, Jennifer’s memory lapses, book banning.

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In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan delve into Chapters 5-7 of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Ari and Dante’s friendship takes an intense turn as Dante suggests an experiment—kissing. Tensions build as Ari struggles to reconcile his feelings about the kiss, and Dante wrestles with his own emotions. Jennifer and Dan unpack the complex dynamics of friendship, identity, and the fear of unspoken truths. And, of course, there’s a side conversation where Jennifer and Dan reminisce about their ill-fated plan to start a food truck—something about frozen bananas and how things just don’t always go as planned.

Expect an emotional rollercoaster of reluctant acceptance, suppressed feelings, and awkward yet revealing conversations.

Things To Listen For:

• The “kiss experiment” and its aftermath.
• Ari’s struggle with expressing his emotions.
• Dante’s persistence and vulnerability in his friendship with Ari.
• Jennifer and Dan’s humorous take on the complexities of teenage identity.
• Insight into Ari’s relationship with his father and the deep silence between them.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:
If you’re enjoying Banned Camp, don’t forget to rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps keep the fight against censorship alive!

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 Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz 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 Benjamin Alire Sáenz, his estate, or the publishers of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. 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:
friendship, identity, teenage emotions, LGBTQ themes, kissing experiment, father-son relationship, suppression of feelings, silence, book censorship, book banning