Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe | Pt 5 Ch 5-7 - The Kiss Experiment: Unspoken Feelings

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe | Pt 5 Ch 5-7 - The Kiss Experiment: Unspoken Feelings

09/10/24 • 24 min

Banned Camp: Banned Books, Comedy, and Free Speech vs. Censorship

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

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.

Topics Covered:
friendship, identity, teenage emotions, LGBTQ themes, kissing experiment, father-son relationship, suppression of feelings, silence, book censorship, book banning

Previous Episode

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe | Pt 5 Ch 2-4 -Dogs, Trump, and Uncomfortable Truths

In this episode of Banned Camp, Jennifer and Dan explore Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, diving into themes of friendship, love, and the innocence of dogs. The hosts contrast the purity of dogs with Trump’s bizarre hatred for them, featuring a hilarious breakdown of Trump’s constant “like a dog” expressions. Dan also shares his theory on Ari’s reluctance to embrace his own heroic identity. Plus, a discussion on Pete Buttigieg’s poignant remarks about progress for the LGBTQ+ community and marriage equality caps off the episode.

Things To Listen For:

The Great Dog Debate: Trump vs. dogs – what's going on there?
Ari's Identity Struggle: Why does Ari feel undeserving of recognition for saving Dante’s life?
Pete Buttigieg Clip: Hear about progress in the LGBTQ+ community, with commentary on Buttigieg’s view of politics as "soul craft."

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts:
If you enjoy Banned Camp, please take a moment to rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help us reach more scary book people and continue the fight against censorship!

Featured Clips:
Featured clips include an instrumental version of "We Don’t Talk About Bruno" from Disney’s Encanto, a segment from Keith Olbermann’s The Resistance titled "WTF! Why is Trump Such a Weirdo About Dogs?" produced by GQ, and a clip from the 2024 DNC featuring Pete Buttigieg discussing LGBTQ+ progress.

Topics Covered:
dogs, Trump’s dog hatred, friendship, Aristotle and Dante, Pete Buttigieg, marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights, identity, banned books

Next Episode

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe | Pt 5 Ch 8-10 -When Worlds Collide

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.