Naked Age

In this episode of Naked Age, we meet composer, conductor and pianist Leonard Lehrman and soprano Helene Williams, whose lives together have unfolded at the unlikely intersection of opera, political activism and naturism.

Leonard’s musical life connects him to some of the defining artists and political movements of the twentieth century, from studying with Nadia Boulanger and Elie Siegmeister to working in the orbit of Leonard Bernstein, championing the music of Marc Blitzstein, attending the March on Washington and drawing inspiration from historian Howard Zinn. In 1987, Helene auditioned for the title role in Leonard’s E.G.: A Musical Portrait of Emma Goldman. The collaboration that followed became both an artistic partnership and, eventually, a marriage.

Together, Leonard and Helene brought opera, cabaret and musical theater into naturist spaces around the world. Their performances could move from Bernstein and Rossini to political songs, mermaid operas, naked cabaret and Leonard’s own Naturist Anthem, sometimes with considerably less costuming than an opera audience might expect. Their story asks what happens when a lifetime devoted to serious music, radical politics and individual freedom refuses to keep those things in separate boxes.

Listen to all episodes of Naked Age at www.nakedage.co, or find them wherever you get your podcasts. 🪐

Find the full show notes and credits at https://www.planetnude.co/p/opera-without-costume

What is Naked Age? Naked Age is a history podcast series profiling remarkable people who have gone to extraordinary lengths to live a nude life. Listen to all episodes of Naked Age at www.nakedage.co, or find them wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to all episodes of Naked Age on your favorite podcatcher, or at nakedage.co. Watch the full video uncensored episode at https://www.planetnude.co/p/opera-without-costume or "censored" on YouTube by searching for "Naked Age." 🪐

In this episode of Naked Age, we meet Dan Speers, a writer, organizer, and longtime advocate whose work spans the free-beach movement, family naturism, and the evolving digital landscape of body freedom.

Dan grew up in a naturist family in Florida, then found his footing as an adult with the Tri-State Metro Naturists, the volunteer group that helped defend and legitimize Gunnison Beach during a formative moment in East Coast naturist history. Today, he continues that legacy through his leadership at Sky Farm, the country’s oldest nudist club, and through new initiatives that aim to support ethical, sustainable naturist culture.

Our conversation traces the spaces Dan inherited, the ones he helped build, and the ones he’s still working to keep open for whoever comes next.

Listen to all episodes of Naked Age at nakedage.co, or find them wherever you get your podcasts. 🪐

Find the full show notes and credits at https://www.planetnude.co/p/making-space

What is Naked Age? Naked Age is a history podcast series profiling remarkable people who have gone to extraordinary lengths to live a nude life. Listen to all episodes of Naked Age at www.nakedage.co, or find them wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to all episodes of Naked Age on your favorite podcatcher, or at nakedage.co. Watch the full video uncensored episode at https://www.planetnude.co/p/making-space or "censored" on YouTube by searching for "Naked Age." 🪐

In this episode of Naked Age, we follow the extraordinary personal revolution of Dr. Vian Aziz. Raised in Iraq, where tradition and societal expectations dictated much of daily life—especially for women—Vian spent years navigating a culture that placed strict limits on personal freedom. But in just the past two years, she has undergone a profound transformation—breaking away from long-held norms, embracing naturism, and using her voice to advocate for body freedom and self-liberation.

Find the full show notes and credits at https://www.planetnude.co/p/vians-revolution

What is Naked Age? Naked Age is a history podcast series profiling remarkable people who have gone to extraordinary lengths to live a nude life. Listen to all episodes of Naked Age at www(dot)nakedage(dot)co, or find them wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to all episodes of Naked Age on your favorite podcatcher, or at nakedage.co. Watch the full video episode at https://www.planetnude.co/p/vians-revolution or on YouTube by searching for "Naked Age." 🪐

In this episode of Naked Age, we journey to Sky Farm, the oldest continuously operating nudist club in America, and uncover its remarkable history. Founded in 1932 by a group of German immigrants led by Kurt Barthel and Bill Meyer, Sky Farm became a sanctuary for freedom and community. Through a rare archival interview and vivid storytelling, we trace its roots, the challenges it overcame, and the legacy it continues to uphold as a living testament to the naturist movement.

Listen to all episodes of Naked Age at nakedage.co. Watch the video episode at https://www.planetnude.co/p/sky-farm-rising or on YouTube by searching for "Naked Age." 🪐

Links from this episode

Sky Farm Official Website: www.skyfarm.com

Related Episode: Generations of Rock Lodge

What is Naked Age?

Naked Age is a history podcast series profiling remarkable people who have gone to extraordinary lengths to live a nude life.

Naked Age is an interview series profiling activists, artists, individualists and misfits who have a singular point of view on the world.

Listen to past episodes at www.nakedage.co.

Find the full show notes and credits at https://www.planetnude.co/p/sky-farm-rising

In this episode of Naked Age, we explore the history of The Neo Naturists, a trio of British artists who used their bodies as living canvases to challenge societal norms around nudity, art, and identity. At the heart of this story is Wilma Johnson, who, alongside Jennifer and Christine Binnie, helped pioneer this bold form of performance art in the 1980s. We take a deep dive into their cultural influence, examining how their work intersected with feminist and art movements of the time and how, after four decades, they are finally receiving the recognition they deserve. Wilma reflects on her journey as an artist, her personal take on naturism, and her contributions to this groundbreaking collective.

Listen to all episodes of Naked Age at nakedage.co. Watch the video episode at https://www.planetnude.co/p/wilma-and-the-neo-naturists or on YouTube by searching for "Naked Age." 🪐

Links from this episode

The Neo Naturists - wilmajohnson.net/aboutneonaturists

Wilma Johnson - wilmajohnson.net

What is Naked Age?

Naked Age is a history podcast series profiling remarkable people who have gone to extraordinary lengths to live a nude life.

Naked Age is an interview series profiling activists, artists, individualists and misfits who have a singular point of view on the world.

Listen to past episodes at www.nakedage.co.

Find the full show notes and credits at https://www.planetnude.co/p/wilma-and-the-neo-naturists

In this episode, we'll follow the extraordinary journey of Morley Schloss, a key figure in American naturism and the owner of Sunsport Gardens in South Florida. This episode delves into Morley's early discovery of naturism at Woodstock, his founding of Naturist Rochester, and his influential role in the landmark Rochester topfree victory. Explore his various efforts, from beach activism to anti-war demonstrations, topfreedom advocacy, and public advocacy. Learn about his endeavors to challenge and reshape the status quo, earning him recognition in both nudist and mainstream press.

Listen to it right here, or find it on your preferred podcast platform by searching for Naked Age. 🪐

What is Naked Age?

Naked Age is a history podcast series profiling remarkable people who have gone to extraordinary lengths to live a nude life.

Naked Age is an interview series profiling activists, artists, individualists and misfits who have a singular point of view on the world.

Listen to past episodes at www.nakedage.co.

In this episode, we look at the history of empirical studies into the effects of growing up in naturist environments with Mark Storey, a nudist historian and philosophy professor. Then we meet Dennis Craig Smith, the writer of Growing Up Without Shame, the 1986 book that was the result of a survey of adults who had grown up in nudist-friendly households. Join us as Smith shares his personal experiences and viewpoint from writing the book, and as we explore the underwritten history of naturism’s impact on childhood development.

Original show notes and credits for this episode can be found at www.planetnude.co/p/the-science-of-growing-up-naked

In this episode, we’ll discover the remarkable stories of Jeanette and Zelda Suplee, two pioneering women in American nudism. This episode explores Jeanette's foundational role in establishing Sunny Rest Lodge and Zelda's influential journey as a nudist advocate and gender studies pioneer. Delve into their unique contributions to the nudist movement, their impact on nudism's public perception, and the legacy they left behind.

Music in this episode was sourced and licensed from Envato Elements or the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC).

Please consider supporting Naked Age by becoming a paid member of our substack newsletter Planet Nude. Your membership supports this podcast. www.planetnude.co.

What is Naked Age?

Naked Age is a history podcast series profiling remarkable people who have gone to extraordinary lengths to live a nude life.

Naked Age is an interview series profiling activists, artists, individualists and misfits who have a singular point of view on the world.

Listen to past episodes at www.nakedage.co.

In this episode of Naked Age, Andy Tabbat memorializes his late friend Woody Miller, a stalwart in San Francisco's Castro district and a lifelong advocate for nudism and body freedom. Then, he shares an intimate conversation between the longtime friends, recorded four years prior to Woody's passing in May of 2023. In it, Woody candidly shares his passion for the arts, civil liberties, and nudism, all in the cozy setting of Woody's eclectic Victorian parlor. A heartfelt tribute to a genuine individual who defied conventions.

Listen to Naked Age episode 2: “San Francisco Naked Guy”: https://www.planetnude.co/p/san-francisco-naked-guy-f29

More about Woody Miller: https://www.planetnude.co/p/activist-woody-miller-has-died-age

More by Andy Tabbat: https://www.planetnude.co/p/going-public

Music in this episode was sourced and licensed from Envato Elements or the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC).

Please consider supporting Naked Age by becoming a paid member of our substack newsletter Planet Nude. Your membership supports this podcast. www.planetnude.co.

What is Naked Age?

Naked Age is a history podcast series profiling remarkable people who have gone to extraordinary lengths to live a nude life.

Naked Age is an interview series profiling activists, artists, individualists and misfits who have a singular point of view on the world.

Listen to past episodes at www.nakedage.co.

In this episode, we'll delve into the history of Canada’s nudism movements. We’ll hear the stories of various Canadian nudist leaders, and learn how two distinct regions found common ground and forged a cooperative partnership, their shared aim to represent Canadian naturists across Canada and internationally. And then we’ll meet Petra Scheller, a woman whose relentless advocacy and effort in service of that union made her a face of Canadian naturism.

Listen to all episodes of Naked Age at www.nakedage.co

Links

* Federation of Canadian Naturists* Fédération Québécoise de Naturisme* International Naturist Federation* Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park* Nu, simplement: nudité, nudisme, et naturisme, by Michel Vaïs

This episode of Naked Age was supported in part by an AANR Education Foundation Sponsorship Grant. Learn more about AANR-EF’s mission and make a donation at aanr-ef.com

Credits

Clips

* Naked Age - “North American Nudist Pioneers”* https://sites.libsyn.com/448191/north-american-nudist-pioneers*  Naturist Living Show, Episode 16 -  “Lessons from Naturist History”* https://www.naturistlivingshow.com/2010/02/lessons-from-naturist-history.html* "Chronical Interview July 6, 1998" - Uploaded by Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park* Watch on YouTube

Music* “Why Wait” by Ketsa, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/ketsa-library-why-wait/ 

* “Self Indulgent is not an Insult” by One Man Book, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/self-indulgent-is-not-an-insult-one-man-book/

* “Comming Back” by Lobo Loco, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/comming-back/

* “Midnight Superfunk” by Frank Freeman, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/midnight-superfunk/

* “Les Portes Du Futur” by Bill Vortex, licensed with a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License Source: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Bill_Vortex/Vortex_Des_Reformes/14_-_Les_Portes_Du_Futur/

* “Hot Box” by Ketsa, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/hot-box-ketsa/

* “Little Ducklin” by Maarten Schellekens, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/little-ducklin/

* “Some Bass Drums” by Maarten Schellekens, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/some-bass-drums/

* “Late Night Sangria” by Maarten Schellekens, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/late-night-sangria/

* “Peaceful” by Crowander, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/peaceful/

* “Back” by Crowander, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/crowander-library-back/

* “Escape Backdoor” by Lobo Loco, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/escape-backdoor/

* “Nasty” by Crowander, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/crowander-library-nasty/

* “Once Upon a Time” by Maarten Schellekens, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/maarten-schellekens-library-once-upon-a-time/

* “New Launch” by Ketsa, licensed with permission from the Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) Source: https://imlcollective.uk/product/new-launch/