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." 🪐


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.planetnude.co/subscribe

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." 🪐


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.planetnude.co/subscribe

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." 🪐


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.planetnude.co/subscribe

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



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.planetnude.co/subscribe

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



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.planetnude.co/subscribe