Planet Nude

As summer approaches, preparations for Wisconsin’s World Naked Bike Rides (WNBR) are in full swing, with both Milwaukee and Madison gearing up for their annual events. These rides, celebrated for promoting body positivity, cyclist awareness, and energy independence, are set to take place in the coming weeks, reflecting a robust return after a scary close call with the state legislature last year. Despite the challenges that threatened the future of the events in the state, the WNBRs have persevered, ready to roll out with renewed enthusiasm and increased community involvement. 🪐 Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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

Seattle Parks and Recreation is set to formalize a policy for Denny Blaine Park that preserves its status as a clothing-optional space while addressing concerns from local residents. This move follows last year’s controversy over a proposed children’s play area, funded by an anonymous donor now revealed to be Stuart Sloan, a prominent Seattle philanthropist. The proposal, which will be discussed in a public meeting on May 16th (today), seeks to balance the interests of the park’s naturist and LGBTQ+ communities with those of the affluent neighborhood residents who have voiced complaints about the park’s current use. Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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

The winding road is littered with old motels with peeling paint, empty swimming pools, and rusty neon signs that burned out long ago. Some rent rooms by the month, some by the hour. Between long stretches of farmland and woodlands, there is a meat-and-three, a gas station, a liquor store, and a mobile home or two. Faded billboards warn of damnation and advertise salvation, as there is not much else to sell in these parts. It is the kind of community decimated by the construction of the interstate highway system in the 1960s, which circumvented many of the two-lane roads and took out-of-state travelers (and their dollars) with them. A sleepy town like this is not where you would expect to find a clothing-optional gathering of an international movement called the Radical Faeries. However, as I learned long ago, you never know what you might find when exploring the backroads of the rural south. Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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 April, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB197, a law that tightens regulation of massage therapy establishments, aiming to combat human trafficking and ensure professional standards. The legislation mandates increased operational transparency and precise documentation of services and personnel. Notably, it requires that all individuals on the premises must be clothed except for consenting massage recipients. Crucially for the nudist and naturist community, it includes an exemption for clubs chartered with the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) where massage may be offered as a service, legally recognizing the legitimacy of naturist activities and distinguishing them from exploitative commercial nudity. Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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

As any seasoned horticulturist can attest, gardening involves much more than putting a seed into the dirt, keeping it watered, and watching it grow. Serious agrarians insist on the importance of lore and ritual in gardening. The Old Farmer’s Almanac stresses the importance of planting according to the moon phases. Rural grandmothers will swear that parsley must be planted in three sowings (“two for the devil and one for the gardener”) or that spicier peppers can be achieved if the gardener sows the seeds while angry. Some even claim that nudity has a role in gardening and horticulture. Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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

North American attitudes toward many social issues have progressed over the past 100 years. However, the way we approach nudity has seemingly regressed. Consider the practice of nude swimming, especially among males. From the early part of the 20th century until well into the 1970s, many high schools, boy’s clubs, and YMCAs required males to swim nude. While not widespread, it was the accepted practice at many such facilities across the U.S. I discovered this while interviewing stand-up comedian and writer Paul Mecurio, who works on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. 🪐 Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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

A newly proposed initiative by Brevard County, Florida, led by County Commission Chair Jason Steele during a Brevard County Tourist Development Council meeting, aims to restrict nudity at public events that receive tourism grants. This initiative specifically targets LGBTQ+ cultural events under the premise of protecting children and families from potential harm. Notably, Steele has not cited any past incidents justifying the need for such a measure. 🪐 Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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 2024, “The Streak,” a novelty song by veteran singer/songwriter and occasional humorist Ray Stevens, turned 50. The song was released in February 1974, and by late spring, it was inescapable, receiving airplay on both the country and pop charts. It came out just a week before the famous streaking incident at that year’s Oscar ceremony, further fueling interest in the track. I was eight years old when the song hit #1 on the Hot 100 (#3 on the Country Chart) in May of that year. It stayed on top for three weeks and remains one of Stevens’ biggest hits. The song intrigued me immediately. The idea of being naked just sounded appealing for some reason. I didn’t know why. Also, a few other things happened that spring and summer that cemented my early interest in nudism. Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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

The disappointingly crude, post-pulp cover of Orrie Hitt’s novel The Naked Flesh reflects the book’s publication date of 1962. The cover promises “ADULT READING” and portrays two women, one distantly nude, the other wearing a bikini that is clearly intended to bemuse the garment industry and puzzle innocent, non-adult readers. (Hey, kid! This book is for ADULTS!) 🪐 Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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

As a nudist in Western Australia, I took on the challenge of securing legal recognition for Lights Beach as a clothing-optional area. Despite initial hurdles, including bureaucratic resistance and the need to navigate jurisdictional complexities, my persistence paid off. I advocated for the naturist lifestyle's family-friendly values and cultural significance, ultimately convincing the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions to install signage. This landmark victory not only legitimizes the beach's status but also paves the way for greater acceptance and legal protection for nudists. 🪐 Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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

Freehiking combines the joy of nudity with the benefits of hiking, offering an unparalleled sense of freedom and connection with nature, distinct from the experience of nudist resorts or crowded nude beaches. It not only promotes mindfulness and presence by encouraging a full engagement with the surroundings but also serves as a therapeutic escape from daily stress. Having embarked on numerous freehikes, I share my passion for the activity and offer insights on engaging in it both legally and, if necessary, safely on the fringe of legality. 🪐 Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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

A few weeks ago, Tate Britain hosted a captivating intersection of art, history, and activism. The Neo Naturists, a trailblazing artist trio consisting of Jennifer Binnie, Christine Binnie, and Wilma Johnson, captivated visitors as they transformed their nude bodies into living representations of iconic nude artworks from the gallery’s collection, challenging the audience with a provocative question: “Do women have to be naked to gain entry into the Tate Gallery?” The lecture was part performance art, part art history, and part legitimate rebellion, cleverly criticizing the very establishment where they’d worked for over forty years to have the opportunity to exhibit. 🪐 Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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 an era when Comstock Laws still clamped down on the dissemination of sexual information and LGBTQ+ identities were forced into the shadows, an out-and-open lesbian named Jan Gay challenged these constraints with her words, actions, and art. 🪐 Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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

Inspired by a science book by Anthony Smith, producer and director Roy Battersby’s 1970 documentary The Body (not to be confused with the 2001 Antonio Banderas film of the same title), narrated by Vanessa Redgrave & Frank Finlay and scored by Ron Geesin & Pink Floyd's Roger Waters, seeks to better our understanding of the human form and deepen our connection with it in an unflinching and somewhat psychedelic manner. 🪐 Read the original article at www(dot)planetnude(dot)co 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

I pause in my packing, taking in the fancy floral cocktail dress, my husband’s buttoned down shirts and slacks, when I am struck by absurdity. What am I thinking? We’re going to a nudist resort. Read the full story on Planet Nude. Search for Planet Nude on Substack. 🪐 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

Naturist activist Lee Baxandall, who founded the Naturist Society and whose work led to the formation of the Naturist Action Committee and the Naturist Education Foundation, was an early advocate for a diverse and inclusive naturism. As author Brian Hoffman notes in his book Naked: A Cultural History of American Nudism, “Baxandall welcomed a growing interest in TNS (the Naturist Society) among gay men and lesbians who saw naturism as an alternative to an urban gay identity defined by privilege, whiteness, and a depoliticized commercial culture.” Baxandall began his work as a free beach activist in 1975. During that period, he observed the critical role lesbians and gays played in securing clothing-optional spaces on the nation's beaches. In an editorial published in the November 1981 issue of Clothed With The Sun, Baxandall writes: “Gays on the nude beach have often led because of more experience at defying intimidation on behalf of values too central to abandon.” 🪐 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

Andee Rodgers is at the forefront of a movement that champions the role of women in the world of naturism. As the current president of Serenity Mountain Retreat, Rodgers has taken on a significant role within the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR), focusing on advocating for Women in Nude Recreation (WINR). Her entry into the nudist lifestyle was unplanned, beginning with a vacation with her husband Tom that turned into a transformative journey towards self-acceptance and empowerment. 🪐 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

Loxie & Zoot is a webcomic created by Grace Crowley which ran from 2003 to 2006, during the big webcomic boom when titles like Penny Arcade, Ctrl+Alt+Del, and 8-Bit Theater rose to prominence. Its titular characters run an Australian nudist camp together called Koala Bares, populated by a diverse cast of characters including multiple men named Herb and an eccentric old man named Mungo who seems to be able to see into the future. Over the comic’s run, they deal with the anti-nude politician Tex Tyler’s weird schemes, college porn scams, a traveler from another dimension, and jewel thieves who aren’t what you expect. These storylines are all quite elaborate, with Crowley weaving multiple plot threads together involving several cast members, plus plenty of zany, good natured gags and frank discussions of body image and other familiar nudist issues without ever sounding preachy. 🪐 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 a surprising turn of events, the Wisconsin State Legislature has apparently opted not to advance the controversial anti-nudity bills SB 477 and SB 478 to the assembly agenda before the closure of their legislative session this week, leaving naturism advocates cautiously optimistic. Despite a scheduled session focused on budgetary items in March, the likelihood of these bills being revisited remains low, marking a critical moment for proponents of body freedom in the state, though it is tempered by a lack of definitive closure and continued anxiety over what has amounted to a dangerously close call. 🪐 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

Dolls and Dues, Suburban Wife, The Torrid Teens, Call Me Bad, Dial ‘M’ for Man—all characteristic titles for pulp fiction short stories and novels of the 40s and 50s. But Orrie Hitt (1916-1975) was not your typical writer of pulp fiction, and some of his 150-plus novels also have more unexpected and intriguing titles—take Panda Bear Passion, Love in the Arctic, Ex-Virgin, Diploma Dolls, and Abnormal Norma for example. The writer Brian Greene dubs Hitt “the Shakespeare of Shabby Street,” and a “visionary artist” who explored characters within “moving human dramas.” (Shabby Street is both a metaphor here and the title of an early Hitt novel.) At first glance, Nudist Camp, published in 1957, appears to be just another exploitative example of the genre, but there is a little more going on between its covers than meets the eye. 🪐 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