Naturism, Nudism and Gymnosophy for the BARE-ly Curious

About Naturism, Nudism and Gymnosophy for the BARE-ly Curious

A podcast for anyone who's ever been curious about naturism, but never quite saw themselves in the nudist clubs. This is naturism in the modern world, talked about honestly. Each episode sits with what being naked actually feels like: in the body, the freedom and expansion of it, the awkward, and the surprising ordinariness once you begin. Why is getting naked still more taboo than yoga? Where does body shame come from, and what loosens it? How could spaces be made "safer'? Are the questions being asked. And we discuss gymnosophy, the "wisdom of the naked". It's an ancient idea that early naturists revived a century ago, and most people have never heard of it. We explore shame, confidence, curiosity, and the long, quietly radical history of people, especially women, who have chosen to bare all, some or nothing. You don't need to be a naturist to listen. You just need to be BARE-ly curious. Hosted by Naomi Gale: holistic pelvic care practitioner, educator, alternative living enthusiast, photographer and author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Naomi Gale

Category

society & culture · society & culture · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

17 Sept 2026

Latest episode

6 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

8 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Nov 2026

   Naturism for Women: Helen Berriman on Cheerleading Women to Get Naked

   Helen Berriman used to think naturism was weird. She and her husband Simon (a devout naturist) fought about it. Then, between lockdowns, she went to a reverse life-drawing session at a naturist resort on the firm understanding she'd keep her clothing firmly on. An hour in, it was hot, and she took off her clothes. Nothing happened. Nobody cared. That was the moment everything changed. And there was no going back for Helen. Today we are blessed to have Helen is the Women's Officer for British Naturism, host of the Women in Focus podcast and a monthly columnist for H&E naturist magazine share some initmate details on what it means to be a naturist in this modern world as a woman. In the first ever guest episode of BARE-ly Curious, Naomi and Helen talk about: - How Women in Focus grew from a written Q&A series into a library of 35 women's stories - Going public almost by accident, and the naturist Christmas story that went viral - What happens when a gentle magazine piece gets sold on, and how it reached Helen's family - Naturism and children's body image: why it isn't a guarantee, and why it's never too late - Unlearning a lifetime of being judged sexually as a woman - Why younger people don't want to join clubs, and how the club model probably needs to change - Consent, children and pool rules at naturist venues - BN's ladies-only holidays and the women who come home changed - Are the British more prudish than everyone else? - Helen's new Women in Naturism ambassadors and her international plans after the INF World Congress - And Naked Retro Gamers, because of course... Links for Helen Berriman: Her personal links: https://helen.berrimansbareall.uk/ BN Women in Focus: https://podfollow.com/womeninfocus Women in Naturism UK: https://womeninnaturism.uk/ Follow BARE: Youtube → youtube/@nomestia (https://www.youtube.com/@nomestia ) Read the essays that go deeper on Substack → https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/ (https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/) Book → GROUND FLOOR (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1066910901 ) Circle → Vagina Circle (https://thisisnaomigale.co.uk/vagina-workshop/ ) The ecosystem: nomestia → nomestia.co (nomestia.co) Naomi Gale's work → thisisnaomigale.co.uk (thisisnaomigale.co.uk) Photography → naomigalephotography.co.uk (naomigalephotography.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   30 Oct 2026

   Naturism & Saunas: Why Germans Get Naked and Brits Reach for the Towel

   Two saunas. Same wooden benches, same hot stones, same bodies. In Germany, everyone is naked and swimwear breaks the rules. In Britain, everyone is in a swimsuit doing the towel dance. So why the opposite? Seems wild, so let's get into it. In this solo episode of Bare-ly Curious, Naomi Gale digs into the history of naturism and nude sauna culture in Germany and the UK. We cover what FKK (Freikörperkultur, "free body culture") actually is, and how the German life reform movement of the 1890s bundled nudism together with vegetarianism, hiking and yoga. We look at the uncomfortable history too, from nationalist nudism, and at how naturism became a quiet form of freedom in communist East Germany. Then we turn to Britain. We used to be a nation of naked swimmers, so how did we lose it? From Victorian Turkish baths to privatisation and the law today, plus YouGov figures comparing British and German attitudes to public nudity. And the twist: young Germans are stepping back from FKK, German women are no more likely to go topless than British women, and Britain's sauna boom keeps running into the same problem. Without a culture of consent, naked spaces don't feel safe for everyone. Plus personal stories: skinny dipping in Margate, a hammam in Morocco with my children, and being told "the British don't come here" in a sauna. Naturism, nudism and gymnosophy, with honesty, curiosity and consent at the centre. Tell me your sauna stories, and if this episode got you thinking, please leave a rating and review. It really helps the show. Vagina Circle: [https://thisisnaomigale.co.uk/vagina-workshop/] Follow BARE: Read the essays that go deeper on Substack → https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/ (https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/) The rest of the ecosystem: nomestia (slow family travel) → nomestia.co (nomestia.co) Naomi Gale's work → thisisnaomigale.co.uk (thisisnaomigale.co.uk) Photography → naomigalephotography.co.uk (naomigalephotography.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   22 Oct 2026

   Who’s Behind Bare-ly Curious? A Naked Walk, a Banned Book and Body Confidence Through Naturism

   Who is Naomi Gale, and why is a holistic pelvic health practitioner talking about naturism? In this solo episode of Bare-ly Curious, Naomi shares the story behind the podcast. She takes us to the morning she walked naked through the Dordogne in France to a rock above the river, wearing only her walking boots, and came back knowing she needed to speak about naturism and nudism from a woman’s point of view. Naomi has spent a decade working in holistic pelvic health as a somatic practitioner, womb massage therapist and doula. She talks about the TikTok video that went viral, the red flags on her account, and how Amazon banned and then hid her book because it had the word “vagina” in the title. The book is now re-released as Ground Floor: On Sensation, Safety and the Parts of Us We Were Taught to Ignore. She also explains why the naturist community has been far more open to this work. In this episode: The naked walk in France that started Bare-ly Curious Discovering the history of women in naturism through Annebella Pollen’s work thanks to Helen via Women In Focus Why naturists are more open to conversations about the body, the pelvis and body confidence Listener comments on safety in nudist spaces and the return of gymnosophy How to get comfortable with your naked body before you ever visit a naturist beach or club Two simple mirror practices from the book: drawing how your body feels, and “I am here” Photographer Francesca Woodman, self-portraits and healing body image (includes a brief mention of suicide) The monthly Ground Floor Circle, Naomi’s vagina circle, as featured in Cosmopolitan Whether you’re a lifelong naturist, nudist-curious, or simply want to feel more at home in your body, this one is for you. Book: Ground Floor by Naomi Gale [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ground-Floor-sensation-safety-taught/dp/106691091X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] Ground Floor Circle: [www.thisisnaomigale.co.uk/vagina-workshop] Support the show: [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/galenaomi] Nomestia podcast (alternative living, van life and home education): [www.nomestia.co] If this episode resonated, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really helps other people find the show. Content note: frank discussion of nudity, vulvas and the pelvis; brief mention of suicide. Follow BARE: Read the essays that go deeper on Substack → https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/ (https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/) The rest of the ecosystem: nomestia (slow family travel) → nomestia.co (nomestia.co) Naomi Gale's work → thisisnaomigale.co.uk (thisisnaomigale.co.uk) Photography → naomigalephotography.co.uk (naomigalephotography.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

4. 

   15 Oct 2026

   Violence Against Women: Can Naturism Be Part Of Consent Culture?

   -Trigger Warning for this episode as this episode discusses violence against women-. No study shows that naturism reduces men's violence against women. I want to say that clearly from the start. What naturism can offer is something quieter: a place where a body is not an invitation, and where we learn what our bodies mean, and what they don't. In this episode I look at what the UK femicide data tells us. Most women killed by men are killed by a partner, an ex or a son, at home. That's about control and entitlement, not clothing. I talk about why any naturist argument that leans on covering or uncovering women risks repeating the "what were you wearing?" myth, and about the case of Lindsay Armstrong. I also look at objectification theory and how girls learn to see their own bodies from the outside. I go back through the history of gymnosophy and naturism, from Germany's life reform movement to its darker chapters, and why naturism has never really had a public language for consent. Then I get honest about naturism's own problems: unwanted photography, ogling, a male-heavy gender balance, and a recent experience at a naturist camp with my children that showed me how far there is to go. I set out what I think naturist spaces need: - image consent as a hard rule - ogling named as a breach, with clear reporting and removal - more women leading the conversation - a child consent framework that says "your body is yours" without shame I close by asking whether gymnosophy could be the fresh start women need. Content note: this episode discusses femicide, rape and suicide. If something here landed for you, please leave a rating, a review or a question. I'd love this to be a conversation, not a monologue. Sources mentioned: Femicide Census / Counting Dead Women – kareningalasmith.com Fredrickson & Roberts (1997), Objectification Theory Keon West, Goldsmiths – research on naturism and body image British Naturism – Women in Naturism campaign and Women in Focus podcast NSPCC – Talk PANTS Follow BARE: Read the essays that go deeper on Substack → https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/ (https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/) The rest of the ecosystem: nomestia (slow family travel) → nomestia.co (nomestia.co) Naomi Gale's work → thisisnaomigale.co.uk (thisisnaomigale.co.uk) Photography → naomigalephotography.co.uk (naomigalephotography.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

5. 

   10 Oct 2026

   Naturism and OnlyFans: Gymnosophy, the Gaze and Being Seen

   What’s the difference between being seen and being consumed? In this episode of Bare-ly Curious, Naomi Gale asks whether more naturist spaces, where bodies are visible, ordinary and not for sale, could change the landscape when it comes to paying to see the body (in formats such as Only Fans). We go back to gymnosophy, the “wisdom of nakedness”, and Maurice Parmelee’s 1927 book The New Gymnosophy, including his claim that nudism lets men and women “see each other as they really are”. We also look at the darker side of his thinking: his body standards and the eugenic roots of early nudism. Then to OnlyFans: who earns what, why creators join, and what need it might be meeting. Keon West’s research at Goldsmiths shows naturism improving body image, self-esteem and life satisfaction. Annebella Pollen’s history shows how naturist magazines blurred into erotica. Finally, ethical porn. Why it’s a neighbour to naturism but not a relative, and three questions for keeping naturism in its own lane. Sources: Annebella Pollen, Nudism in a Cold Climate and “Life in the buff” (Aeon). Keon West, “Naked and Unashamed” (Journal of Happiness Studies). Maurice Parmelee, The New Gymnosophy (1927). Photography: naomigalephotography.co.uk Enjoyed this? Please leave a review and subscribe wherever you listen. Follow BARE: Read the essays that go deeper on Substack → https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/ (https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/) The rest of the ecosystem: nomestia (slow family travel) → nomestia.co (nomestia.co) Naomi Gale's work → thisisnaomigale.co.uk (thisisnaomigale.co.uk) Photography → naomigalephotography.co.uk (naomigalephotography.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

6. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Naturism & Nudism: Why Is Getting Naked More Taboo Than Yoga?

   Naturism and gymnosophy, a movement of healing, nature cure and body freedom, and women were at its heart. So why were they written out? I explore Ida Hofmann and the Monte Verità colony, Blanche DeVries and her New York yoga institute, Helen Sorensen and England's first gymnosophist group in 1922, and how Gerald Gardner became the "father of Wicca" while women healers were called witches. Drawing on Witches, Midwives and Nurses, I ask why healing work has always been risky for women. I also ask why British naturism is shrinking while the wellness industry booms. This is early, open research. Share what you know. Follow BARE: Read the essays that go deeper on Substack → https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/ (https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/) The rest of the ecosystem: nomestia (slow family travel) → nomestia.co (nomestia.co) Naomi Gale's work → thisisnaomigale.co.uk (thisisnaomigale.co.uk) Photography → naomigalephotography.co.uk (naomigalephotography.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

7. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Why Clothes Matter in Naturism: Completists, Moderates and Children's Choice

   If naturism is about being naked, why do clothes matter so much? In this episode of BARE-ly Curious I look at the long-running split between completists, who say total nudity is non-negotiable, and moderates, who make room for clothing when the situation calls for it. Then I bring it back to a question the rules rarely ask: where do children's choices fit? I start with where my own naturism journey stands right now. It's ten degrees and raining on the Isle of Skye, so it's saunas and cold loch dips, with plans for spring nudism across Europe in the van. I also share where my MA in Irish mythology and folklore is taking me, towards the naked body in narrative. We look at the story of Mis, who is won over by a man lying bare rather than one carrying weapons, and at the Sheela-na-gig carvings set into church walls. From there we get into the history, drawing on Annebella Pollen's Nudism in a Cold Climate: Completists vs moderates, and why history sided with the moderates C.E. Norwood's case for clothing within nudism The burlesque link: why partial covering sexualises the body and matter-of-fact nakedness doesn't (with Andrea Friedman on the striptease) Health & Efficiency magazine and the "nudist bible" lineage The 1930s "happy mean" Loincloths as practical everyday dress across cultures The eugenics undercurrent in early nudism, and why we need to be critical rather than nostalgic Vulva sunning: what the evidence says, and a gentler way to do it Finally, I share what happened at a French nudist camp when my children were shamed for wearing bikini bottoms on the water slides. I talk about my conversation with a lifelong completist, and about management who wouldn't commit either way, despite a policy that says no child can be told to remove clothing. I ask what bodily autonomy means for children in naturist spaces today, and why nuance might be what opens naturism and gymnosophy up to a new generation. 00:00 Welcome to Bare-ly Curious 00:57 Naturism plans: Isle of Skye, saunas and van life across Europe 03:20 Myth and the naked body: Mis and the Sheela-na-gig 06:43 Children, choice and the gap in the rules 07:52 The dress debate: completists vs moderates 10:14 The burlesque link: why covering sexualises 12:26 Health & Efficiency and total nudity 13:46 The "happy mean" 16:05 Loincloth culture 18:18 The eugenics undercurrent 20:42 Vulva sunning 22:45 When two camps collide 24:08 The pool slide: my children, a completist and camp management 32:36 Closing thoughts Enjoyed this episode? Leave a five-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. A comment earns extra points. You can also find me on Beehiiv. Follow BARE: Read the essays that go deeper on Substack → https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/ (https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/) The rest of the ecosystem: nomestia (slow family travel) → nomestia.co (nomestia.co) Naomi Gale's work → thisisnaomigale.co.uk (thisisnaomigale.co.uk) Photography → naomigalephotography.co.uk (naomigalephotography.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

8. 

   17 Sept 2026

   Naturism, Nudism & Gymnosophy: Why I Started Barely Curious

   In this first episode of Barely Curious, Naomi Gale explains why she's launching a new podcast about naturism, nudism and gymnosophy, and what a life-changing ten days at a nudist camp had to do with it. She breaks down the real difference between nudism and naturism, traces naturism's roots back to the 1920s wellness movement, and introduces gymnosophy: a little-known term she believes deserves a comeback. Drawing on Annebella Pollen's "Nudism in a Cold Climate" and her own decade of work in pelvic and somatic health, Naomi looks at why society still treats nudity as either a joke or a taboo, and why she thinks that needs to change. She also shares personal experiences of being shamed for going topless on UK beaches, and reflects on body image, body dysmorphia, and what it means to reclaim a more honest relationship with the body. Follow BARE: Read the essays that go deeper on Substack → https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/ (https://bare-ly-curious.beehiiv.com/) The rest of the ecosystem: nomestia (slow family travel) → nomestia.co (nomestia.co) Naomi Gale's work → thisisnaomigale.co.uk (thisisnaomigale.co.uk) Photography → naomigalephotography.co.uk (naomigalephotography.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

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Apple Podcasts (US)

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