Women in Focus

Helen talks to Maja Penko

Maja Penko is a tour guide from Ljubljana, Slovenia, and is a former long-serving president of the Slovenian Naturist Federation. Maja was raised in a naturist family and shares the charming moment she first realised, at age ten, that not everyone lived quite so freely — a discovery that shaped a lifelong commitment to body acceptance and naturist advocacy. Together, Helen and Maja explore what it means to grow up without body shame, the fight for nipple equality, and why women's own attitudes are often the first barrier to overcome. Maja's message is refreshingly direct: start by looking in the mirror, accept what you see, and take it from there. And if you are interested in our BN Ladies Only holiday, we will be heading to Vritomartis [https://www.vritomartis.com/] in Crete for a week from the 1st June. Email Helen at Women in Focus [womeninfocus@bn.org.uk] for details. Links for Maja Penko: * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maja-penko-01139544/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maja-penko-01139544/] * Email: majapenko33@gmail.com [majapenko33@gmail.com] * Association of Naturists of Slovenia (ZDNS): naturist.si [https://naturist.si/] * ZDNS Email: info@naturist.si [info@naturist.si] * Women In Naturism website: womeninnaturism.uk [https://womeninnaturism.uk/] * British Naturism Events: bn.org.uk/events-home [https://www.bn.org.uk/events-home] * Join British Naturism: bn.org.uk/membershipinfo [https://www.bn.org.uk/membershipinfo/] Contact Women in Focus: womeninfocus@bn.org.uk [womeninfocus@bn.org.uk]

Helen talks to Prof. Annebella Pollen - part 2

In part two, Helen continues her conversation with Professor Annebella Pollen from the University of Brighton, author of Nudism in a Cold Climate. Pollen explores why women have always been central to naturism despite being present in smaller numbers. She speaks about Maurice Parmelee's radical 1929 claim that "nudism is a powerful aid to feminism" and "the logical continuation of the women's movement," showing how early advocates saw naturism as breaking down artificial social barriers. Pollen traces women's roles as not just models but photographers, editors, club co-owners, and pioneering thinkers who created platforms for future generations. The conversation examines how the same issues — women's participation, diversity, body representation — have persisted across a century from the 1920s to today. And if you are interested in our BN Ladies Only holiday, we will be heading to Vritomartis [https://www.vritomartis.com/] in Crete for a week from the 1st June. Email Helen at Women in Focus [womeninfocus@bn.org.uk] for details. Links for Prof. Annebella Pollen: * University of Brighton: research.brighton.ac.uk/en/persons/annebella-pollen [https://research.brighton.ac.uk/en/persons/annebella-pollen/] * Instagram: instagram.com/annebella_pollen [https://www.instagram.com/annebella_pollen/] * Book - "Nudism in a Cold Climate": atelier-editions.com/products/nudism-in-a-cold-climate [https://atelier-editions.com/products/nudism-in-a-cold-climate] * Paper - "Utopian Bodies and Anti-fashion Futures: The Dress Theories and Practices of English Interwar Nudists": muse.jhu.edu/pub/2/article/686648/pdf [https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/2/article/686648/pdf] * Paper - "Indignities Imposed by Arbitrary Adult Rule?": muse.jhu.edu/pub/50/article/933826/pdf [https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/50/article/933826/pdf] * Siobhan Hazzan: www.cnfellowship.org [https://cnfellowship.org/] * Women In Naturism website: womeninnaturism.uk [https://womeninnaturism.uk/] * British Naturism Events: bn.org.uk/events-home [https://www.bn.org.uk/events-home] * Join British Naturism: bn.org.uk/membershipinfo [https://www.bn.org.uk/membershipinfo/] Contact Women in Focus: womeninfocus@bn.org.uk [womeninfocus@bn.org.uk]

Helen talks to Prof. Annebella Pollen - part 1

In the first of a two-part conversation, Helen speaks with Professor Annebella Pollen from the University of Brighton, author of Nudism in a Cold Climate. Pollen discusses her decade-long research into the visual history of naturism in Britain, revealing how photography shaped the movement's public identity from the 1920s onwards. The conversation explores a fascinating paradox; whilst magazines like Health and Efficiency once sold hundred's of thousands of copies per issue, featuring idealised bodies of professional models, actual naturist membership numbers were much lower. Pollen explains how early practitioners hid behind pseudonyms to protect their professional reputations, and how the movement's own promotional imagery created tensions between philosophical ideals and practical recruitment. Drawing on archival research conducted during lockdown, she offers an outsider academic perspective that complements lived experiences, examining how naturism has been publicly mediated rather than privately practised. And if you are interested in our BN Ladies Only holiday, we will be heading to Vritomartis [https://www.vritomartis.com/] in Crete for a week from the 1st June. Email Helen at Women in Focus [womeninfocus@bn.org.uk] for details. Links for Prof. Annebella Pollen: * University of Brighton: research.brighton.ac.uk/en/persons/annebella-pollen [https://research.brighton.ac.uk/en/persons/annebella-pollen/] * Instagram: instagram.com/annebella_pollen [https://www.instagram.com/annebella_pollen/] * Book - "Nudism in a Cold Climate": atelier-editions.com/products/nudism-in-a-cold-climate [https://atelier-editions.com/products/nudism-in-a-cold-climate] * Paper - "Utopian Bodies and Anti-fashion Futures: The Dress Theories and Practices of English Interwar Nudists": muse.jhu.edu/pub/2/article/686648/pdf [https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/2/article/686648/pdf] * Paper - "Indignities Imposed by Arbitrary Adult Rule?": muse.jhu.edu/pub/50/article/933826/pdf [https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/50/article/933826/pdf] * Women In Naturism website: womeninnaturism.uk [https://womeninnaturism.uk/] * British Naturism Events: bn.org.uk/events-home [https://www.bn.org.uk/events-home] * Join British Naturism: bn.org.uk/membershipinfo [https://www.bn.org.uk/membershipinfo/] Contact Women in Focus: womeninfocus@bn.org.uk [womeninfocus@bn.org.uk]

Two Year Anniversary Special

Helen celebrates two years of Women in Focus with a special anniversary panel, bringing together six inspiring women from the podcast's first year. Linda Weber, Angela de la Cruz, Siobhan Hazzan, Martha Vickery, Anne Nisbet, and Lins from Naked Wanderings unite as one panel to reflect on how naturism has transformed their relationships with their bodies, challenged societal misconceptions, and created communities of acceptance. From Martha's "hobbit toes" to Siobhan's conversation with her daughter about swimming pools, the panel shares honest, often humorous insights into body confidence, the realization that nobody cares how you look, and the freedom that comes from letting go of the male gaze. The conversation explores generational attitudes, the rising presence of women in naturist leadership, and the ongoing challenge of explaining to family and friends that social nudity is about acceptance, not exhibition. Helen also shares news of her new website, Women In Naturism [https://womeninnaturism.uk/], a dedicated resource for women new to exploring naturism. The panel, in episode order, were: * Linda Weber (Ep.1): x.com/TrueBlueNude [https://x.com/TrueBlueNude] * Angela de la Cruz (Ep.3): www.viajandosinropa.com [https://viajandosinropa.com/] * Siobhan Hazzan (Ep.4): www.cnfellowship.org [https://cnfellowship.org/] * Martha Vickery (Ep.5): instagram.com/marthatessvickery [https://www.instagram.com/marthatessvickery] * Anne Nisbet (Ep.10): facebook.com/anne.nisbet.58 [https://www.facebook.com/anne.nisbet.58] * Lins from Naked Wanderings (Ep.12): www.nakedwanderings.com [https://www.nakedwanderings.com/] * Women In Naturism website: womeninnaturism.uk [https://womeninnaturism.uk/] * British Naturism Events: bn.org.uk/events-home [https://www.bn.org.uk/events-home] * Join British Naturism: bn.org.uk/membershipinfo [https://www.bn.org.uk/membershipinfo/] Contact Women in Focus: womeninfocus@bn.org.uk [womeninfocus@bn.org.uk]

Helen talks to Lake Como's Erin Gilgur

Erin Gilgur is relatively new to naturism but is already the digital marketing and engagement director at Lake Como Family Nudist Resort in Florida. In this episode she talks about her introduction to naturism, the challenges and misconceptions surrounding body image, and how social nudity can help women overcome their insecurities. Erin explains the realities of marketing a major naturist resort, including event planning, community outreach, and inclusive marketing strategies. She also talks about how body diversity is represented at Lake Como, her perspective on common myths about naturism, and offers practical advice for women interested in trying naturism for the first time. Links for Erin Gilgur and Lake Como: * Lake Como Family Nudist Resort: lakecomonaturally.com [https://lakecomonaturally.com/] * Lake Como on Facebook: facebook.com/lake.como.coop [https://www.facebook.com/lake.como.coop] * Lake Como on Instagram: instagram.com/LakeComoFamilyNudistResort [https://www.instagram.com/LakeComoFamilyNudistResort/] * Lake Como on Threads: threads.com/@lakecomofamilynudistresort [https://www.threads.com/@lakecomofamilynudistresort] * British Naturism Events: bn.org.uk/events-home [https://www.bn.org.uk/events-home] * Join British Naturism: bn.org.uk/membershipinfo [https://www.bn.org.uk/membershipinfo/] Contact Women in Focus: womeninfocus@bn.org.uk [womeninfocus@bn.org.uk]