Women in Focus

Karen Golec is a Canadian naturist living in a small northern community. She is a single woman who is at her happiest when travelling the world and exploring. She talks about body confidence, radical self-acceptance, and the joy of being without shame or judgment. She is a member of several naturist organisations, as she understands that supporting them is vital to furthering naturists rights around the world. Plus it means she gets to find out what is happening around the world and where she can go on her next trip. Links for Karen Golec: Karen on Facebook: facebook.com/karen.golec British Naturism Events: bn.org.uk/events-home Join British Naturism: bn.org.uk/membershipinfo Contact Women in Focus: womeninfocus@bn.org.uk

Naturism really does have the power to turn lives around. Sarah Woodson, a young mother, has not only seen her confidence grow, but feels it has finally given her back autonomy over her own body after years of physical and sexual abuse. In this episode, Sarah shares her past with Helen, the transformation naturism has brought to her life, and the legal issues that have arisen from her being a resident of Arkansas, probably the most repressive state for naturism in the USA. Links for Sarah Woodson: Sarah on BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/justnekidsarah.bsky.social Sarah on X/Twitter: x.com/justnekidsarah Sarah on IMDb: imdb.com/name/nm14885680 Naked Retro Gaming at Sunfolk: bn.uk/yfedakt (short url) Enquire about the Ladies Holiday at BHH Fuertaventura: beverleyhillsvilla@yahoo.com Join British Naturism: bn.org.uk/membershipinfo Contact Women in Focus: womeninfocus@bn.org.uk

Contrary to societal misconceptions, being nude as a transgender woman in a genuine naturist space can be an empowering experience that helps with overcoming body confidence issues. As Sarah shares, naturism offers a safe and supportive environment where every body is celebrated, allowing transgender women like her to find solace and confidence in their own skin. Sarah Tayler, transgender women and proud member of British Naturism, has been a naturist throughout her transition. Sarah shares her powerful journey of self-discovery, from realising she was in the wrong body as a child to completing her transition in just one year. Join Helen Berriman as she talks to Sarah Tayler in this episode, the first of a two-part interview, coinciding with the start of LGBT+ History Month. And don't forget to come back for part two in next month's episode. Links for Sarah Tayler: Sarah on Instagram: instagram.com/sarah_l_tayler Sarah on Facebook: facebook.com/sarah.l.tayler LGBT+ History Month 2025: lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk/lgbt-history-month-2025 Contact Women in Focus: womeninfocus@bn.org.uk

Naturism is not something that is typically associated with women of Middle Eastern origin, on account of the social expectations from that part of the world making female body autonomy a challenge, let alone body acceptance. But for some the combination of academic education, cultural migration, and an innate sense of what is right creates a mind open to the possibility. Dr. Vian Aziz was born and raised in Iraq and through a series of moves she brought her young family to the UK in 2010, where she settled in Cardiff and works as a gynaecologist. Following her postgraduate study for a professional certificate in psychosexual counselling, she re-evaluated her own body perceptions leading her to not just try naturism, but to become an outspoken advocate for it. In this episode she tells her story to Helen.You can read Vian's written Women in Focus interview here. Links for Dr Vian Aziz: Vian on Instagram: instagram.com/vianaziz10 Vian on Threads: threads.net/@vianaziz10 Vian on Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/vianaziz.bsky.social Vian on Twitter/X: x.com/vianazizfrcoguk You can find Vian's Naturist Trail Seekers hiking group on Facebook Email Siobhan at the Christian Naturist Fellowship: chair@cnfellowship.org Enquire about Ladies Holiday at BHH Fuertaventura: beverleyhillsvilla@yahoo.com Contact Women in Focus: womeninfocus@bn.org.uk

Helen interviews Karie Jane, businesswoman and proprietor of the Beverley Hills Hotel and Resort in Costa Calma, Fuerteventura. Karie took over the villa after her marriage ended and turned it into a clothing optional hotel. She now lives and works there full time, offering a unique naturist holiday destination. She talks to Helen about the ladies only holidays that she runs supported by BN, which are both for seasoned naturist women looking for something a little different as well as to allow any woman a safe and relaxing way to experience naturism for the first time.You can read Karie's written Women in Focus interview here. Links for Karie Jane: BHH Naturist Resort website: naturistcanaries.com BHH Naturist Resort on Facebook: facebook.com/bhhnaturistresort BHH Naturist Resort on Instagram: instagram.com/naturist_resort_fuerteventura BHH Naturist Resort on Twitter/X: x.com/bhh_naturist Email BHH Naturist Resort: beverleyhillsvilla@yahoo.com Contact Women in Focus: womeninfocus@bn.org.uk

Helen interviews Samantha Graham. She is a 34 year old naturist from Ontario, Canada. She is the Trailer and Sunroom Sales Manager at Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park near Toronto, and she runs their social media accounts. She is also the editor and producer of The Naturist Living Show podcast, hosted by Stéphane Deschênes. Sam has always preferred to be clothes-free even as a child, but it was in 2017 when she was seeking a different and freeing experience that she went looking for a nude beach and learned that Bare Oaks was only a short drive away. She booked in for three nights and it completely changed her life.Read Sam's written Women in Focus interview here. Links for Samantha Graham: Samantha on Instagram: instagram.com/sam.me.graham Bare Oaks Website: bareoaks.ca Bare Oaks on Instagram: instagram.com/bareoaks Bare Oaks on Facebook: facebook.com/BareOaksPark The Naturist Living Show on Instagram: instagram.com/TheNaturistLivingShow The Naturist Living Show on Facebook: facebook.com/TheNaturistLivingShow Contact Women in Focus: womeninfocus@bn.org.uk

Helen interviews Stephanie McManus, a nurse from New Zealand and naked healing practitioner. After a nude photoshoot, which Steph did in an effort to confront her own body image in the wake of an eating disorder, she discovered what it meant to her to be without clothes. It transformed her life and she describes nudity as her medicine, and she now wants to bring her revelations to as many people as she can. Careful with the language she uses, Steph says nudity can be a 'healing tool', and avoids referring to any label that she feels could alienate the very people that it will help the most.Read Steph's written Women in Focus interview here. Links for Steph McManus: Steph on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephanie-mcmanus/ Steph on Instagram: instagram.com/stephaniemcmanuscoaching Email Steph: nakedhealingnz@gmail.com Contact Women in Focus: womeninfocus@bn.org.uk