Planet Nude in review: 2023
A look back at our first year, plus predictions for 2024
Well, 2023 has been... something else.
As I look back at this whirlwind first year for our fledgling publication, it’s clear that it wasn’t just another naked trip around the sun; we saw so much news including club and beach closures, media moral panic induced over naked bike rides, and legislative efforts to make mere nudity illegal. Apparently, we picked a doozy of a year to launch this thing. I like to think we came along at just the right time.
Of course, it wasn’t all bad. We also saw innovative new nude-friendly events and initiatives. We saw whole cities embracing top-free equality. We saw activistic successes, and met inspiring people. We grew. Yes, all of us grew. You too.
In this, our first-ever year-in-review, I first want to highlight some of Planet Nude’s impressive growth and the milestones we hit. Then, we will revisit some of our top stories and most thoughtful and provocative essays, and review some of the pieces that stirred us or moved us. After all that, I’ll attempt—either boldly or foolishly—to make a few predictions for 2024.
But before I get into any of that, I want to genuinely thank you, the readers, listeners, the community of Planet Nude, for your support and encouragement in this, our maiden year as a newsletter. Your readership has been the wind in our sails and the key to our modest success so far. I truly appreciate you.
2023, you’ve been a real piece of work, but we've danced through your madness, and we’re stronger for it.
Milestones
In our first year, Planet Nude has rapidly grown into a trusted source for news and insights on nudism and nudity. Our voice has also been amplified by the contributions of over 20 individual writers, each bringing unique perspectives to our publication. Together, we’ve published over 200 articles, essays, reports, or interviews, not to mention over 70 episodes of the Planet Nude podcast, which we launched in March. These efforts have not gone unnoticed, with our podcasts racking up over 65,000 downloads, contributing to more than half a million unique views across our posts. We even broke a few stories, and had a couple of national media outlets pick up news from our feed.
Welcome to Planet Nude
Welcome to Planet Nude, a new newsletter dedicated to exploring nudism through its history, art and culture. At Planet Nude, we believe that all humans are united by a shared nudity, and that everyone has the right to safely feel comfortable in their own skin and to experience the freedom and joy of being naked.
In the short span since Planet Nude’s debut on January 2nd, 2023, our community has blossomed to 3,000 free subscribers (no kidding, we officially hit this milestone today—woohoo!), from exactly 49 states (does anybody here know anyone in South Dakota?) and more than 90 different countries worldwide. Perhaps even more telling of our resonance in the naturist world, 175 readers have stepped up as paid subscribers, showing their support for our content and cause. If you’re one of them, thank you!
Views of our posts, as reported by Substack’s built-in analytics, have grown consistently each week, with our posts frequently setting new personal records in terms of views and reach, as you can see in the chart below. Last week was our most viewed week yet, with our posts garnering nearly 30,000 views in the seven day period ending on Christmas Eve.
Most of our readers discover us through email, social media, and Substack’s own network. Notably, 45% of our free subscribers are brand new to Substack, drawn specifically via Planet Nude. We also receive hundreds of article views originating from “reader sharing.” That tells us this isn't just traffic driven by algorithms; it's a deliberate choice by passionate naturists and body freedom enthusiasts seeking (and sharing) content that resonates with them.
Looking ahead to 2024, we have a ton in store, and we’re anticipating more growth. We’re gearing up to deepen our engagement with our readers and listeners and continue adding value and content that strikes a chord. Stay tuned—there's much more to come!
Highlights
As we turn the pages back on a year filled with captivating posts, let’s revisit some of the standout pieces that defined Planet Nude's content strategy in the last year. Each category below represents a unique aspect of the multifaceted world of Planet Nude.
Modern perspectives
In 2023, Planet Nude embarked on a journey to deeply understand and share the evolving narrative of modern nudism. Our articles and essays ventured into exploring the current state and future direction of the nudist movement, inviting our readers to reflect on its role in today's society. We tackled challenging questions, shared diverse viewpoints, and sparked discussions that resonated with the naturist community and beyond. I believe that if you view these together, a picture is painted of our vision for the nudism movement.
Essential guides
We also focused on providing valuable, practical guidance for both seasoned and new nudists. From navigating legal complexities to embracing naturism at home, we aimed to equip our readers with knowledge and confidence.
Top guest posts
Planet Nude would not be what it is without the contributions and input we get from our community. In the past year, our front page was graced by a kaleidoscope of guest contributions, with each writer bringing their own flavor and flair. Topics covered the gamut of naturist ideas.
News & politics
The more we observed the political climate around nudity, the more we found ourselves plunging headlong into it with original investigations and reporting, particularly in North America. We were the first to report on anti-nude legislation in Wisconsin, threats to nude beaches in Toronto, Hawaii, and Seattle, and recent club closures in California. Our coverage and analysis also spanned global issues, captured regularly in our monthly News of the Nude editions, offering a nuanced look at how political waves touch the shores of naturism, bringing a perspective that you simply can’t find anywhere else.
History
If we accomplished nothing else over the past year, Planet Nude certainly ventured into the history of nudism, uncovering lost or untold stories of influential nudist groups and protest movements. We highlighted the inspiring histories of various nudist leaders, and compelling stories of nudism’s historical foes, and other historical stories we shared through engaging articles and podcasts. These pieces gave context to the modern picture of nudism and naturism, connecting the dots from past to present.
Art and culture
Our exploration of art and culture took us through a realm of artist interviews and thoughtful film and book reviews. These posts celebrated the intersection of nudism with artistic expression, showcasing how body freedom finds its voice in various creative mediums.
Women’s stories
In a conscious effort to elevate women's narratives in nudism, we shared posts by women and featured stories profiling women. We told the stories of pioneering women from history. These pieces spotlighted the unique and often shadowed experiences and perspectives of women within the naturist community.
LGBTQ+ stories
We also shared many stories highlighting LGBTQ+ narratives and heroes. These posts not only celebrated queer voices but also underscored Planet Nude’s dedication to platforming stories from all corners of the nude world.
Podcasts
The year on Planet Nude was also marked by an array of podcasts, our own originals as well as podcasts we support, featuring guests from around the globe. These episodes offered listeners naturist stories and perspectives not found elsewhere.
Planet Nude Podcast
Naked Age
New Nudist Podcast
Naturist Living Show
Women in Focus
From the myriad voices that graced Planet Nude in the last year, these posts are just the tip of the iceberg. Dive into our archive to experience the full diversity of ideas Planet Nude shared in 2023.
Predictions
Looking forward to 2024, I've got my eye on several key trends and developments in the nudist and naturist communities. Here are a couple of my prognostications:
The fate of historic nudist clubs: Reflecting on the recent events in California, where at least four nudist clubs are facing sales, I predict that at least three more historic nudist clubs nationwide will hit the market. While some clubs stand firm, others teeter on the edge of vulnerability, signaling a notable shift in the nudist club landscape. And let's just say, without dropping any names, it wouldn't shock me to see the closure of one major nudist organization this year. 👀
Surge in anti-nudity legislation: Taking cues from the legislative trends in Wisconsin, I foresee similar anti-nudity bills surfacing in at least one other state, if not more. With an election year looming and an authoritarian “culture warrior” as the likely candidate from one of the dominant political parties, a continuation of the current upswing in culture war legislation seems inevitable. This points to a changing legal environment, one that nudists and naturists should watch closely, as it reflects broader societal and political currents.
The rise of nudist content creators: 2023 saw a small boom in nudist podcasts and naturist-themed Substack blogs, and I expect this trend to continue as nudists increasingly embrace the digital world, craving personal connections. Throw in the new wave of generative writing and AI editing tools, and the many (and varying) online platforms democratizing content creation become even more appealing to creative nudists with something to say. I'm keen to see this growth continue in the coming year.
So, what do you think about these predictions? I admit, I probably played it a little safe with these bets. What do you think? Am I spot-on or a bit far-fetched? Drop your own forecasts, or share your thoughts on mine, in the comments.
Wrap up
As this rollercoaster of a year comes to a close and we eagerly anticipate the adventures 2024 will bring, I'd like to extend a special invitation to you, our readers and listeners. Your engagement and enthusiasm have been the driving force behind Planet Nude's success. But to keep this unique and vibrant space thriving, we need your support.
Consider joining the ranks of our 175 paid subscribers. Your subscription not only helps sustain our platform but also helps ensure the continuation and expansion of the thoughtful, provocative content you've hopefully come to expect from us.
If a subscription isn't your style, consider making an independent donation through Ko-fi. Every contribution, big or small, makes a significant difference.
Moreover, if you have a story to tell, a perspective to share, or insights into the naturist world, we welcome your submissions. Planet Nude is more than a publication; it's a community, and your voice can add to the richness of our collective narrative.
Thank you for an amazing first year at Planet Nude. Happy New Year to all. 🪐
Happy New Year Evan! You sure have done a ton of work and put in a ton effort into making Planet Nude a reliable resource for nudism and naturism. You should be very proud. It was kinda a tough year for us naturists in California. I agree with your predictions for next year.
This article was a joy to read. Thank you and happy nude year! And thank you for the passion and connection you bring here. This space has been and continues to be a breath of needed fresh air.
I agree with your macro trends predictions. However, I'm more interested in your "Tipping Point" or "Freakonomics" predictions. :) There's nothing more I like than being wrong, so here's are some wildcard suggestions to play off of...
1. Feminude revolution. The body acceptance, pro choice and female ecowarrior movements converge and drive international change through nude protest that shakes the traditional leaders inside the naturist organizations.
2. Friends in need. Stronger alliances are forged across the LGBTQ2S+ communities and naturists as legislative snares impact both groups.
3. Real nude bodies in the mainstream grow. As AI generation is fed by censored ideas on what bodies look like, the quest for authenticity and natural counter pendulum swings mean more nude bodies in mainstream media in various formats.
4. Needy nudies. As inflation, property prices and the cost of living outstrips (pun intended) wages, new waves of naturist/ nudist activities spark up in different geographies.
5. Community grows. Resistance against adverse conditions positively impacts communities based on naturism and creates focus on uniting for survival.