Podcasts about onetaste

Robert finally concludes the tale of OneTaste by describing how it all fell apart and ended in prison for Nicole Daedone.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is OneTaste and orgasmic meditation? Performance artist and sex cult survivor Star Stone speaks on this in an all-new Manwhore Podcast. How did a budding pansexual exploring liberation find herself in a circle of clit-strokers? And how did she get out?? Also! Help Billy fight Eventbrite censorship by sharing The Naked Comedy Show to your friends and networks!Mentioned:PHILLY - 6/6 - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1988272411305NYC - 6/25 - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989846095236CHICAGO - 7/10 - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989444027641Netflix: Orgasm Inc.Reddit: something about how tantra got sexualizedThem: The Past and Popular Usage of ‘Pansexual'Follow Star Stone!Instagram: @starstonespeaksJune 3: Clit Cult @ The PITwww.starstonespeaks.comFollow Billy!Instagram: @billyprocidajrTikTok: @TheBillyProcidaThreads: @billyprocidajrBlueSky: @thebillyprocidaMoney StuffVenmo: @BillyProcidaCash App: $manwhorepodPayPal/Zelle: funnybillypro@gmail.comBe a patron of slutty arts at http://patreon.com/manwhorepodcastGet your books and e-books through an independent bookstore at http://manwhorepod.com/bookshopMake new friends in The Champagne Room at http://manwhorepod.com/discordEmail your comments, questions, and criticisms to manwhorepod@gmail.com.Late Night Radio and Joey's Formal Waltz by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/www.ManwhorePod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert continues to tell Jamie about Nicole Daedone's OneTaste, orgasm cult. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert sits down with Jamie Loftus to weave the half-century long history of orgasm cults in the U.S., culminating in the rise of Nicole Daedone's OneTaste.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NYC-based comedian, actor, and storyteller Star Stone (@starstonespeaks) joins us to talk about the years she spent inside Onetaste, a Bay Area "sexual wellness" group that built a multi-million dollar operation around a 15-minute clitoris stroking practice and is now better known for being investigated by the FBI. Star takes us through the sex education gap that primed her for it, the relationship that kept her there, the empowerment language that quietly turned coercive, and the long road back to her own desires.  In this episode: Why Star (and basically every millennial woman) ended up Googling her own anatomy in her 20s, and how that vacuum is exactly what predatory communities count on How "edge work" gets weaponized: when "lean into your edge" becomes a way to talk you past your own no, and what to listen for before you sign anything The exact red flags Star wishes she'd clocked sooner (absolute promises, paywalls disguised as inner circles, "you're blocked, that's why you need the course," and the universal cult truth: there's always land) What actually happened inside Onetaste: the practice, the paid intros, the group rooms, the moment the FBI investigation quietly ended in-person practices and nobody told the members Toxic empowerment versus the real thing: how organizations dress up dependency as liberation, and how to spot the difference before they have your money and your nervous system Getting out: the eviction, calling her dad, going viral and getting hated online days after leaving, and the five years of celibacy and self-isolation that followed Rebuilding a sexual identity from scratch when you can't tell anymore which desires were yours and which were normalized inside the group For anyone who's ever wondered how smart, curious women end up in places like this, and for anyone trying to tell the difference between a teacher and a trap. Star's show CL*T CULT runs June 3rd at 7 p.m. at The Pit NYC, tickets at starstonespeaks.com or @starstonespeaks on Instagram. ⁠Learn more about 1:1 coaching HERE!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get Honeydew Me Merch HERE!⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You don't have to join a compound to end up in a high-control group. Sometimes it starts with a neo-tantra festival. A weekend workshop. A community that feels like finally, finally, you found your people.Anke Richter is an international cult journalist, author of the bestseller Cult Trip (HarperCollins), and founder of Decult — the first cult awareness conference in Australasia. She spent six years inside ISTA (International School of Temple Arts) before becoming one of its most informed critics. She's also researched Centrepoint, Osho/Rajneeshpuram, and OneTaste firsthand.This is Part 2 of a series. Start with the previous episode "The Men Behind Sexual Polarity Have A Lot to Answer For" — or read the full article on Substack (link below).In this episode:Why smart, educated, well-resourced people end up in cults — and the myth that it couldn't happen to youWhat actually makes something a high-control group (and why "you can leave any time" doesn't disqualify it)How ISTA and similar neo-tantra spaces specifically target ex-evangelicals and ex-Mormons leaving purity cultureThe slippery slope from a weekend workshop to deeper entanglement — and what the escalation actually looks likeOsho/Rajneeshpuram as the ideological origin of modern neo-tantra — and the documented child sexual abuse that history includesThe playbook: how spiritual framing gets used to override consent and silence complaints"Acting from your wounding" and "stuck in victim consciousness" — the specific language used to shut down resistanceThe veneer of consent: why trauma-informed language and consent frameworks can be used as coverWhy the word "victim" gets weaponized in these spaces — and why that needs to stopHow David Deida's sexual polarity ideology functioned as a gateway into neo-tantra spaces for a generation of people, and why it is harmfulResources mentioned:Cult Trip by Anke Richter — available wherever books are soldAnke Richter: https://ankerichter.netDecult — cult awareness conference and resources: https://decult.netRed Flags in Workshops — free consent-forward resource for participants and facilitators: https://redflagsinworkshops.comPart 1 — Have You Been Sold the Patriarchy's Version of "The Divine Feminine"?  https://open.substack.com/pub/laurajurgens/p/have-you-been-sold-the-patriarchysGet my free guide: Get Out of Your Head: A Starter Guide to Releasing the Pressure, Shame, and "Shoulds" Around Intimacy at https://laurajurgens.com/guideFind out more about my offerings and read the blog: https://laurajurgens.com/Copyright notice: All content in this podcast is copyrighted and copying, scraping, data mining, or using the content to train AI is prohibited. 

What is orgasmic meditation? Where is the line between cutting-edge wellness & cult behavior? Is the word “cult” too divisive to be helpful? Ellen Huet is an award-winning investigative journalist who writes for Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Businessweek. Gher investigative piece on OneTaste lead to the FBI investigation & eventually arrest of Nicole Daedone and Rachel Cherwitz. She also wrote EMPIRE OF ORGASM, chronicling how the sex self-help group twisted sexual abuse into personal growth.  In this episode we explore the new image of modern-day cults, the timeline of OneTaste & its leader & who is most vulnerable to cult recruitment. If you liked this episode, you'll also like episode 305: ARE POLITICAL PARTIES JUST CULTS?! Guest:https://a.co/d/06drvW9D https://www.ellenhuet.com/ https://www.ellenhuet.com/about https://x.com/ellenhuet https://www.instagram.com/ehuet/  Sponsors: https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/ https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/  00:00 — Sex, Cults & Startups01:16 — Wrong Beat, Right Story01:55 — The 15-Minute Practice03:51 — Wellness Has a Price Tag06:18 — Quit Your Job, Move In08:00 — Consent Gets Complicated13:01 — Bodies on the Line15:48 — Victimhood Is Forbidden17:51 — Free Meetup, Expensive Trap21:22 — Searching for Something Deeper23:09 — Gwyneth Approved It26:00 — Break the Debt Seal28:06 — Modern Cults Look Normal31:03 — Chatbots and Spiral Thinking33:32 — Red Flags to Watch36:18 — Nicole's Complicated Childhood41:54 — She Took the Practice43:26 — San Francisco Let It Slide45:29 — The Warehouse Experiment47:44 — WiFi Password: NotACult50:11 — The Woman Behind Nicole51:45 — Selling Her Own Vision53:33 — The Story Nobody Had Told56:49 — Guilty, Then Sentenced57:58 — Bored, Lonely, Missing It01:02:07 — Seeking a Presidential Pardon01:02:53 — Why People Believe ThingsRequest to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/Follow me in all the places:https://www.meredithforreal.com/  https://www.instagram.com/the_curiousintrovert/ meredith@meredithforreal.comhttps://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal https://www.facebook.com/curiousintrovert

If you've ever left a sacred sexuality workshop feeling worse about yourself than when you walked in — or heard a friend blame herself for not being "receptive enough" — this episode is for you.Sexual polarity teachings are everywhere right now. They promise to unlock your feminine energy, reignite desire, and deepen connection. Sounds great. The reality is different. They're built on a foundation of made-up science, cultural theft, and a paper trail that leads somewhere deeply problematic. They are also actively causing harm. In this episode I'm mapping exactly where this ideology came from, who's profiting from it, and what it's actually doing to women's desire, relationships, and sense of self — because I see the damage in my practice every single day.In this episode:Why "sexual polarity" isn't ancient wisdom or real science — and how it borrows language from physics to sound legitimateDavid Deida, Tony Robbins, and Deepak Chopra — the men profiting and what their paper trail actually showsThe Osho/neo-tantra origins: why the history of this ideology goes back to documented child sexual abuse in cult communesWhy the OneTaste sentencing matters — and what Nicole Daedone's case tells us about who enforces patriarchal ideologyWhat women are actually hungry for that polarity coaching hijacks and exploitsThe difference between genuine erotic power play and a grooming script dressed as spiritualityHow to recognize a genuinely qualified practitioner — and what red flags look like in these spacesThis is part one of a two-part series. Next episode I'm joined by journalist and cult researcher Anke Richter, author of Cult Trip, for a conversation on sex cults, ISTA, and the darker end of this spectrum.Resources mentioned:Full article with sources and resources: https://open.substack.com/pub/laurajurgens/p/have-you-been-sold-the-patriarchys?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=webBarbara Carrellas' Urban Tantra: barbaracarrellas.comMidori on consent-forward BDSM: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaxv6fBRPDep5NIrLfjEUNzmPtY4Ax5CNGet my free guide: Get Out of Your Head: A Starter Guide to Releasing the Pressure, Shame, and "Shoulds" Around Intimacy at https://laurajurgens.com/guideFind out more about my offerings and read the blog: https://laurajurgens.com/Copyright notice: All content in this podcast is copyrighted and copying, scraping, data mining, or using the content to train AI is prohibited. 

In this episode, I'm joined by Ellen Huet – journalist at Bloomberg and author of Empire of Orgasm – for a conversation about power, belonging, and the sometimes blurry line between influence and manipulation. Ellen has spent over a decade covering Silicon Valley – from AI startups to the personalities shaping the industry. Empire of Orgasm explores OneTaste, the sexual wellness company and alleged sex cult. Throughout the book, Ellen also explores the broader question of how high-demand groups actually work. At the center of this book is the uncomfortable idea that cults aren't a binary; they exist on a spectrum. And, as we discuss in depth, many of the dynamics we associate with extreme groups – belonging, shared language, mission-driven work, charismatic leadership – show up in everyday organizations more than we'd like to admit. We talk about what she learned reporting on OneTaste, from the power of social pressure and status to the subtle ways people are influenced without ever being explicitly told what to do. Ellen breaks down how "consent" gets distorted in these environments, and why the ability to freely say "no" is the clearest line between healthy influence and coercion. We also explore the overlap between cult dynamics and modern business – especially in tech. From grand mission statements to founder mythology, there's often an emotional pull that goes beyond logic. Ellen shares how these forces show up in AI companies today, and why the belief that you're "part of something world-changing" can be both motivating and dangerous. Along the way, we get into sales, persuasion, and the tension between helping someone and overriding their agency. Where is the line between influence and manipulation?

"A sexual wellness company gains fame and followers for its practice of 'orgasmic meditation' - until members come forward with disturbing allegations." - NetflixTW: Sexual assault. Again. Ughhhh.If you'd like to support my escape to Indonesia, check out the GOFUNDME :)Follow us on Instagram, where Ash is actually starting to post again!We'd love to see you in our Discord, come hang out!Audio editing by Malissa Coulson.Research assistance by Fallon Morey.

In this episode I am joined by Ken Wilber, contemporary philosopher, author, and founder of Integral Theory. Ken recounts his biography and intellectual development including prodigious early reading, major spiritual experiences, and his models of spiritual and psychological development. Ken reflects on his rise to fame, his deeper motivations for writing, and whether or not his Integral Institute made the impact he had hoped for. Ken also gives a detailed account of his association with controversial American spiritual teacher Adi Da, weighs the good and bad of Da Free John's career, considers the source of Adi Da's shaktipat power, and reveals why he almost joined the guru's inner circle. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep356-awakening-to-wholeness-ken-wilber Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:51 - Steve's favourite Ken Wilber book 02:01 - Difficulties writing “One Taste” 05:39 - Adolescent interest in developmental psychology 08:53 - Major spiritual experience at 13 years old 09:55 - Comparing stage models 12:24 - Zen Buddhist practice 13:47 - Ken's first theoretical discovery 15:57 - Different types of wholeness 17:19 - Waking up 17:55 - Growing up 19:00 - Opening up 21:15 - Cleaning up 23:47 - Showing up 24:43 - 4 perspectives of person 28:51 - Ken's fiction reading and the types of truth 31:11 - Marquis de Sade 32:45 - Why Ken wrote 39:39 - Why participate in the Great Conversation? 41:29 - Who you really are 43:32 - Universal mysticism 45:00 - Two types of religion 53:15 - Dealing with the audience response 56:22 - Being noticed in public 57:50 - Did Ken have collaborators? 01:00:05 - Integral group gatherings and conferences 01:04:22 - Ken's assessment of the overall impact of Integral theory and the Integral gatherings 01:07:58 - No regrets 01:09:39 - Ken's opinion of Steve's work 01:12:23 - Ken's history with Adi Da 01:17:10 - Invited to be part of Adi Da's inner circle 01:19:57 - Meeting Adi Da 01:20:59 - When Ken decided not to join Adidam 01:21:57 - Sadness at Adi Da's death 01:23:53 - William Tsiknas 01:25:22 - Falling in love with Adi Da 01:28:35 - Source of Adi Da's power 01:28:41 - Ken on Adi Da's relationship with his teachers 01:32:59 - Adi Da's pranic transmission 01:35:38 - Muktananda + why Adi Da was drawn to Rudi 01:40:16 - What is shaktipat? 01:43:15 - Post-death contact and ethical controversies 01:45:04 - Feeling the heart transmission of Adi Da 01:47:17 - Ken's disappointment in Adi Da's controversial conduct 01:50:54 - Good vs bad of Adi Da … To find our more about Ken Wilber, visit: - https://kenwilber.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Some people leave the church quietly. Becky Garrison stayed and took notes.A satirist, journalist, and Yale Divinity School-trained religious critic, Becky spent over a decade as Senior Contributing Editor at The Wittenburg Door — the nation's oldest, most irreverent Christian satire magazine — before the institution gave her more material than she bargained for. Her latest book, Gaslighting for God, is part exposé, part survival manual, and somehow genuinely funny. Because when the narcissist is behind the pulpit, sometimes the only sane response is satire.Becky joins Behk & LAH to talk about what happens when the tactics we recognize in toxic relationships — the love bombing, the narrative rewriting, the coercive control, the manufactured reality — get wrapped in a scripture verse and called sacred. She traces her own journey from preacher's kid to what she now calls an "epiphytic agnostic Anglican," explains why progressive spiritual spaces can be just as dangerous as conservative ones, and makes the case that your gut instinct is one of the most underrated tools you have.The conversation goes deep — from the NXIVM case and the prosecution of Keith Raniere, to the OneTaste orgasmic meditation case and why charging Nicole Daedone with human trafficking rather than prostitution was a critical distinction for survivors, to the Archbishop of Canterbury's resignation following a pattern of sexual abuse among clergy in the Church of England. Becky also breaks down why narcissistic collapse looks exactly like a three-year-old's temper tantrum, why you cannot rationalize with someone in the middle of one, and why learning to recognize the pattern is genuinely liberating.Her parting advice: trust your gut. We are taught not to. But your intuition — nurtured, cared for, and freed from the trigger responses of unhealed trauma — is the most powerful narcissist detector you have.

This Week on True Crime News The Podcast: Sexual empowerment or a new means of oppression? OneTaste's founder, Nicole Daedone, and head of sales, Rachel Cherwitz, were sentenced to federal prison after using their wellness-branded company to exploit followers. Prosecutors claim that the pair preyed on vulnerable victims looking for connection and community before weaponizing their fears and insecurities against them. Rachel Fiset joins host Ana Garcia. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No episódio desta semana do CO2, Brunão e Baconzitos trazem para você as principais novidades do cinema e recomendações de filmes que você não pode perder! Descubra o Top 5 Bilheteria da semana, fique por dentro dos lançamentos mais aguardados e saiba tudo sobre Disney+, incluindo dicas exclusivas de filmes e séries que estão bombando na plataforma. Aproveite também sugestões incríveis de filmes para assistir na Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video e Apple TV, garantindo entretenimento de qualidade para todos os gostos. Além das melhores recomendações de filmes e novidades do cinema, o episódio ainda apresenta notícias curiosas, como Paul McCartney sendo banido do Reddit, e a CEO da OneTaste indo pro xilindró. Não perca a tradicional leitura de e-mails e comentários dos ouvintes dos podcasts QueIssoAssim, CO2 e Reflix. Se você quer se atualizar sobre Disney+, receber recomendações de filmes e acompanhar todas as novidades do cinema, este episódio é o seu guia indispensável no universo do entretenimento! Algumas músicas pela https://slip.stream

The sentences just came down for OneTaste's founder Nicole Daedone and her second-in-command Rachel Cherwitz – if you're unfamiliar with OneTaste you can listen to Let's Talk About Sects' deep dive in November 2020. From that episode, you may remember Ruwan Meepagala. When he spoke with LTAS five years ago, Ruwan had already been working on his memoir, which he finished writing and released last year. It's called ORGSM: A Memoir. The sentencing was the perfect opportunity to revisit Ruwan's story and find out how his perspective has shifted over the intervening years.Credits:Written and hosted by Sarah SteelMusic by Joe GouldLinksFounder of ‘orgasmic meditation' company gets nine years in prison in forced labor conspiracy — Associated Press, The Guardian, 31 March 2026ORGSM: A Memoir — by Ruwan Meepagala, Subversalist Publishing, October 2025Ruwando.com — Ruwan Meepagala's websiteYou can support Let's Talk About Sects here. If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, you can find support with or donate to Cult Information and Family Support if you're in Australia (via www.cifs.org.au), and you can find resources outside of Australia with the International Cultic Studies Association (via www.icsahome.com). Find Sarah's audiobook Do As I Say here. With thanks to Money Saver Home Loans, supporting partner for this episode of Let's Talk About Sects. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Christine shares interesting facts about the worst time period to live in of all.... Medeival times. Tayler shares disturbing facts from the new age cult OneTaste the group of sex obsesed workouts you have to hear about to believe.Spank you for listening. Do less God bless. Gloom & Bloom out!

This week, Amanda and Chelsea dive into the cult of OneTaste, the controversial wellness company that built an empire around “orgasmic meditation.” To help break this one down, they're joined by journalist Ellen Huet (@ehuet), whose reporting pulled back the curtain on the organization's rise from buzzy Silicon Valley sex startup to full blown scandal that involved allegations of coercion, manipulation, and high control group dynamics. They unpack how OneTaste marketed intimacy as enlightenment and why so many got pulled into its orgasmic orbit. Is this a groundbreaking sexual wellness movement… or a textbook case of culty self help? Subscribe to Sounds Like A Cult on Youtube!Follow us on IG @soundslikeacultpod, @amanda_montell, @reesaronii, @chelseaxcharles, @imanharirikia.  Come see Sounds Like A Cult LIVE at The Bell House in New York on April 21st! Tickets at amandamontell.com/events Thank you to our sponsors! To Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain, Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CULT Head to https://acorns.com/CULT or download the Acorns app to get started. Head to https://factormeals.com/cult50off and use code cult50off to get 50% off and free breakfast for a year!  Learn more and join Function using my link. Visit www.functionhealth.com/CULT or use gift code CULT25 for a $25 credit toward your membership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Award-winning journalist and author, Ellen Huet, spoke with us about the expose that set off an FBI investigation and the resultant book, EMPIRE OF ORGASM: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. Ellen Huet is an award-winning investigative journalist who covers technology and Silicon Valley for Bloomberg News. She writes features for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine, and has hosted two seasons of the podcast Foundering… a narrative audio series from Bloomberg Technology. Her first book EMPIRE OF ORGASM: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult (2025), is about the rise and fall of alleged sex cult OneTaste, and “…explore[s] how the group's former employees and customers alleged it was a sex cult that exploited its members financially and sexually.” New York Times bestselling author Ashlee Vance said of the book, “This isn't just a tale of one cultish company―it's a mirror held up to tech's dark side, so full of greed and self-delusion.” Ellen was also featured in a 2022 Netflix documentary about OneTaste called Orgasm, Inc., and her reporting about OneTaste has been cited in the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, Slate and many other outlets. Trigger warning: This episode includes some explicit descriptions of OneTaste's practice of orgasmic meditation (OM). [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Ellen Huet, Milena and I discussed: Hitting the Crime beat for the SF Chronicle straight out of college The company at the heart of her investigation dubbed "The Whole Foods of sexuality"  Why OneTaste is different than many cults What it was like to finish her passion project after six years of work How to change your mindset about busy work And a lot more!  Show Notes: ellenhuet.com Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult by Ellen Huet (Amazon) Ellen Huet on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reese Jones is living every San Fransico tech guy's wet dream. Create a company, sell it to Motorola for $205 millions dollars, and meet a hot, blonde girlfriend who doesn't hold back in the bedroom. A lifestyle some would be jealous of even after Reese gets kidnapped. Three men jump out, blindfold him, force him into a car at gunpoint. Next thing he knows, Reese is being led through seven different rooms, representing the seven deadly sins. One is lust. Another is gluttony. Then, envy. Reese is bound to a chair while his girlfriend has intercourse with what is described as ‘a buffet of people.' After all seven rooms, all seven sins, Reese is reborn. Which just means he's now cloaked in white, standing on a rooftop deck while his blonde girlfriend waits for him in the distance: “Happy Birthday.” That's what you get as a present when you're worth $200 million dollars and your girlfriend is the founder of One Taste, a company that helps women meditate and reach an orgasm. Every tech guy's wet dream right? That's until Reese gets wrapped up in one of the strangest, potential trafficking cases, and his girlfriend, Nicole Daedone, wellness company CEO ends up in the same prison as none other than Ghislaine Maxwell.   Full show notes available at RottenMangoPodcast.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Reese Jones is living every San Fransico tech guy's wet dream. Create a company, sell it to Motorola for $205 millions dollars, and meet a hot, blonde girlfriend who doesn't hold back in the bedroom. A lifestyle some would be jealous of even after Reese gets kidnapped. Three men jump out, blindfold him, force him into a car at gunpoint. Next thing he knows, Reese is being led through seven different rooms, representing the seven deadly sins. One is lust. Another is gluttony. Then, envy. Reese is bound to a chair while his girlfriend has intercourse with what is described as ‘a buffet of people.' After all seven rooms, all seven sins, Reese is reborn. Which just means he's now cloaked in white, standing on a rooftop deck while his blonde girlfriend waits for him in the distance: “Happy Birthday.” That's what you get as a present when you're worth $200 million dollars and your girlfriend is the founder of One Taste, a company that helps women meditate and reach an orgasm. Every tech guy's wet dream right? That's until Reese gets wrapped up in one of the strangest, potential trafficking cases, and his girlfriend, Nicole Daedone, wellness company CEO ends up in the same prison as none other than Ghislaine Maxwell.   Full show notes available at RottenMangoPodcast.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Reese Jones is living every San Fransico tech guy's wet dream. Create a company, sell it to Motorola for $205 millions dollars, and meet a hot, blonde girlfriend who doesn't hold back in the bedroom. A lifestyle some would be jealous of even after Reese gets kidnapped. Three men jump out, blindfold him, force him into a car at gunpoint. Next thing he knows, Reese is being led through seven different rooms, representing the seven deadly sins. One is lust. Another is gluttony. Then, envy. Reese is bound to a chair while his girlfriend has intercourse with what is described as ‘a buffet of people.' After all seven rooms, all seven sins, Reese is reborn. Which just means he's now cloaked in white, standing on a rooftop deck while his blonde girlfriend waits for him in the distance: “Happy Birthday.” That's what you get as a present when you're worth $200 million dollars and your girlfriend is the founder of One Taste, a company that helps women meditate and reach an orgasm. Every tech guy's wet dream right? That's until Reese gets wrapped up in one of the strangest, potential trafficking cases, and his girlfriend, Nicole Daedone, wellness company CEO ends up in the same prison as none other than Ghislaine Maxwell.    Full show notes available at RottenMangoPodcast.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Reese Jones is living every San Fransico tech guy's wet dream. Create a company, sell it to Motorola for $205 millions dollars, and meet a hot, blonde girlfriend who doesn't hold back in the bedroom. A lifestyle some would be jealous of even after Reese gets kidnapped. Three men jump out, blindfold him, force him into a car at gunpoint. Next thing he knows, Reese is being led through seven different rooms, representing the seven deadly sins. One is lust. Another is gluttony. Then, envy. Reese is bound to a chair while his girlfriend has intercourse with what is described as ‘a buffet of people.' After all seven rooms, all seven sins, Reese is reborn. Which just means he's now cloaked in white, standing on a rooftop deck while his blonde girlfriend waits for him in the distance: “Happy Birthday.” That's what you get as a present when you're worth $200 million dollars and your girlfriend is the founder of One Taste, a company that helps women meditate and reach an orgasm. Every tech guy's wet dream right? That's until Reese gets wrapped up in one of the strangest, potential trafficking cases, and his girlfriend, Nicole Daedone, wellness company CEO ends up in the same prison as none other than Ghislaine Maxwell.   Full show notes available at RottenMangoPodcast.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ellen Huet (Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult) is a journalist, startup founder, and author. Ellen joins the Armchair Expert to discuss must-haves versus most-haves in terms of cult sexuality requirements, her hot tips for avoiding cults that are too extractive, and her dealings with Silicon Valley and venture capitalists. Ellen and Dax talk about when she began covering orgasmic meditation startup OneTaste, the OM course to cult pipeline, and the intricacies and systems of manipulation concocted by OneTaste's leader. Ellen explains unpacking potential power dynamics of sexual abuse, how much status games weigh into human behavior, and why she believes there's no one invulnerable to indoctrination.Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube or listen to Armchair Expert early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when a sexual wellness practice turns into a cult, and how can we spot the warning signs? Join us on this episode of Shameless Sex as we explore the fascinating and disturbing world of OneTaste, a company that promised to unlock the secrets of orgasmic meditation but allegedly became a breeding ground for abuse and manipulation. Award-winning investigative journalist and author Ellen Huet takes us on a journey into the heart of OneTaste, sharing her insights from her book Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult Here's what you'll learn from this episode: * The history of OneTaste and how it started as a seemingly innocuous wellness practice * The benefits and risks of orgasmic meditation (OM) and how to approach it with a critical eye * The warning signs of a cult and how to spot when a practice or community is becoming toxic * The latest updates on the criminal case against OneTaste's leaders and what it means for the future of the wellness industry * How to prioritize consent, safety, and critical thinking in your own sex life and wellness practices As a journalist who's covered some of the most complex and intriguing stories of our time, Ellen Huet brings her expertise and sharp analysis to the conversation. Whether you're a seasoned sex educator or just curious about the world of wellness, this episode is for you. Tune in to learn more about the intersection of sex, power, and exploitation, and how to create a safer, more consensual world for everyone. And stay until the end to find out how to get your hands on Ellen's book and support her work. So, can a wellness practice be both empowering and toxic? Listen in to find out. website: https://www.ellenhuet.com/ buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Orgasm-Power-Downfall-Wellness/dp/0374604193 instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ehuet/ newsletter: https://ellenhuet.substack.com/ Come to our October 2026th retreats - one for women and one for couples! Learn more and reserve your spot here: ⁠https://www.shamelesssex.com/retreat⁠ Join us on the Killing Kittens cruise in the Mediterranean in June 2026: h⁠ttps://kkcruise.com Do you love us? Do you REALLY love us? Then order ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ now! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shamelesssex.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to snag your copy Support Shameless Sex by sending us gifts via our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Wish List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Other links: Get into turbo drive with Drive Boost from VB.Health, and use code SHAMELESS to get 10% off at vb.health Get Erika Lust's beautiful , connected, ethical, and SUPER HOT porn at ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://erikalust.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, and use code SHAMELESS to get 45% off! Get an additional 15% off taking care of YOU in the New Year + any annual membership at ⁠⁠http://masterclass.com/shameless⁠⁠ Get 10% off + free shipping with code SHAMELESS on Uberlube AKA our favorite lubricant at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://uberlube.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 10% off while learning the art of pleasure at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://OMGyes.com/shameless⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 15% off all of your sex toys with code SHAMELESSSEX at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://purepleasureshop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of Quah (Q & A), Sal, Adam & Justin coach four Pump Heads via Zoom. Mind Pump Fit Tip: Is hormone therapy actually healthy? (2:20) There is not a lot from an appearance standpoint that being healthy & fit won't fix. (18:27) Are women harder on each other? (23:00) How social media is changing culture and social dynamics. (27:04) A meal replacement shake that is high on quality and tastes good! (37:02) Should you do a 'parasite cleanse'? (39:59) Sex and cults. (44:57) #ListenerCoaching call #1 – Looking for career advice regarding getting a personal training job without sales experience. (54:17) #ListenerCoaching call #2 – Is it possible to recover from stress-related symptoms after intense training and low-body fat levels? (1:08:14) #ListenerCoaching call #3 – How do I know when I've tipped the scales on stress, and I need to pull back? (1:18:55) #ListenerCoaching call #4 – Advice on starting a podcast about physician wellness. (1:31:12) Related Links/Products Mentioned Get Coached by Mind Pump, live! Visit https://www.mplivecaller.com Use code MINDPUMP for a Mind Pump exclusive offer of 15% OFF! New customers only. "If you're trying to feel a little more put together, or you just want some easy wins in your day, this combo is such a good place to start." Visit: https://huel.com/MINDPUMP  Visit Seed for an exclusive offer for Mind Pump listeners! ** Code 20MINDPUMP for 20% off your first month of Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic. **  January Promotion: Code NEWYEAR50 at checkout for 50% off the following programs: MAPS Starter, Transform, Anabolic, and Performance! Mind Pump Store Mind Pump #2752: The Menopause Solution with Dr. Lauren Fitzgerald 2025 College Free Speech Rankings  Mind Pump #2740: The 4 Chemicals That Decide Who We Marry with Adam Layne Smith Modern Wisdom Podcast: Why Bonnie Blue Took Her Family To Watch Her in Action Mind Pump #2217: Dr. Jordan B. Peterson Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste  Visit Butcher Box for this month's exclusive Mind Pump offer!  ** New users will receive their choice between Organic Ground Beef, Chicken Breast, or Ground Turkey FREE in every box for a year. ** Trainer Bonus Series Episode 1: The Successful Trainer Mindset Building Muscle with Adam Schafer – Mind Pump TV Mind Pump #2680: The Fitness Obstacles Women Face and How to Solve Them Muscle Mommy Movement Higher Up Podcast Mind Pump #2000: What 2000 Episodes Has Taught Us About Podcasting Mind Pump Podcast – YouTube Mind Pump Free Resources People Mentioned LAUREN FITZ, M.D. (@drlaurenfitz) Instagram Adam | Relationship Psychology (@attachmentadam) Instagram Chris Williamson (@chriswillx) Instagram Jordan B. Peterson (@JordanBPeterson) Twitter Michael Smoak (@higherupwellness) Instagram  

She built a brand that caught the attention of Goop, TEDx, and Silicon Valley's elite. Orgasmic meditation was sold as empowerment and connection. But former members later described something else entirely: coercion, exploitation, and control behind the curated wellness aesthetic. By 2023, the story moved from podcasts and profiles to arrests and a criminal courtroom. This week's episode is OneTaste Sex Cult - Part 2.Click here for this week's show notes.Click here to sign up for our Patreon and receive hundreds of hours of bonus content.Please click here to leave a review and tell us what you think of the show.Please consider supporting the companies that support us!-This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/SINISTER.-Hero Bread is offering 10% off your order. Go to hero.co and use code CREEPY at checkout

In this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Bloomberg investigative journalist, and author, Ellen Huet. They discuss her 2025 book about OneTaste, Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. Follow Ellen: @ellenhuet

Why do smart, curious people join cults?  JVN is joined by investigative journalist Ellen Huet, who spent years interviewing more than 125 former members to expose how a movement built around empowerment, intimacy, and “sexual wellness”  spiraled into coercion, manipulation, and abuse of power. Together, we break down how wellness culture can blur boundaries, why charismatic leaders are so effective, and how language around healing and liberation can be weaponized. They explore what OneTaste and Orgasmic Meditation (O.M.) actually promised, how social pressure and taboo minimization kept people trapped, and what finally led to an FBI investigation and federal trial.  Most importantly, we talk about why smart, curious people join cults, how to spot red flags before it's too late, and what to do if someone you love might be caught in one. Full Getting Better Video Episodes now available on YouTube.  Follow Ellen Huet on Instagram @ehuet  Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn Senior Producer, Chris McClure Producer, Editor & Engineer is Nathanael McClure Production support from Chad Hall Our theme music is also composed by Nathanael McClure. Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn  Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Her experiences in Northern California sex cults set this entrepreneur up to run one of her own. She claimed her company's goal was simple: to foster connection between individuals through the practice of orgasmic meditation. But those who joined called it a prostitution ring, complete with coercive control, financial manipulation, and sexual abuse - all packaged in shiny Silicon Valley wellness culture. This week's episode is OneTaste Sex Cult - Part 1.Click here for this week's show notes. Click here to sign up for our Patreon and receive hundreds of hours of bonus content. Please click here to leave a review and tell us what you think of the show.Please consider supporting the companies that support us! -IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners twenty percent off all IQBAR products—including the Ultimate sampler pack—plus FREE shipping. To get your twenty percent off, text CREEPY to sixty-four thousand.-Go to LumiGummies.com and use code (Creepy) for 30% off your order.-This January, quit overspending on wireless with 50% off Unlimited premium wireless. Plans start at $15/month at MintMobile.com/sinisterhood.- Get your choice of filet mignon, ny strip or chicken breast in EVERY box for an entire year, PLUS $20 off your first box, and free shipping always at ButcherBox.com/CREEPY. –If you're 21 or older, visit indacloud.co and use code CREEPY for 25% off plus free shipping on orders $89+.

Happy New Year, and a very happy Feast of the Ass to you and yours.  In honor of the holiday, our first caller asks if he should keep a cup of mouthwash handy for when he moves from ass-eating to pussy-eating.  A man wants strategies on how to talk his sister out of circumcising her newborn son.  On the Magnum, Dan chats with Ellen Huet, a plucky, investigative journalist who uncovered an exploitative sex cult that revolves around female orgasm. Her book EMPIRE OF ORGASM about OneTaste, a sexual wellness company is amazing, and she and Dan had a LOT to talk about.  And, a poly woman wonders if when making introductions, she should reveal the poly status of two friends, so they know they are all “in the lifestyle.” Q@Savage.Love 206-302-2064 This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. They make it easy to build a website or blog. Give it a whirl at Squarespace.com/Savage and if you want to buy it, use the code Savage for a 10% off your first purchase. This episode is brought to you by Beducated, the leading platform for pleasure-based sex education for adults. Go to Beducated.com and use the code SAVAGE for 50% a yearly pass.  This episode is brought to you by Bubs Naturals: Collagen peptides for joint health & mobility, healthy hair skin and nails, and gym recovery. Right now, to get 20% off, go BubsNaturals.com and use code Savage. Dan Savage is a sex-advice columnist, podcaster, author, and creator of the It Gets Better Project. From ethical non-monogamy to unethical non-monogamy, cuckolding to crossdressing and with a dose of progressive politics, Dan Savage is a cultural force for sex positivity, when we most need it.

Cults and high-control groups often use sexuality to access and manipulate a person's emotional regulation. Some cults, like the Moonies, used it to create a barrier of fear and shame surrounding sexual thoughts or actions. Ellen Huet's new book Empire of Orgasm explores how OneTaste, Inc. and its founder Nicole Daedone used the topic of Orgasmic Meditation to challenge boundaries and minimize taboos through coercive practices and were ultimately convicted of a forced labor conspiracy. Ellen Huet is an award-winning investigative journalist currently writing for Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Businessweek. She also hosts the narrative audio series Foundering, from Bloomberg Technology. In recent seasons, she has worked on topics such as WeWork and OpenAI, as well as examining the trustworthiness of OpenAI's leader, Sam Altman. The 2022 Netflix documentary called Orgasm, Inc.: The Story of OneTaste featured her investigative journalism about the group. Her reporting has also been cited in news outlets such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, Slate, and many others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OneTaste marketed itself as a sexual wellness company focused on women's empowerment through a practice called orgasmic meditation. But, federal prosecutors say something far more troubling was happening.In this episode, Kat breaks down the rise and fall of OneTaste and its founder, Nicole Daedone. Content warning: This episode includes discussion of coercive control, sexual exploitation, trauma, & frequent references to female genitalia.REFERENCES: Empire of Orgasm - by Ellen Huet Orgasm, inc. on NetflixThe Orgasm Cult - BBC PodcastU.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of New York. Founder of Sexual Wellness Company OneTaste and Former Head of Sales Convicted of Forced Labor.Bloomberg Businessweek (June 18, 2018). The Dark Side of OneTaste, the Orgasmic Meditation Company.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-01/onetaste-ceo-steps-down-after-claims-that-company-engaged-in-predatory-behaviorBloomberg News (November 13, 2018). FBI Is Probing OneTaste, a Sexuality Wellness Company.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-11-10/how-orgasmic-meditation-company-onetaste-left-many-women-feeling-violatedhttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/onetaste-founder-nicole-daedone-says-plans-testify-trial-rcna179947Wikipedia. OneTaste.Wikipedia. Nicole Daedone.https://www.bbc.com/audio/brand/p08xzk5hhttps://variety.com/2023/biz/global/onetaste-podcast-bbc-nicole-daedone-libel-lawsui-1235503124/Learning Orgasmic Meditation PART 1- Vice News Please like, follow, and share this podcast - we're on all of the platforms! Oh, and please leave reviews so other true crime lovers can find us. If you are trying to get a hold of us, we can only respond via: Case Files with Kat and Ashley FacebookInstagramFOR HELP WITH STALKING OR CYBERSTALKING: https://rainn.org/news/resources-survivors-stalking-and-cyberstalking FOR HELP WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: NATIONWIDE: https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/domestic-violence-local-resources/ IN HOUSTON AREA: https://www.bayareaturningpoint.org/ FOR HELP WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT: https://rainn.org/resources SUICIDE & CRISIS HELPLINE: 988 - 24/7 Help if you or someone you know is struggling. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Episode 19: Lola Blanc & Meagan Elizabeth interview Elana Auerbach, former follower of sexual wellness company OneTaste--elsewhere deemed the Orgasm Cult--in its early years. Elana discusses being the founder's right hand woman as the program developed, and how the sexual practice involving stimulating a woman's genitals evolved into what's now called Orgasmic Meditation. They discuss how Elana came to center her life around the founder, how she was manipulated, and what snapped her out of it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Kirk Honda interviews Ruwan Meepagala about this book titled Orgsm: A Memoir, which is about his experiences inside the so-called sex cult of OneTaste. December 17, 2025This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/KIRK to get 10% off your first month.00:00 Introducing Ruwan Meepagala and Orgsm, a Memoir15:44 What was Ruwan's experience in OneTaste?44:56 The dark side of OneTaste1:13:51 Why were criminal charges brought up? 1:17:32 Why did Ruwan leave? 1:26:29 Harm and recovery Become a member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOUZWV1DRtHtpP2H48S7iiw/joinBecome a patron: https://www.patreon.com/PsychologyInSeattleEmail: https://www.psychologyinseattle.com/contactWebsite: https://www.psychologyinseattle.comMerch: https://psychologyinseattle-shop.fourthwall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychologyinseattle/Facebook Official Page: https://www.facebook.com/PsychologyInSeattle/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kirk.hondaThe Psychology In Seattle Podcast ®Trigger Warning: This episode may include topics such as assault, trauma, and discrimination. If necessary, listeners are encouraged to refrain from listening and care for their safety and well-being.Disclaimer: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, therapy, diagnosis, or creates a counselor-client relationship. Topics discussed may generate differing points of view. If you participate (by being a guest, submitting a question, or commenting) you must do so with the knowledge that we cannot control reactions or responses from others, which may not agree with you or feel unfair. Your participation on this site is at your own risk, accepting full responsibility for any liability or harm that may result. Anything you write here may be used for discussion or endorsement of the podcast. Opinions and views expressed by the host and guest hosts are personal views. Although, we take precautions and fact check, they should not be considered facts and the opinions may change. Opinions posted by participants (such as comments) are not those of the hosts. Readers should not rely on any information found here and should perform due diligence before taking any action. For a more extensive description of factors for you to consider, please see www.psychologyinseattle.com

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Stephanie J. Wong and Ellen Huet dive deep into the intersection of mental health, culture, and the emotional toll of investigative journalism. From the personal challenges of reporting on trauma to the hidden world of wellness cults, this conversation offers a raw and insightful look at the human cost of telling difficult stories.

Amanda Montell—author, linguist, and our reigning three-time champion guest—returns in studio to talk about the newly released paperback edition of Cultish, the book that launched a thousand cult-discourse hot takes and made us all think twice about our SoulCycle memberships. We dove into what it's like to write a cult book when you're 27, watch it blow up unexpectedly, and face the onslaught of feedback (good, bad, and "I want to ruin your life"). Amanda opened up about the changes she made for the paperback after years of listening, learning, and hiring her own sensitivity checkers, and why the brainwashing debate is way more nuanced than an X thread can handle. Plus: updates on married life, her forthcoming novel Where To Put Your Tongue (yes, really), and why OneTaste's "get off on any stroke" might be the culty-est thought-terminating cliché we've ever heard.Stay tuned Thursday for part 2, follow Amanda on Instagram @amanda_montell and the Sounds Like a Cult podcast @soundslikeacultpod. Be sure to listen where you get your podcasts!Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:For a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames.com to get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames—named #1 by Wirecutter—by using promo code CULTY at checkout. This deal is exclusive to listeners and frames sell out fast, so order yours now to get it in time for the holidays! Support the show by mentioning us at checkout! Terms and conditions apply.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Investigative journalist Ellen Huet joins the show to discuss her stunning new book on OneTaste, the wellness startup that rose to Silicon Valley fame before spiraling into allegations of manipulation, coercion, and cult-like control. We unpack how a company selling “female empowerment” turned into one of tech's most disturbing cautionary tales, and what its downfall reveals about power, charisma, and the blind spots of the startup world.This conversation goes deeper than the headlines and asks a larger question:How does a community built on self-improvement end up crossing the line into harm?If you follow the intersection of tech, power, psychology, and accountability, this is one you won't want to miss.

In 2011, Nicole Daedone took to the stage at a San Francisco TedTalk to discuss her biggest business venture: the female orgasm. The founder of OneTaste, a company dedicated to “orgasmic meditation”, told a tale of women's empowerment and exploration of female sexual pleasure through the business's many retreats, centers and workshops. But in the years that followed, stories of sexual, financial and labor abuse and manipulation in OneTaste emerged. In the new book, Empire of Orgasm, Ellen Huet investigates the cult-like nature of the operation through accounts of former clients and community members that led to the company's recent criminal conviction on federal forced labor conspiracy charges. Guests: Ellen Huet, investigative journalist and features writer, Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Businessweek - author, "Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When does sexual empowerment cross the line into cult control? Following Ellen Huet's OneTaste expose, we sat with Anthia Gillick—former OneTaste “insider,” survivor, and truth-teller—for a deep dive into the mechanics of manipulation inside one of the most controversial so-called “wellness” groups of the last decade. Anthia shares her journey from lost post-grad to commune life, revealing how boundaries were vaporized, “personal growth” was weaponized, and manufactured intimacy masked abuse and exploitation. She breaks down the OneTaste playbook on love-bombing, sales, shame, and consent, plus what helped her finally get out—and how healing (and justice) have looked since. If you've ever wondered how “empowerment” can become a tool for control, or why smart people stay so long, this episode shines a bright and compassionate light on all the gray zones.You can follow Anthia on her website, anthiagillick.com, and follow her on Instagram or X.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of sexual exploitation and assault, psychological abuse, emotional manipulation, and physical violence in relationships.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Take advantage of this exclusive offer: For a limited time get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/culty and use code culty.Don't let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use code CULTY at monarch.com in your browser for half off your first year.For a limited time, save on the perfect gift by visiting AuraFrames dot com to get $35 off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames—named number 1 by Wirecutter—by using promo code CULTY at checkout at AuraFrames.com, promo code CULTY. This deal is exclusive to listeners and frames sell out fast, so order yours now to get it in time for the holidays. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply.Join the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com/culty. Make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you.AG1 has their best offer ever. Head to DRINKAG1.com/CULTY to get a FREE Welcome Kit, Omega 3s, Vitamin D3+K2, an AG1 Flavor Sampler, and you'll get to try their new sleep supplement AGZ for free. It's been a game changer for our nightly routine.Get last-minute hosting essentials, gifts for all your loved ones, and decor to celebrate the holidays for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.Find gifts so good you'll want to keep them with Quince. Go to Quince.com/culty for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code CULTY.Shop for everything you need at Whole Foods Market, your holiday headquarters! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Inside the Empire of Orgasm: A Conversation with Ellen Huet. There are stories we read, and there are stories that read us. Our conversation with journalist and author Ellen Huet belongs to the second category. What begins as an exploration of the now-controversial OneTaste community becomes a meditation on desire, belonging, power, vulnerability, and how […]

We dive even deeper in Part two with Ellen Huet to unpack what drove OneTaste's inner circle, its culty sales playbook, and the strange tangle of power, personal growth, and manipulation. Ellen reveals the hidden pressures—financial, sexual, emotional—that kept members tied to the group (and often hemorrhaging money), and explains how buzzwords like “aversion practice,” “getting off on any stroke,” and “rapidly changing reality” were really tools for bulldozing boundaries and controlling thought. Our conversation traces OneTaste's journey from wellness trend to federal courtroom, busts modern myths about female-led groups, and highlights why charismatic leadership is always more about the follower than the figurehead. Plus: surprising cult parallels with AI, why new spiritual movements are getting more digital (and more female-fronted), and how lessons from OneTaste can help us spot red flags in even the most unexpected places. If you care about consent, community, or why smart people fall for shiny promises, this is essential listening.For more on Ellen's exploration of OneTaste, read her book, Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. Also, follow her on Instagram, X, or Bluesky.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Orgasmic Meditation was supposed to close the “pleasure gap.” Instead, it led to a federal indictment. Natalie talks to Bloomberg's Ellen Huet, author of Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness, about the woman behind OneTaste and the explosive allegations that led to the startup's downfall. Click ‘Subscribe' at the top of the Infamous show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts  Read Vanessa's book, Blurred Lines: Sex, Power and Consent on Campus, and check out Natalie on Instagram at @natrobe To connect with Infamous's creative team, join the community at joincampsidemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Crawlspace. In this new episode, Tim Pilleri & Lance Reenstierna are joined by new friend of the show, journalist and writer, Ellen Huet. Ellen spent years uncovering the cult-like practices of OneTaste, an organization dedicated to unlocking the sexual wellness potential in their clients. To pick up a copy of Ellen's book, The Empire of Orgasm, go to her website: https://www.ellenhuet.com/ Follow Ellen: https://www.instagram.com/ehuet/ https://twitter.com/squarespace This episode is brought to you by Ask for Andrea, a novel by Noelle W. Ihli and released by Kensington Publishing. You can find the deluxe special edition trade paperback of Ask for Andrea wherever books are sold—for a limited time! Follow Crawlspace: IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/Crawlspacepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ TT:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@crawlspacepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ FB:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/Crawlspacepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ X:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/crawlspacepod.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7iSnqnCf27NODdz0pJ1GvJ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/crawlspace⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crawlspace-true-crime-mysteries/id1187326340⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ Follow Missing: IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/MissingCSM/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ TT:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@missingcsm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ FB:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MissingCSM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ X:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/MissingCSM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ Spotify:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0yRXkJrZC85otfT7oXMcri⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/missingcsm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ Apple:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/missing/id1006974447⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ Follow Private Investigations For the Missing Please donate if you can: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://investigationsforthemissing.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://piftm.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/PIFortheMissing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PIFortheMissing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/investigationsforthemissing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ Check out our entire network at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://crawlspace-media.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're talking about how sexuality can be used to coerce people in cultlike settings, through the lens of Ellen Huet's new book EMPIRE OF ORGASM: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. Ellen joins DB to talk about OneTaste, a for-profit wellness company that was hit with allegations of coercion, forced labor, and other abusive practices. Listen in for the story of how Ellen dove into this story as an investigative journalist -- including the time she came face-to-face with the alleged perpetrators she was covering. CONTENT WARNINGS In this episode, we discuss allegations of sexual assault, coersion, grooming tactics, cults. These topics will be present throughout the entire conversation, so if this is something that hits a little too close to home or is too heavy to dive into right now, please take care of yourself. ABOUT OUR GUESTEllen Huet is an investigative journalist for Bloomberg News and the author of EMPIRE OF ORGASM: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult, a book about the rise and fall of a wellness cult. She writes award-winning features for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine, has hosted two seasons of the podcast Foundering, and holds a particular interest in writing about strange and complex subcultures. Previously, she was a staff writer at Forbes and a crime reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. ABOUT SEASON 13 Season 13 of Sex Ed with DB is ALL ABOUT PLEASURE! Solo pleasure. Partnered pleasure. Orgasms. Porn. Queer joy. Kinks, sex toys, fantasies -- you name it. We're here to help you feel more informed, more empowered, and a whole lot more turned on to help YOU have the best sex. CONNECT WITH USInstagram: @sexedwithdbpodcast TikTok: @sexedwithdbThreads: @sexedwithdbpodcast X: @sexedwithdbYouTube: Sex Ed with DB SEX ED WITH DB SEASON 13 SPONSORS Uberlube, Magic Wand, and LELO. Get discounts on all of DB's favorite things here! GET IN TOUCH Email: sexedwithdb@gmail.comSubscribe to our BRAND NEW newsletter for hot goss, expert advice, and *the* most salacious stories. FOR SEXUAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS Check out DB's workshop: "Building A Profitable Online Sexual Health Brand" ABOUT THE SHOW Sex Ed with DB is your go-to podcast for smart, science-backed sex education — delivering trusted insights from top experts on sex, sexuality, and pleasure. Empowering, inclusive, and grounded in real science, it's the sex ed you've always wanted. ASK AN ANONYMOUS SEX ED QUESTION Fill out our anonymous form to ask your sex ed question. SEASON 13 TEAM Creator, Host & Executive Producer: Danielle Bezalel (DB) (she/her) Producer and Growth Marketing Manager: Wil Williams (they/them) Social Media Content Creator: Iva Markicevic Daley (she/her) MUSIC Intro theme music: Hook Sounds Background music: Bright State by Ketsa Ad music: Soul Sync by Ketsa, Always Faithful by Ketsa, and Soul Epic by Ketsa. Thank you Ketsa!

Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult is Ellen Huet's excellent new book, described as “a cautionary tale of sex and salvation for the wellness generation: how orgasmic meditation turned into a cult.” Let's Talk About Sects dived into OneTaste back in November 2020, and a lot has happened since then, including arrests, trials, and guilty verdicts. So it was the perfect time to speak with the journalist who broke one of the most important stories about the true nature of OneTaste back in 2018.LinksEmpire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult — by Ellen Huet, MCD, November 2025The Dark Side of the Orgasmic Meditation Company — by Ellen Huet, Bloomberg Businessweek, 18 June 2018If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, you can find support with or donate to Cult Information and Family Support if you're in Australia (via www.cifs.org.au), and you can find resources outside of Australia with the International Cultic Studies Association (via www.icsahome.com). With thanks to Money Saver Home Loans, supporting partner for this episode of Let's Talk About Sects. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I talk with journalist Ellen Huet, whose new book Empire of Orgasm digs into the strange origins and evolution of Nicole Daedone and OneTaste, and goes into more detail than the Netflix doc titled Orgasm Inc. We talk about where OneTaste's orgasmic meditation practices actually came from, how Daedone built a movement around it, and how that movement shifted into something far more high-control and ultimately criminal. Topics discussed include: What counts as coercion when adults voluntarily join a group they can technically leave at any time? Where's the line between unconventional lifestyle experimentation and exploitation? We talk about Nicole's appeal, why people found her so compelling, and why charisma often has more to do with the listener than the speaker. And we discuss the paradox that makes groups like this so powerful: people can experience genuine benefits and connection at the very same time that harmful dynamics are unfolding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp.What happens when the pursuit of female pleasure blurs into high-pressure sales, psychological control, and a federal criminal trial? In this two-part episode, we're joined by journalist Ellen Huet for a candid dive into the rise and fall of OneTaste and the controversial practice of orgasmic meditation. Ellen unpacks how a wellness company promising sexual healing and empowerment became a high-control, high-demand group, luring seekers with mindfulness and “goalless” pleasure, then pushing boundaries, demanding loyalty, and turning taboo into currency. We covered OneTaste's celebrity endorsements, culty sales tactics, the “bait-and-switch” of so-called sexual liberation, and the subtle ways a quest for growth can lead to manipulation. Ellen also shared the behind-the-scenes story of her reporting: from her first incredulous meetings through years of deep-dive investigation, to witnessing the courtroom drama firsthand. If you thought you understood “sex cults,” this conversation will bend your notions, shift your Overton window, and leave you thinking twice about what empowerment really means. Stay tuned for part two, where legal fireworks and even wilder revelations take center stage.Be sure to read Ellen's book, Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult, and follow her on Instagram, X, or Bluesky.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS: Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:This month, don't wait to reach out. Whether you're checking in on a friend, or reaching out to a therapist yourself, Betterhelp makes it easier to take that first step. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/culty.Don't let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use code CULTY at monarch.com in your browser for half off your first year.Calm your mind, change your life. Calm has an exclusive offer just for listeners of our show–get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at calm.com/culty. This is an amazing value. Go to calm.com/culty for 40% off unlimited access to Calm's entire library. And tell Calm you heard about them from us!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wellness, sex, and scandal collide as Dr. Phil and Loni Coombs confront OneTaste founder Nicole Daedone on charges, power, and exploitation.   Dr. Phil and Merit TV's Loni Coombs pull back the curtain on one of the most polarizing wellness movements of the past two decades. Nicole Daedone's OneTaste promised empowerment through “orgasmic meditation,” attracting celebrities and wellness seekers alike. But federal prosecutors allege a darker reality—exploitation, manipulation, and potential crimes. In this exclusive interview, Daedone and her attorney Jennifer Bonjean face tough questions: was OneTaste a revolutionary path to healing, or a cautionary tale of power, sex, and scandal? This episode is brought to you by: Home Title Lock: Go to https://hometitlelock.com/drphil and use promo code PHIL to get a FREE title history report and a FREE TRIAL of their Triple Lock Protection! For details visit https://hometitlelock.com/warranty Amen Clinics: Take the guesswork out of mental health care. Call 866-580-6569 or go to https://AmenClinics.com/DrPhil    #NicoleDaedone #OneTaste #DrPhilPodcast #WellnessScandal #OrgasmicMeditation #LoniCoombs #JenniferBonjean #SexualWellness #CultOrHealing #DrPhilExclusive

Did you know that women's clitoral orgasms have the power to completely transform the world and turn it into a blissful nirvana free from pain and suffering? They don't, but, that's essentially what OneTaste founder Nicole Daedone preached at one point before she went to jail. For years, she put on clinics based around male attendees stroking female attendees clitorises in a very specific way designed to completely transform them...and the world around them. Does that make sense? It shouldn't. This is another weird one. Merch and more: www.badmagicproductions.com Timesuck Discord! https://discord.gg/tqzH89vWant to join the Cult of the Curious PrivateFacebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" to locate whatever happens to be our most current page :)For all merch-related questions/problems: store@badmagicproductions.com (copy and paste)Please rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcastWanna become a Space Lizard? Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcast.Sign up through Patreon, and for $5 a month, you get access to the entire Secret Suck catalog (295 episodes) PLUS the entire catalog of Timesuck, AD FREE. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch.