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Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult
A cautionary tale of sex and salvation for the wellness how orgasmic meditation turned into a cult.
OneTaste hoped orgasm would change the world. Emerging in the midst of the late-aughts for-profit wellness boom, the company was unwavering in its faith in orgasmic meditation, or OM, a fifteen-minute practice featuring a woman being clitorally stimulated by a clothed, usually male partner. Nicole Daedone, the group’s magnetic and cunning founder, envisioned a world where OM was as widespread as yoga. But Daedone’s vision came with a behind the militant loyalty she inspired and the millions of dollars she raised was a cult of manipulation, abuse, and coercion driven by a relentless quest for control. And by the time the FBI showed up at her door in 2023 with an indictment alleging forced labor and grooming, even Daedone herself was no longer safe.
Building on the viral Bloomberg article that exposed the truth behind OneTaste and Daedone, Ellen Huet’s Empire of Orgasm is a deeply reported and cinematic chronicle of how a boundary-pushing wellness program became a cult that ruthlessly exploited its members. Huet, the undeniable authority on the group, reveals how, in demanding absolute fealty to Daedone as a path to enlightenment and healing, OneTaste pushed its followers into nonconsensual sex, forced them into debt, and destroyed their personal lives.
A riveting true-crime saga and a nuanced exploration of the mechanics of manipulation, Empire of Orgasm is an extraordinary chronicle of wellness gone wrong.
OneTaste hoped orgasm would change the world. Emerging in the midst of the late-aughts for-profit wellness boom, the company was unwavering in its faith in orgasmic meditation, or OM, a fifteen-minute practice featuring a woman being clitorally stimulated by a clothed, usually male partner. Nicole Daedone, the group’s magnetic and cunning founder, envisioned a world where OM was as widespread as yoga. But Daedone’s vision came with a behind the militant loyalty she inspired and the millions of dollars she raised was a cult of manipulation, abuse, and coercion driven by a relentless quest for control. And by the time the FBI showed up at her door in 2023 with an indictment alleging forced labor and grooming, even Daedone herself was no longer safe.
Building on the viral Bloomberg article that exposed the truth behind OneTaste and Daedone, Ellen Huet’s Empire of Orgasm is a deeply reported and cinematic chronicle of how a boundary-pushing wellness program became a cult that ruthlessly exploited its members. Huet, the undeniable authority on the group, reveals how, in demanding absolute fealty to Daedone as a path to enlightenment and healing, OneTaste pushed its followers into nonconsensual sex, forced them into debt, and destroyed their personal lives.
A riveting true-crime saga and a nuanced exploration of the mechanics of manipulation, Empire of Orgasm is an extraordinary chronicle of wellness gone wrong.
432 pages, Hardcover
Published November 18, 2025
92 people are currently reading
3355 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
December 19, 2025
Meet the new cult — same as the old cult. It seems that while cults find new ways to sell their wares, or should I say control, they inevitably end the same way. Namely, every cult eventually becomes a sex cult. OneTaste skipped the beginning and intermediate steps by going directly to sex cult so they get points of some type for innovation.
Ellen Huet tells the story of OneTaste in her exquisitely reported Empire of Orgasm. (Obviously, additional points for the titillating title.) For those unaware of OneTaste, it was founded by a sociopath named Nicole Daedone. Daedone stole the methods of older cults and added a feminist twist. Namely, many introductions to the organization involved full frontal nudity and sexual contact in front of a room full of attendees. Before you think maybe this is just a women trying to win in a man's world, let me assure you that she could be just as despicable as any man. She could, and she did.
Huet writes the type of book I love from a journalist. There are no long diatribes about what Huet thinks. Instead, she did the legwork of talking to everyone who would make themselves available. She tells both sides of the story and is willing to place the responsibility on the reader to decide what is harmless, harmful, and downright sadistic. This is a wonderfully built narrative which makes me want to read anything Huet puts out. There will be plenty of books, documentaries, and podcasts which will only tell you the dirty details. Huet tells you the whole story. That's my favorite.
(This book was provided as a review copy by NetGalley and FSG Books.)
Ellen Huet tells the story of OneTaste in her exquisitely reported Empire of Orgasm. (Obviously, additional points for the titillating title.) For those unaware of OneTaste, it was founded by a sociopath named Nicole Daedone. Daedone stole the methods of older cults and added a feminist twist. Namely, many introductions to the organization involved full frontal nudity and sexual contact in front of a room full of attendees. Before you think maybe this is just a women trying to win in a man's world, let me assure you that she could be just as despicable as any man. She could, and she did.
Huet writes the type of book I love from a journalist. There are no long diatribes about what Huet thinks. Instead, she did the legwork of talking to everyone who would make themselves available. She tells both sides of the story and is willing to place the responsibility on the reader to decide what is harmless, harmful, and downright sadistic. This is a wonderfully built narrative which makes me want to read anything Huet puts out. There will be plenty of books, documentaries, and podcasts which will only tell you the dirty details. Huet tells you the whole story. That's my favorite.
(This book was provided as a review copy by NetGalley and FSG Books.)
December 9, 2025
This is a really fucked up story and super dark. Huet lays it out really well, the pacing is a little bit off in spots, especially the ending which feels like it ends abruptly. But overall I liked the book and was entertained and horrified by what I was reading.
January 11, 2026
Ellen Huet's account of this modern-day sex cult was my first introduction to One Taste. I'd never heard of the cult-turned-business (or business-turned-cult depending on how you look at it) before and found Huet's telling of its inception, growth, and ultimate downfall absolutely enthralling. Since she was one of the first to report on the group's darker side through the coercive practices alleged by former members, I'm not surprised it was a very thorough and compelling account. As someone who's fascinated by cults and cult dynamics, I really appreciated Huet's top-down approach of the cult, from the leader Nicole Deadone's early experiences to the cults that influenced her and the perspectives of many former leaders, employees, and One Taste students. It's easy to draw parallels with NXIVM, but despite a grand jury inditement in the 2020s, this group somehow slipped completely past my notice. And unlike NXIM, the sex (if not necessarily the cohesive and abusive practices) was very much front and center in One Taste. It was essentially what they were selling, after all, even if they maintained that orgasmic meditation (OM) was a completely non-sexual practice. Definitely a must-read for anyone with an interest in cults or how they are evolving with the times.
TW for pretty much everything you would assume a sex cult would involve: sexual assault, dubious consent, manipulation, inappropriate relationships between bosses and employees, mentions of childhood sexual abuse, victim blaming, homophobic language, etc.
TW for pretty much everything you would assume a sex cult would involve: sexual assault, dubious consent, manipulation, inappropriate relationships between bosses and employees, mentions of childhood sexual abuse, victim blaming, homophobic language, etc.
December 3, 2025
Through Empire of Orgasm we get to see what the cult, OneTaste, grew to be, how they thought pleasure would change the world. We get to read the background of the founder, Nicole Daedone, and how this cult became what it became.
”We are all connected.”
It shows their practice of OM (orgasmic meditation), who they do it with, often in front of an audience, around fifteen minutes each mediation round. How they recruited people to join their cult.
As much I wanted to like this book, I ended up skim-reading most of it. The story itself was interesting, but it lacked something to make me want to read it.
Happy reading!♥️
I got a free copy from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
”We are all connected.”
It shows their practice of OM (orgasmic meditation), who they do it with, often in front of an audience, around fifteen minutes each mediation round. How they recruited people to join their cult.
As much I wanted to like this book, I ended up skim-reading most of it. The story itself was interesting, but it lacked something to make me want to read it.
Happy reading!♥️
I got a free copy from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2025
Title/author: Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult by Ellen Huet
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Pages: 416 (hardcover)
Format: Ebook read through NetGalley's Reader
For fans of: Blazing Eye Sees All by Leah Sottile, Ambition Monster by Jennifer Romolini, and Cultish by Amanda Montell
Four stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
First, as always, thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So, full disclosure - I was familiar with OneTaste before requesting this ARC. Come with me on this. It was early lockdown era and myself & my then-partner drove down to California to retrieve some items she had left at a jobsite at the beginning of the panini (shout out to Gwyn, whom I am sure is reading this). She worked on an educational farm in northern California, on a winding forest road deep into the redwoods. It took us somewhere near 10 hours, and one near-meltdown trying to drive on a winding highway behind a huge RV, to get us down there. Ultimately, the farm was located at the end of a long and mostly unpaved drive, but along that extremely out-of-the-way road there were a bunch of white yurts peppered through a few small clearings.
I asked my partner whether that was part of the farm, because, how cute! They let campers sleep out in yurts! Imagine my surprise when she essentially laughed and said "no, actually, that land is owned by a sex cult." Huh? Over the next couple days I dodged spotty wifi to do some googling into what the fuck she was talking about. Come to find out, OneTaste was the owner of 162 acres of Mendocino, that that 162 acres abutted an educational center where my partner worked, and that OneTaste was in the business of "direct clitoral stimulation".
I never kept tabs on OneTaste - because, if you'll recall, panini - but it certainly planted a little seed in my brain. So when I saw the description of Empire of Orgasm pop up on my NetGalley dashboard, I felt that little seed grow into a full plant whose leaves smacked me full in the face. I knew I had to get a copy. And I'm so glad I did!
Ellen Huet recounts the history of OneTaste and its founder, Nicole Daedone, which she does skillfully. Just under the surface of that recounting, however, is a commentary on what could be considered the preeminent Girlboss Gaslight Gatekeep Cult™️ in our modern history. I found it particularly compelling that Empire of Orgasm seems to, in its back half, actually organize itself around the various ways that Daedone inverted feminist ideals through a capitalistic lens and in so doing, completely undermined the values that OneTaste was nominally pushing. I mean, we even got the Trunk Club and Lean In capitalist girlies in here! (Joanna Van Vleck and Sheryl Sandberg, respectively - also deeply evil actors in their own rights).
Empire of Orgasm presents a roadmap which we should be consulting as new capitalist pseudo-feminist sex positive groups like NXVIM, Goop, Twin Flames Universe, that weird only-women workspace semi-cult that popped up a few years ago, etc. There are almost certainly neo groups like OneTaste brewing as we speak, and I think Huet presents a compelling way to think about these groups as they eventually rise and fall.
My primary criticism is that I do feel that pacing and length could be approved. Some spots need tightening up, certainly, while other spots could use more illumination. I felt, for instance, that at one moment they were all living in a warehouse and then suddenly it was much more decentralized and price-scaling up exponentially. Perhaps more explanation there was needed.
Altogether, though this took me a bit of time to actually get through, I enjoyed the ride. I'll be picking up a copy for my cult collection once it's published on November 18, 2025.
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Pages: 416 (hardcover)
Format: Ebook read through NetGalley's Reader
For fans of: Blazing Eye Sees All by Leah Sottile, Ambition Monster by Jennifer Romolini, and Cultish by Amanda Montell
Four stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
First, as always, thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So, full disclosure - I was familiar with OneTaste before requesting this ARC. Come with me on this. It was early lockdown era and myself & my then-partner drove down to California to retrieve some items she had left at a jobsite at the beginning of the panini (shout out to Gwyn, whom I am sure is reading this). She worked on an educational farm in northern California, on a winding forest road deep into the redwoods. It took us somewhere near 10 hours, and one near-meltdown trying to drive on a winding highway behind a huge RV, to get us down there. Ultimately, the farm was located at the end of a long and mostly unpaved drive, but along that extremely out-of-the-way road there were a bunch of white yurts peppered through a few small clearings.
I asked my partner whether that was part of the farm, because, how cute! They let campers sleep out in yurts! Imagine my surprise when she essentially laughed and said "no, actually, that land is owned by a sex cult." Huh? Over the next couple days I dodged spotty wifi to do some googling into what the fuck she was talking about. Come to find out, OneTaste was the owner of 162 acres of Mendocino, that that 162 acres abutted an educational center where my partner worked, and that OneTaste was in the business of "direct clitoral stimulation".
I never kept tabs on OneTaste - because, if you'll recall, panini - but it certainly planted a little seed in my brain. So when I saw the description of Empire of Orgasm pop up on my NetGalley dashboard, I felt that little seed grow into a full plant whose leaves smacked me full in the face. I knew I had to get a copy. And I'm so glad I did!
Ellen Huet recounts the history of OneTaste and its founder, Nicole Daedone, which she does skillfully. Just under the surface of that recounting, however, is a commentary on what could be considered the preeminent Girlboss Gaslight Gatekeep Cult™️ in our modern history. I found it particularly compelling that Empire of Orgasm seems to, in its back half, actually organize itself around the various ways that Daedone inverted feminist ideals through a capitalistic lens and in so doing, completely undermined the values that OneTaste was nominally pushing. I mean, we even got the Trunk Club and Lean In capitalist girlies in here! (Joanna Van Vleck and Sheryl Sandberg, respectively - also deeply evil actors in their own rights).
Empire of Orgasm presents a roadmap which we should be consulting as new capitalist pseudo-feminist sex positive groups like NXVIM, Goop, Twin Flames Universe, that weird only-women workspace semi-cult that popped up a few years ago, etc. There are almost certainly neo groups like OneTaste brewing as we speak, and I think Huet presents a compelling way to think about these groups as they eventually rise and fall.
My primary criticism is that I do feel that pacing and length could be approved. Some spots need tightening up, certainly, while other spots could use more illumination. I felt, for instance, that at one moment they were all living in a warehouse and then suddenly it was much more decentralized and price-scaling up exponentially. Perhaps more explanation there was needed.
Altogether, though this took me a bit of time to actually get through, I enjoyed the ride. I'll be picking up a copy for my cult collection once it's published on November 18, 2025.
September 13, 2025
For the uninitiated, OneTaste was a Goop-endorsed wellness startup that charged biohackers and lonely, traumatized seekers thousands of dollars for classes, coaching packages, retreats, and group housing. Their central pillar was the practice of orgasmic meditation or OM (which they pronounce like the Sanskrit because of course they do). They became wildly successful somewhere around 2008 and then fell apart during the Covid era over accusations of human trafficking, prostitution, abuse, and other cult stuff.
All of this has apparently been made famous by a Netflix documentary and a BBC documentary. Do we really need a book, too?
I’d love to say yes because Ellen Huet should, by all rights, be the person telling this story. Her Bloomberg News article was the first to break the allegations against OneTaste, and she’s been on this beat since then.
But even though Empire of Orgasm was my introduction to the OneTaste story, it really didn’t work for me. I went back and listened to the podcast and found it a lot more effective for me. It’s also free.
Part of what I struggled with in Empire of Orgasm is the book’s structure. It opens with an excellent prologue that describes basically everything I said above, along with some really gripping anecdotes that got me excited to read about OM. Part I is told chronologically and follows Nicole, OneTaste’s founder, from childhood through about 2006. In part II, however, that structure begins to break down. Events jump around. Significant new “characters” are introduced, veering away from Nicole for pages or chapters, and then disappear from the narrative, only to suddenly reappear several chapters later. People, storylines, and timelines get muddy. Part III describes the breakdown of OneTaste, and suddenly Ellen Huet herself enters the narrative with a jarring first-person perspective that has been absent since the prologue.
This structural inconsistency made it difficult for me to keep track of what was happening.
The other element that didn’t work for me is here what I would describe in a fiction novel as “too much telling, not enough showing.” The BBC podcast plays extended audio recordings of Nicole’s presentations and of their interviews with people who were involved with OneTaste, which allowed me to immerse myself in the story. I got to experience Nicole’s charm and persuasiveness as a guru for myself. I got to hear the impact of OneTaste’s crimes on its victims in the way their voices broke. Empire of Orgasm, by contrast, uses limited, brief quotes from its sources, and rarely lingers over scenes or emotional beats long enough for them to resonate with me. Huet TELLS me that people are traumatized by their experiences, and I believe her, but I wouldn’t have had to have been told if she had either shown me or just allowed her sources to describe what happened to them in their own words.
I did really appreciate the few glimpses I got into Huet’s experience reporting this story, but not enough to recommend this book as a whole.
I received a free eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
All of this has apparently been made famous by a Netflix documentary and a BBC documentary. Do we really need a book, too?
I’d love to say yes because Ellen Huet should, by all rights, be the person telling this story. Her Bloomberg News article was the first to break the allegations against OneTaste, and she’s been on this beat since then.
But even though Empire of Orgasm was my introduction to the OneTaste story, it really didn’t work for me. I went back and listened to the podcast and found it a lot more effective for me. It’s also free.
Part of what I struggled with in Empire of Orgasm is the book’s structure. It opens with an excellent prologue that describes basically everything I said above, along with some really gripping anecdotes that got me excited to read about OM. Part I is told chronologically and follows Nicole, OneTaste’s founder, from childhood through about 2006. In part II, however, that structure begins to break down. Events jump around. Significant new “characters” are introduced, veering away from Nicole for pages or chapters, and then disappear from the narrative, only to suddenly reappear several chapters later. People, storylines, and timelines get muddy. Part III describes the breakdown of OneTaste, and suddenly Ellen Huet herself enters the narrative with a jarring first-person perspective that has been absent since the prologue.
This structural inconsistency made it difficult for me to keep track of what was happening.
The other element that didn’t work for me is here what I would describe in a fiction novel as “too much telling, not enough showing.” The BBC podcast plays extended audio recordings of Nicole’s presentations and of their interviews with people who were involved with OneTaste, which allowed me to immerse myself in the story. I got to experience Nicole’s charm and persuasiveness as a guru for myself. I got to hear the impact of OneTaste’s crimes on its victims in the way their voices broke. Empire of Orgasm, by contrast, uses limited, brief quotes from its sources, and rarely lingers over scenes or emotional beats long enough for them to resonate with me. Huet TELLS me that people are traumatized by their experiences, and I believe her, but I wouldn’t have had to have been told if she had either shown me or just allowed her sources to describe what happened to them in their own words.
I did really appreciate the few glimpses I got into Huet’s experience reporting this story, but not enough to recommend this book as a whole.
I received a free eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 30, 2025
A thorough account of OneTaste, a cult devoted to orgasmic meditation started by Nicole Daedone, which proves women in leadership can unfortunately be just as bad as men. Alas! This shows the way cults meet a real emotional need (so don't ever think you're immune from being drawn in) and how good concepts can get twisted by people who aren't professionals and used for their own aims. The trial was in 2025, which was a nice way to wrap up the book but I have a feeling Daedone and OneTaste's influence will be rippling through the Bay Area for years to come. I hope her current followers eventually see the light.
Content notes: rape, sexual assault, sexual coercion, workplace sexual harassment, incest, child sexual abuse, victim-blaming, intimate partner violence, physical and emotional abuse, workplace abuse, financial abuse, love bombing, suicidal ideation, nervous breakdown, substance abuse, alcoholism, disordered eating, cult, physical assault, misogyny, forced heteronormativity, homophobia, homophobic slur, acephobia, ableism, fatphoia, diet culture, cancer, fibromyalgia, COVID-19, bedugs, hand, foot, & mouth disease, mold toxicity, vomit, family estrangement, parental abandonment, death of father, divorce, donation skimming, credit card debt, polyamory/non-monogamy, sex work, orgasmic meditation, sex, voyeurism/exhibitionism, BDSM references, LSD, marijuana, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialism, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction, Harry Potter reference
Content notes: rape, sexual assault, sexual coercion, workplace sexual harassment, incest, child sexual abuse, victim-blaming, intimate partner violence, physical and emotional abuse, workplace abuse, financial abuse, love bombing, suicidal ideation, nervous breakdown, substance abuse, alcoholism, disordered eating, cult, physical assault, misogyny, forced heteronormativity, homophobia, homophobic slur, acephobia, ableism, fatphoia, diet culture, cancer, fibromyalgia, COVID-19, bedugs, hand, foot, & mouth disease, mold toxicity, vomit, family estrangement, parental abandonment, death of father, divorce, donation skimming, credit card debt, polyamory/non-monogamy, sex work, orgasmic meditation, sex, voyeurism/exhibitionism, BDSM references, LSD, marijuana, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialism, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction, Harry Potter reference
November 3, 2025
Compelling characters and engaging story arc. Very fresh take on the cult and scam genre. The book feels both uniquely representative of the 2010s Millennial wellness startup era and a timeless tale of people seeking power and belonging. strong sense of place, so bonus points if you have any connection to California.
January 15, 2026
I’m always a sucker for nonfiction narrative journalism books, ESPECIALLY about cults
November 26, 2025
I absolutely loved this book, and it completely absorbed me from the very first page. I was struck by how seamlessly it read like a novel—captivating, immersive, and fluid—while still offering the rigor and depth of truly exceptional reporting. The topic was interesting and engaging, and I was always excited to see what would come next.
Huet illuminated the subject with such comprehensive research and empathetic storytelling that I felt like I was learning from a definitive expert. Her sensitivity to the people and histories she describes gave the book an incredible level of humanity, and she showed deep care for the nuance and complexity involved in this story.
Empire of Orgasm is the kind of book that expands your understanding of the world while keeping you turning pages with the urgency of great fiction. It’s insightful, beautifully written, and effortlessly engaging. I walked away both informed and moved—an unforgettable combination.
Huet illuminated the subject with such comprehensive research and empathetic storytelling that I felt like I was learning from a definitive expert. Her sensitivity to the people and histories she describes gave the book an incredible level of humanity, and she showed deep care for the nuance and complexity involved in this story.
Empire of Orgasm is the kind of book that expands your understanding of the world while keeping you turning pages with the urgency of great fiction. It’s insightful, beautifully written, and effortlessly engaging. I walked away both informed and moved—an unforgettable combination.
December 1, 2025
Sex ✍️cult ✍️bad✍️
November 19, 2025
I was up til 2am finishing this last night because it was such a wild ride from start to finish. I had only minimal exposure to the OneTaste madness (being in the Bay Area at the time meant I was vaguely aware of it) until Ellen Huet's article in I want to say 2018? Which, as a closet true crime and cult exposé fan, fed me for weeks. And this book will keep me fed for months, years even!
Huet does a thoughtful job putting thousands of facts, anecdotes, quotes and dates into a narrative that spans decades and hundreds of participants. No matter how weird and crazy you think things are getting, it just keeps on taking left turns. I couldn't put it down, and I already knew how the story ends.
I also appreciated (and completely agree with) the times the author pointed out how much OneTaste's grueling and thankless cult-ure resembles many of the startup giants growing at a similar untenable pace during that same period of time. In some ways it's really "just" the sex that differentiated OneTaste; unfortunately for all of its victims, that made it damaging in ways that are hard to explain even to a veteran of hypercapitalist boom-bust cycles of abuse in the name of shareholders.
This is a big recommend for fans of long-form journalism, those who love to listen to podcasts about cults/MLMs/megachurches/other such scams, anyone intrigued by the title, and anyone who appreciates that nuance does not have to be dead when discussing topics such as sexual abuse and workplace harassment.
Huet does a thoughtful job putting thousands of facts, anecdotes, quotes and dates into a narrative that spans decades and hundreds of participants. No matter how weird and crazy you think things are getting, it just keeps on taking left turns. I couldn't put it down, and I already knew how the story ends.
I also appreciated (and completely agree with) the times the author pointed out how much OneTaste's grueling and thankless cult-ure resembles many of the startup giants growing at a similar untenable pace during that same period of time. In some ways it's really "just" the sex that differentiated OneTaste; unfortunately for all of its victims, that made it damaging in ways that are hard to explain even to a veteran of hypercapitalist boom-bust cycles of abuse in the name of shareholders.
This is a big recommend for fans of long-form journalism, those who love to listen to podcasts about cults/MLMs/megachurches/other such scams, anyone intrigued by the title, and anyone who appreciates that nuance does not have to be dead when discussing topics such as sexual abuse and workplace harassment.
January 12, 2026
Ellen Huet is amazing!! So great to listen to her narrate the audio book
The whole story is enthralling but I was really into the idea that a group is not defined as or as not a cult, but rather individuals within a group can have a cult experience (while others don’t). Also agreed with the super hot take that cults look different these days: they look like influencers, podcasters, and marketers. All of whom poke a hole in your existence and try to sell you the *only* remedy
So so good I would recommend to anyone, docked one point because I found it difficult to keep track of all the characters and links to the past etc but maybe that’s a me problem
The whole story is enthralling but I was really into the idea that a group is not defined as or as not a cult, but rather individuals within a group can have a cult experience (while others don’t). Also agreed with the super hot take that cults look different these days: they look like influencers, podcasters, and marketers. All of whom poke a hole in your existence and try to sell you the *only* remedy
So so good I would recommend to anyone, docked one point because I found it difficult to keep track of all the characters and links to the past etc but maybe that’s a me problem
December 15, 2025
More like 3.5 (screw you Goodreads for not making 1/2 stars an option). CRAZILY f-ed up. People are insane.
January 13, 2026
Who doesn’t love a story about sex cults? This story was captivating and had me excited to see what was in store next for Nicole Daedone. An interesting read to learn about cults that function and exist in current time.
January 15, 2026
Similarly to my review for The Devil She Knows , I have some thoughts about the pacing of the book, but due to my overtired brain, that's the most I can summon for cons/critiques. This book was easy for me to get through because of the topic. Part of me kept reading just because I was astounded that anyone would fall for what OneTaste claimed that they provided. None of it sounded appealing at all & it sounded like a constant nightmare, but to each their own. I remember hearing about OneTaste through another book or maybe an article, I can't fully recall lol, but it sounded insane to me. It wasn't until I saw the cover and title that I wanted to pick up the book; however, once I realized what the book was about, I needed to read it. The main qualm I have with the book is that it seems to spend a lot of time on certain details while not focusing enough on others. For example, the section about the trial that Nicole and Rachel were put on seems to end abruptly. It feels like there should be a bit more. Lastly, NICOLE SHOULD ROT IN JAIL
Read
December 3, 2025Always a trip to read about the sex cult down the street
November 20, 2025
I already knew about OneTaste from the Netflix documentary, so I was mostly prepared for what I would read. Everyone reading Empire of Orgasm should be aware that it deals with sexual topics, but I urge readers to also be aware of the deeply disturbing way the organization talked about sexual assault and domestic violence. Witness accounts can be disturbing and triggering.
OneTaste was more than a cult. It was also a way of life, a million-dollar startup, a religion, and, arguably, a pyramid scheme. Led by the charismatic figure of Nicole Daedone, it was also marketed as being run by women and focused on women. Through the practice of Orgasmic Meditation, students were taught to live their lives in a state of Orgasm. To fulfill and take charge of their sexual experiences while simultaneously reframing the way they view the world and to help the company expand, be it through unpaid labor or going into debt.
Empire of Orgasm goes through the origins of Nicole's teachings and Orgasmic Meditation and the evolution of the group and its expectations. It is filled with quotes from former members and interesting insights on the psychology of the different strategies used by the cult.
I found it particularly interesting how the different stages of Nicole's vision were contrasted to popular trends at the time in the different chapters of the book. The focus on wellness, female empowerment, or even their paid teaching courses were all snapshots of their times, but with a sexual liberation twist.
One common strategy used by cults to isolate their members from the outside world is the creation of a unique language. OneTaste was no exception. While understanding the terms is necessary to grasp direct quotes, I felt a bit uncomfortable with how the whole book slowly devolved into using the same speech patterns. It's possible Ellen Huet was just overexposed to the verbiage during her research and might have simply not have noticed, but it is as if the usage of their lingo helped my mind normalize the bizarre acts I was reading about. That, coupled with a flowery writing style that was constantly trying to build suspense instead of letting the facts speak for themselves (a pet peeve of mine), are the only reason I'm not rating this a perfect five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ellen Huet, and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for the advanced copy. This review is left voluntarily and honestly.
OneTaste was more than a cult. It was also a way of life, a million-dollar startup, a religion, and, arguably, a pyramid scheme. Led by the charismatic figure of Nicole Daedone, it was also marketed as being run by women and focused on women. Through the practice of Orgasmic Meditation, students were taught to live their lives in a state of Orgasm. To fulfill and take charge of their sexual experiences while simultaneously reframing the way they view the world and to help the company expand, be it through unpaid labor or going into debt.
Empire of Orgasm goes through the origins of Nicole's teachings and Orgasmic Meditation and the evolution of the group and its expectations. It is filled with quotes from former members and interesting insights on the psychology of the different strategies used by the cult.
I found it particularly interesting how the different stages of Nicole's vision were contrasted to popular trends at the time in the different chapters of the book. The focus on wellness, female empowerment, or even their paid teaching courses were all snapshots of their times, but with a sexual liberation twist.
One common strategy used by cults to isolate their members from the outside world is the creation of a unique language. OneTaste was no exception. While understanding the terms is necessary to grasp direct quotes, I felt a bit uncomfortable with how the whole book slowly devolved into using the same speech patterns. It's possible Ellen Huet was just overexposed to the verbiage during her research and might have simply not have noticed, but it is as if the usage of their lingo helped my mind normalize the bizarre acts I was reading about. That, coupled with a flowery writing style that was constantly trying to build suspense instead of letting the facts speak for themselves (a pet peeve of mine), are the only reason I'm not rating this a perfect five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ellen Huet, and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for the advanced copy. This review is left voluntarily and honestly.
November 24, 2025
If you're a fan of true crime, cult logic, or the rise and fall of startup culture, this book is for you. Years ago, I lived in San Francisco and I vaguely remember the One Taste and Orgasmic Meditation offerings. I'd heard about it from friends of friends, and I stopped by to see what it was all about, but I never ended up going inside and watching the scenes unfold.
I picked up the book to give it a listen and once I started (audiobook) I could not put it down. I ended up doing EIGHT loads of family laundry just so I would be able to listen to it longer. It's a fascinating look into the startup scene of San Francisco, especially in the 2010's, and the build-fast-and-break-things world.
It's also an incredible story of someone who had the kernel of something that could be really useful and special (that is, better understanding the female orgasm, and learning more about how to allow intimacy to unfold — all of this is so fascinating) ... but they didn't have safety mechanisms in place, and trying to force-fit these ideas into the mold of a business and turn it into, effectively, a cult, would destroy any semblance of an idea that might have been beautiful (if not sacred and special and very private).
It's explicit, detailed, and — at risk of saying it again — fascinating.
I picked up the book to give it a listen and once I started (audiobook) I could not put it down. I ended up doing EIGHT loads of family laundry just so I would be able to listen to it longer. It's a fascinating look into the startup scene of San Francisco, especially in the 2010's, and the build-fast-and-break-things world.
It's also an incredible story of someone who had the kernel of something that could be really useful and special (that is, better understanding the female orgasm, and learning more about how to allow intimacy to unfold — all of this is so fascinating) ... but they didn't have safety mechanisms in place, and trying to force-fit these ideas into the mold of a business and turn it into, effectively, a cult, would destroy any semblance of an idea that might have been beautiful (if not sacred and special and very private).
It's explicit, detailed, and — at risk of saying it again — fascinating.
Read
January 9, 2026In her book Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult, Huet paints a detailed portrait of life within One Taste, a wellness organization that described itself as “a San Francisco based company that teaches orgasmic meditation, not as a sexual act but as a tool shown to increase connections, empathy, and generosity.” The book is well researched, pulling from many conversations of past members seeking personal growth. While many former members still tout the value of orgasmic meditation as a powerful wellness tool, it’s clear from their experiences how the larger OT culture could be incredibly cruel, manipulative, and abusive. I was incredibly saddened by how many people who had experienced past trauma, like childhood abuse, were pulled into OT’s promise of empowerment and enlightenment, re-experiencing new cycles of violence and trauma. Huet deftly builds empathy for former members and leaders alike, explaining how practices like skillful violation and aversion practice made sense within OT’s culture while unpacking how they were used to control and manipulate vulnerable individuals.
On one hand, this is a story about a sex cult with a charismatic leader, and its eventual downfall — a riveting story in itself. But it’s also the story of Silicon Valley’s startup culture that prizes scale and growth above all, and that often bewitches idealistic employees to work long hours for a larger mission. If you enjoyed Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup or Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America, you’ll enjoy this book for its probing questions around workism and capitalism.
I ended up simultaneously reading this book on my Kindle and listening to it on audiobook because I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend to readers of narrative non-fiction and investigative journalism that tackles difficult questions with empathy and nuance.
On one hand, this is a story about a sex cult with a charismatic leader, and its eventual downfall — a riveting story in itself. But it’s also the story of Silicon Valley’s startup culture that prizes scale and growth above all, and that often bewitches idealistic employees to work long hours for a larger mission. If you enjoyed Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup or Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America, you’ll enjoy this book for its probing questions around workism and capitalism.
I ended up simultaneously reading this book on my Kindle and listening to it on audiobook because I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend to readers of narrative non-fiction and investigative journalism that tackles difficult questions with empathy and nuance.
December 17, 2025
This book is well researched and thorough but I was disappointed in the overall delivery. Still worth reading if you’re into learning about different cult organizations.
November 23, 2025
I got so into this book that I ended up purchasing the audible version too so I could listen while taking care of my newborn son. On the 3rd day I realized I had taken my airpods into the shower (waterproof, thankfully) in order to keep listening.
I didn't realize I have a fascination with cults. But I think this book solidifies it. How can you not get drawn in to the story of a sex cult? It's just INCREDIBLE how much credit we give ourselves for making decisions, and then to see story after story after story of otherwise rational people making unbelievable choices in a cult-like environment.
The author kind of unpeels the onion in progressively incredible accounts... and I thought she did a great job of showing that the leader (Nicole) was a multi-faceted, complex character. I was left wondering what part was because Nicole drank her own cool-aid and how much was just evil power-grabbing? How much of the fault the larger cult of silicon-valley with the non-stop startup growth hype train?
And the story is still going! You can find the remains of the company (and it's content) online. Anyhow, I digress. Highly recommend.
I didn't realize I have a fascination with cults. But I think this book solidifies it. How can you not get drawn in to the story of a sex cult? It's just INCREDIBLE how much credit we give ourselves for making decisions, and then to see story after story after story of otherwise rational people making unbelievable choices in a cult-like environment.
The author kind of unpeels the onion in progressively incredible accounts... and I thought she did a great job of showing that the leader (Nicole) was a multi-faceted, complex character. I was left wondering what part was because Nicole drank her own cool-aid and how much was just evil power-grabbing? How much of the fault the larger cult of silicon-valley with the non-stop startup growth hype train?
And the story is still going! You can find the remains of the company (and it's content) online. Anyhow, I digress. Highly recommend.
Read
January 21, 2026This is a must-read for anyone attempting to understand how womenś needs and desires play into our current society - through the lens of an expert researcher/writer focusing on a fringe group.
Although at some point I thought I was reading about OneTaste - and its leader - by the end of the book I realized I was actually being asked to consider how our society treats (mistreats) women in their quest to seek out pleasure and satisfaction in a society that provides ample opportunities for men to indulge themselves. It really made me look in the mirror.
Her introduction utilizing the apropos proverb of the seven blind men and the elephant (a personal favorite) highlighted in advance the need for the reader to keep an open mind, and an awareness that there is more to most things than meets the eye. This was the case with OneTaste, as Huet skillfully addresses cults (and the complexity of labeling groups) with the understanding of the need for human beings to gather with like-minded others in the pursuit of shared ambitions - and how the most well intentioned groups and individuals can be taken advantage of (and often are).
As a son, brother, husband and father to a daughter (and simply a cisgender male who cares about others), this was an incredibly enlightening read that I think is essential for anyone serious about understanding the nature of female desire, and some of the continuous obstacles placed in the way of females achieving that.
Although at some point I thought I was reading about OneTaste - and its leader - by the end of the book I realized I was actually being asked to consider how our society treats (mistreats) women in their quest to seek out pleasure and satisfaction in a society that provides ample opportunities for men to indulge themselves. It really made me look in the mirror.
Her introduction utilizing the apropos proverb of the seven blind men and the elephant (a personal favorite) highlighted in advance the need for the reader to keep an open mind, and an awareness that there is more to most things than meets the eye. This was the case with OneTaste, as Huet skillfully addresses cults (and the complexity of labeling groups) with the understanding of the need for human beings to gather with like-minded others in the pursuit of shared ambitions - and how the most well intentioned groups and individuals can be taken advantage of (and often are).
As a son, brother, husband and father to a daughter (and simply a cisgender male who cares about others), this was an incredibly enlightening read that I think is essential for anyone serious about understanding the nature of female desire, and some of the continuous obstacles placed in the way of females achieving that.
November 13, 2025
It’s definitely a cult. The only ones who’d still deny that are those who still believe in OneTaste and Nicole Daedone. Maybe it’s because my introduction to OneTaste was this book, but I don’t see how anyone could think otherwise. It’s not even a new concept or something that came from a Buddhist monk or any of Nicole’s implied original ideas. She learned it from a cult she’d previously belonged to, which was led by someone who had branched off from another similar cult. It likely goes back even further, but the book only traces it to the 70s.
Nicole Daedone just found a way to identify those who would be susceptible to her OM practices, because she’s the type of person who fell for it herself. After finishing the book, I deep-dived a few interviews with her, and she doesn’t even deny the allegations against OneTaste. She just glosses over questions, never really denying that members were pressured into experiences they didn’t want or taking ownership of how members were recruited and encouraged into debt. Her defense basically amounts to, “Well, they chose to follow the advice.” I could keep going.
I love a good cult story, and this one started out really interesting. I mean, as a child, Nicole would bite the backs of women’s knees because she found them attractive; how could I not be instantly hooked? Sadly though, much of the book felt repetitive. OneTaste was inspired by another cult, that was inspired by another cult, and so on. A good chunk of this could’ve been cut out and it would’ve been just as impactful, which is really my only major issue. I could’ve learned the same information in a two-hour podcast instead of nearly 500 pages.
This one’s definitely for anyone who wants every little detail of how OneTaste originated or for anyone still in denial that this wasn’t an incredibly weird cult.
Huge thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the ARC of Empire of Orgasm by Ellen Huet. Pub date is November 18th!
Nicole Daedone just found a way to identify those who would be susceptible to her OM practices, because she’s the type of person who fell for it herself. After finishing the book, I deep-dived a few interviews with her, and she doesn’t even deny the allegations against OneTaste. She just glosses over questions, never really denying that members were pressured into experiences they didn’t want or taking ownership of how members were recruited and encouraged into debt. Her defense basically amounts to, “Well, they chose to follow the advice.” I could keep going.
I love a good cult story, and this one started out really interesting. I mean, as a child, Nicole would bite the backs of women’s knees because she found them attractive; how could I not be instantly hooked? Sadly though, much of the book felt repetitive. OneTaste was inspired by another cult, that was inspired by another cult, and so on. A good chunk of this could’ve been cut out and it would’ve been just as impactful, which is really my only major issue. I could’ve learned the same information in a two-hour podcast instead of nearly 500 pages.
This one’s definitely for anyone who wants every little detail of how OneTaste originated or for anyone still in denial that this wasn’t an incredibly weird cult.
Huge thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the ARC of Empire of Orgasm by Ellen Huet. Pub date is November 18th!
November 17, 2025
A must read for everyone!
Ellen Hue is a journalist who researched the cult OneTaste created by Nicole Daedone. This became a real federal criminal case and Hue details it all from the beginning in this book.
OneTaste's philosophy was Orgasmic Meditation or OM to be pronounced like OHM. Nicole wanted a future where women's orgasms were celebrated through yoga and meditation. However, she like many other male cult leaders, turned this idea into a money grabbing manipulative practice. Former members told the stories of how she manipulated and controlled them. She took all their money, sexually coerced them and caused them trauma. They all felt sexually and financially drained. Hue does a great job at staying neutral and investigating Nicole the person versus Nicole the cult leader who destroyed many lives.
I liked Hue's writing style. The flow of the book felt natural and organic. No info dumping here. Just facts and the stories of members who witnessed it all. Even the ones who swear their lives were changed for the better because of Nicole. A great and powerful read!
Thank you Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Ellen Hue is a journalist who researched the cult OneTaste created by Nicole Daedone. This became a real federal criminal case and Hue details it all from the beginning in this book.
OneTaste's philosophy was Orgasmic Meditation or OM to be pronounced like OHM. Nicole wanted a future where women's orgasms were celebrated through yoga and meditation. However, she like many other male cult leaders, turned this idea into a money grabbing manipulative practice. Former members told the stories of how she manipulated and controlled them. She took all their money, sexually coerced them and caused them trauma. They all felt sexually and financially drained. Hue does a great job at staying neutral and investigating Nicole the person versus Nicole the cult leader who destroyed many lives.
I liked Hue's writing style. The flow of the book felt natural and organic. No info dumping here. Just facts and the stories of members who witnessed it all. Even the ones who swear their lives were changed for the better because of Nicole. A great and powerful read!
Thank you Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
December 7, 2025
I had no prior awareness of this book or the company, but I’m genuinely glad I picked it up. It starts slowly, and the writing initially felt flat, though I think that’s largely because origin stories are often more informational than compelling.
I’m glad I stayed with it, because the book eventually takes on a life of its own. Ellen writes without sentimentality, which feels appropriate given the weight of what she’s documenting: harassment, sexual abuse, forced labor practices, and a culture so warped it defies easy comprehension. Her dry humor, deployed sparingly, offers small moments of relief in an otherwise unsettling narrative. I was especially taken aback by the sheer volume of sex being described and the cult’s relentless pursuit of “more” in every dimension except clarity or basic reason.
My one real issue is that the book could have been a quarter shorter. It drags in places where it might have benefited from tighter editing. And while almost the entire book focuses on the company, its leadership, and its practices, Ellen herself remains oddly absent until the final section, where her perspective suddenly comes into view, including an unsettling encounter with Nicole Daedone in court. I wanted more of Ellen throughout. It often felt like she held back, or resisted becoming visible as a narrator.
Still, it’s highly readable, strange, and disturbing. It makes you think about the many forms cults take, and how easily people can drift into them, sometimes without ever realizing it.
I’m glad I stayed with it, because the book eventually takes on a life of its own. Ellen writes without sentimentality, which feels appropriate given the weight of what she’s documenting: harassment, sexual abuse, forced labor practices, and a culture so warped it defies easy comprehension. Her dry humor, deployed sparingly, offers small moments of relief in an otherwise unsettling narrative. I was especially taken aback by the sheer volume of sex being described and the cult’s relentless pursuit of “more” in every dimension except clarity or basic reason.
My one real issue is that the book could have been a quarter shorter. It drags in places where it might have benefited from tighter editing. And while almost the entire book focuses on the company, its leadership, and its practices, Ellen herself remains oddly absent until the final section, where her perspective suddenly comes into view, including an unsettling encounter with Nicole Daedone in court. I wanted more of Ellen throughout. It often felt like she held back, or resisted becoming visible as a narrator.
Still, it’s highly readable, strange, and disturbing. It makes you think about the many forms cults take, and how easily people can drift into them, sometimes without ever realizing it.
January 4, 2026
This was honestly one of the most enthralling books I’ve read in a while. It’s really easy to read and stay interested. I enjoyed all of the firsthand accounts from people who experienced OneTaste for themselves. I’d recommend this to anyone interested in cults or the crazier side of Silicon Valley.
January 18, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyable cult read. I was looking for something Bad Blood-esque when I picked this up, and it did not disappoint.
One highlight for me was how Huet evolved a more personal tone as the book went on, sharing her thoughts and personal interactions with the OneTaste devotees. I think her steadiness as a narrator made her the perfect person to chronicle the twisted ups and downs of OneTaste.
While looking up some characters online to see what they are doing today, I came across some of the articles OneTaste posted trying to intimidate Huet. I'm glad she persevered and published her book as it is today. (4/5 stars)
One highlight for me was how Huet evolved a more personal tone as the book went on, sharing her thoughts and personal interactions with the OneTaste devotees. I think her steadiness as a narrator made her the perfect person to chronicle the twisted ups and downs of OneTaste.
While looking up some characters online to see what they are doing today, I came across some of the articles OneTaste posted trying to intimidate Huet. I'm glad she persevered and published her book as it is today. (4/5 stars)
November 20, 2025
Compulsively readable. Ellen takes a salacious story—the rise and unraveling of OneTaste's orgasmic meditation—and elevates it into a compelling inquiry about belief, power, and how ideals can warp into control.
January 20, 2026
Overall, this book is a spectacular work of nonfiction that addresses upsetting topics with grace and clarity while still maintaining an interesting narrative. Good read!
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