Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult - Hardcover

by Ellen Huet (Author)

"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." --Ashlee Vance, New York Times bestselling author of When the Heavens Went on Sale and Elon Musk

A cautionary tale of sex and salvation for the wellness generation: 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 involving 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 at a price: behind the militant loyalty she inspired and the millions of dollars in sales was what former members describe as 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 that she had conspired to commit forced labor, even Daedone herself was no longer safe.

Building on the viral Bloomberg article that exposed the dark sides of OneTaste and of Daedone, Ellen Huet's Empire of Orgasm tells how a boundary-pushing wellness program became a cult that, according to dozens of witnesses, ruthlessly exploited its members. Huet, the undeniable authority on the group, reveals how, in demanding absolute fealty to Daedone on the path to enlightenment and healing, OneTaste pushed its followers past their limits--sexually, emotionally, financially--and left the lives of many in shambles. The story culminates in Daedone's conviction in June 2025 after a five-week criminal trial.

A riveting saga and a nuanced exploration of the mechanics of manipulation, Empire of Orgasm is an extraordinary account of wellness gone wrong.

Author Biography

Ellen Huet is an investigative journalist who covers technology and Silicon Valley for Bloomberg News. She writes award-winning features for Bloomberg Businessweek, 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.