My first book, Empire of Orgasm, is available for pre-order now! It will be released on Nov. 18.
My first book, Empire of Orgasm, is available for pre-order now! It will be released on Nov. 18.
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 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 price: behind the militant loyalty she inspired and her millions of dollars of 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 she conspired to commit forced labor, even Daedone herself was no longer safe.
Building on the viral Bloomberg article that exposed the dark side of 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, according to dozens of witnesses, 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 past their limits―sexually, emotionally, financially―and left many of their lives 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.
"Ellen Huet has written a harrowing, exquisitely crafted account of perhaps the strangest cult in history and the almost biblical downfall of its larger-than-life leader. You won't be able to put this book down." ―Brad Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Amazon Unbound
Hi, I'm Ellen Huet.
I’m an award-winning investigative journalist who currently writes for Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Businessweek. I’m the author of EMPIRE OF ORGASM, a forthcoming book about OneTaste, a sexual wellness company that’s alleged to be a sex cult.
I'm also the host of two seasons of the podcast Foundering, a narrative audio series from Bloomberg Technology. One season recounts the rise and fall of WeWork; another chronicles the story of OpenAI and analyzes the trustworthiness of its leader, Sam Altman.
If you’re curious about Empire of Orgasm, I write a newsletter about OneTaste, cults, book-writing, and more. It’s also a great way to hear about book updates as publication day nears. If that interests you, you can subscribe here.
If you’re curious about my non-book reporting, some of my favorite pieces are collected here.
Other things you might like to do: see where I've worked, read my tweets, look at some odd pictures I've collected.
Photo by Bree Rossi