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OneTaste

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OneTaste
Company typePrivate
FounderNicole Daedone and Robert Kandell
Defunct2018 (2018)
FateClosed after controversy and investigation
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
,
United States
Number of locations
8 (2016)
Area served
Revenue$6.5 M[1] (2014)
Number of employees
28[1] (2014)

OneTaste Incorporated was a business primarily dedicated to teaching the practices of orgasmic meditation (OM) and slow sex. Though it embraced ideas based in Eastern philosophy, the central focus was a meditation practice around the sensation of a man touching a woman's genitalia.[2] It was founded by Nicole Daedone and Robert Kandell in San Francisco.[3] The company started to receive more widespread attention around 2007.[4]

As OneTaste grew and received more media attention, the organization was accused of cult-like operations, similar to Lafayette Morehouse, an intentional community of which Daedone was formerly a member.[5][6][3] An exposé by Bloomberg in 2018 led to OneTaste being investigated by the FBI for sex trafficking, prostitution, and violations of labor law.[7] Shortly thereafter, OneTaste closed all of their U.S. locations and stopped hosting in-person classes.[8] The FBI investigation resulted in an indictment in 2023 of Daedone and her former head of sales on forced labor charges.[9]

Mission statement

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The organization's stated goal is "to create a clean, well-lit place where sexuality, relationship, and intimacy could be discussed openly and honestly."[10] Daedone draws parallels between slow sex and the Slow Food movement associated with chef Alice Waters.[4] With sex as with food, she says, people can overindulge without getting nourishment, or go from one extreme of consuming mindlessly to the other extreme of self-denial.[11]

Orgasmic meditation

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The community is centered around a practice known as Orgasmic Meditation (OM), which is a mindfulness practice in which the object of meditation is finger-to-genital contact, specifically stimulation of the female clitoris.[5] OM is practiced in pairs, with one practitioner stroking the female's genitals, while both focus their attention on the sensation with the stated goal of developing "connective resonance" between pairs. Daedone described her own work as "one that places a near-exclusive emphasis on women's pleasure — in which love, romance and even flirtation are not required."[5] After, both partners discuss their experiences verbally.[5][12] Orgasmic Meditation borrows from other traditions including yoga and meditation.[11]

Proponents state that orgasmic meditation encompasses more than just orgasm and that it encourages greater emotional awareness, connected relationships, and sense of fulfillment.[13] Others describe the sensation as "a heady buzz, mixed with equal parts wooziness and intensity of focus."[12] Practitioners of orgasmic meditation claim the practice nourishes the limbic system, the area of the mammalian brain responsible for emotion, empathy, and motivation but these claims are unsubstantiated by any source outside their organization.[4]

History

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OneTaste was cofounded in San Francisco by Robert Kandell and Nicole Daedone. Daedone stated that a Buddhist monk introduced her to orgasmic meditation before she started OneTaste, though she did not name the monk nor the lineage the monk studied under.[14]

OneTaste originally operated two communal-style "urban retreat" centers, one in San Francisco's Soma District and another in Lower Manhattan.[10] OneTaste then expanded to Los Angeles and London.[8] The company produced media, workshops, weekend retreats, and a coach training program. In 2014, OneTaste was listed as an Inc. 5000 fastest growing company.[15] In 2018, OneTaste closed all of their U.S. locations and stopped hosting in-person classes.[8]

Another organization, the Unconditional Freedom Project, shares "key personnel, a website, and a mailing address".[16]

Controversy and indictment

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OneTaste drew international media attention, controversy, and then an FBI investigation and indictment of Daedone and former head of sales Rachel Cherwitz on forced labor charges.[7][17]

Several journalists have compared OneTaste to a cult and pyramid scheme.[5][3][18] "As with many a commune before it, the leader of One Taste, Ms. Daedone, is a polarizing personality, whom admirers venerate as a sex diva, although some former members say she has cult like powers over her followers... Much of the community’s tone revolves around Ms. Daedone, a woman of considerable charm, although detractors regard her as a master manipulator."[5] In a New York Times interview, Ms. Daedone insists she does not aspire to guru status, while acknowledging that "there’s a high potential for this to be a cult."[5]

A New York Times article led to several critical blog and opinion columns. A 2013 Gawker article referenced online cult accusations, which documented the reporter's experience at a weekend conference hosted by OneTaste.[19] An article in GoodTimes Weekly, "The Big OM", refers to "cult allegations" by posters on Yelp.com,[3] as did one on Vice,[20] and on Salon.[21] A 2016 episode of the podcast Love Radio is dedicated to the experience of a woman who had increasingly fraught relations with OneTaste.[22] An article in The Cut stated that "some cult experts have linked Daedone with Victor Baranco," the cult leader who ran Lafayette Morehouse, and also suggest that it may be a pyramid scheme.[6] Similarly, an article in The Frisky described OneTaste as "Landmark Forum for the clitoris."[18] A Refinery29 article cited the organization's "potentially aggressive sales tactics."[23] Playboy Magazine compared OneTaste to Scientology and Landmark Forum, saying it had a "pyramidal pricing structure". For example, a week-long training with Nicole Daedone was advertised at $36,000. The Playboy writer noted behaviors that were 'cultish', for example, "the way the volunteers serve the leaders, jumping at their every demand to "get me water” and “move that stool”... the full-court sales pitch from the minute you walk in... I leave early and I'm furious". The author implies she was gaslighted when she disagreed with the leaders. She writes that she was re-traumatized "for weeks" as memories of her past sexual trauma were triggered by a business promising female empowerment but "people probably just want your money."[24]

The book Sensation by Isabel Losada ends with a "Warning" about "'hard sell" techniques... 'One Taste' (like many businesses) offer a wide range of courses which are outside the price range of most bank accounts. I'll say it again. Please don't spend money that you don't have."[25]

In 2015, a former employee received a 6-figure settlement for sexual assault and harassment.[26] Around universities, students are drawn to free OneTaste events with ad boards such as "Tired of Swiping Left? Let’s Talk Real Intimacy!" or "You Do Yoga. You Meditate. Now try #OrgasmicMeditation". A year-long, $60,000 premium membership is sold by the company since 2014.[26] OneTaste teaches their members that money is just an emotional obstacle, which led some of them down to thousands of dollars in credit card debts.[26] In June 2018, Bloomberg Businessweek published an article chronicling recent training changes and that was critical of how the company treated its employees and consultants, often pressuring them to take expensive courses, programs, and retreats that drove them into debt.[citation needed]

After the 2018 Bloomberg article, the Federal Bureau of Investigation opened a probe into OneTaste for prostitution, sex trafficking, and violations of labor law.[27] In June 2023, Daedone and former head of sales Rachel Cherwitz were indicted on charges of forced labor.[17][28] As of February 2024, a federal judge in Brooklyn set a tentative trial date for January 2025.[29]

In November 2020, BBC Radio 4 released a 10-part investigative podcast entitled The Orgasm Cult that spoke to former workers of the company, detailing allegations of emotional, financial and sexual abuse, with some saying that OneTaste’s teachings and practices gaslit many women, leaving them with symptoms of PTSD. The podcast also spoke to experts about how the medical establishment’s dismissal of women’s health concerns pushes many women towards the growing and unregulated wellness industry and companies like OneTaste.[30]

Documentary

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A Netflix documentary film, Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste, was released on November 5, 2022. Prior to the release, several people formerly associated with OneTaste filed a lawsuit against Netflix, seeking a temporary restraining order and the removal of certain sexually explicit imagery.[31] Their request was denied.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "OneTaste - San Francisco, CA". Inc.com. 2015. Retrieved February 29, 2016. Inc. 5000 #537 2015
  2. ^ Clark-Flory, Tracy (March 17, 2009). "All hail the female orgasm". Salon. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d Ramey, J. D. (November 14, 2013). "The Big OM". Good Times. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Spicuzza, Mary (April 4, 2007). "Sex and Sensuality". San Francisco Weekly. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Brown, Patricia Leigh; Pogash, Carol (March 15, 2009). "The Pleasure Principle". The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  6. ^ a b Stoeffel, Kat (October 16, 2013). "Techies Predictably Eat Up Orgasmic Meditation Lifestyle". The Cut. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Huet, Ellen (November 13, 2018). "FBI Is Probing OneTaste, a Sexuality Wellness Company". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Huet, Ellen (October 19, 2018). "OneTaste Stops 'Orgasmic Meditation' Classes, All Locations Set to Close". Bloomberg News. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  9. ^ Meko, Hurubie (June 6, 2023). "Founder of Sexual Wellness Company Indicted On Forced Labor Charges". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "OneTaste". OneTaste Incorporated. Archived from the original on February 2, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  11. ^ a b Cometto, Maria Teresa (April 20, 2008). "Vuoi fare OMing con me?". Grazia (in Italian). pp. 93–94.
  12. ^ a b Silverman, Justin (March 31, 2009). "Touch-and-Go Situation". The New York Post. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
  13. ^ Gordon, Daphne (May 6, 2008). "More to sex than intercourse". The Toronto Star. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
  14. ^ Weiss, Suzannah (August 23, 2016). "Can You Orgasm Your Way to Enlightenment?". Complex. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  15. ^ "OneTaste - San Francisco, CA". Inc.com. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  16. ^ Reith, Sarah (October 6, 2022). "'Prison Monastery' Linked to Multi-Million Dollar Orgasmic Meditation Cult Suspended from County Jail". MendoFever: Mendocino County News. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  17. ^ a b "US founder of 'orgasmic meditation' startup indicted on forced labor charges". The Guardian. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  18. ^ a b Vrzic, Lana (January 26, 2020). "7 Things To Know About Orgasmic Meditation". The Frisky. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  19. ^ Tiku, Nitasha (October 16, 2013). "My Life With the Thrill-Clit Cult". Gawker. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  20. ^ Vice staff (October 29, 2013). "Orgasmic Meditation Is a Whole New Way to Stroke Pussy". Vice. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  21. ^ Gummow, Jodie. "The sexy new fad for mindful living: Orgasmic meditation". Salon. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  22. ^ "Upper Left | Love Radio | Listen with headphones on". loveandradio.org. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  23. ^ Barcella, Laura (March 1, 2014). "The Strange Truth About Orgasmic Meditation". Refinery29. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  24. ^ Phetasy, Bridget (March 24, 2017). "The Cost of Healing: What Everyone Ignores About Orgasmic Meditation". Playboy. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  25. ^ Losada, Isabel (2017). Sensation : adventures in sex, love and laughter. London, UK: Watkins Media. p. 313. ISBN 978-1786780935. OCLC 970027456.
  26. ^ a b c Huet, Ellen (June 18, 2018). "The Dark Side of the Orgasmic Meditation Company". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  27. ^ Rosenberg, Rebecca (November 20, 2020). "A look inside a bizarre and controversial 'orgasmic meditation' program for women". New York Post. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  28. ^ Peltz, Jennifer (June 13, 2023). "Founder, ex-executive of edgy sexual wellness company OneTaste charged with forced labor conspiracy". ABC News. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  29. ^ Scharf, Rachel (February 1, 2024). "OneTaste Forced-Labor Trial Unlikely To Start Before 2025". Law360. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  30. ^ "The Orgasm Cult". BBC. December 16, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  31. ^ Stelloh, Tim (November 2, 2022). "Lawsuit asks Netflix to release documentary 'Orgasm Inc.' without 'misappropriated' sexually explicit material". NBC News. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  32. ^ Stelloh, Tim (November 4, 2022). "Judge denies request to block sexually explicit images in Netflix documentary about 'orgasmic meditation'". NBC News. Retrieved November 6, 2022.

Further reading

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