Nicole Daedone founded and became the CEO of OneTaste in the San Francisco Bay Area. OneTaste trademarked the "orgasmic meditation" (OM) procedure delivered through the company's classes. Born in Los Gatos, California,^[1] she holds a bachelor's degree in communication studies from San Francisco State University.^[2][3] She studied with teachers of yoga and Buddhist meditation, and with Ray Vetterlein, who was in turn inspired by Morehouse, a community of which Nicole was a member.^[4][5] Former students of Baranco set up their own practices and groups, among them The Welcomed Consensus. She lived at The Welcomed Consensus, a community formed by former Morehouse students for two years. Morehouse and the Welcomed Consensus, regarded themselves as "the elite connoisseurs of exquisite gourmet sex."^[5] "The Welcomed Consensus had no desire to be mainstream. But Daedone had bigger ideas" according to Ken Blackman, a member of Welcome Consensus and later Onetaste.^[5]

OneTaste has been investigated by the FBI for prostitution, sex trafficking, and violations of labor law.^[6] In June 2023, Daedone and former head of sales Rachel Cherwitz were indicted on charges of conspiracy for forced labor.^[7] Daedone, who was the company’s chief executive officer, was charged by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, New York. Rachel Cherwitz, OneTaste’s former head of sales, was also charged. According to the government, Daedone and Cherwitz claimed to be able to help those recover from past sexual trauma or abuse but instead manipulated their victims into debt.^[7][8]

The company’s “members” sometimes were told “to engage in sexual acts they found uncomfortable or repulsive as a requirement to obtain ‘freedom’ and ‘enlightenment’ and demonstrate their commitment to OneTaste and Daedone,” the indictment claims, and “resistance … was not tolerated.”^[9] Meanwhile, according to the indictment, OneTaste didn’t pay promised wages and commissions to members-turned-workers.^[9]

Daedone is the focus of the 2022 Netflix documentary Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste.^[10]

Daedone was charged with engaging in a years long conspiracy to manipulate victims of past sexual trauma and abuse into providing forced labor.^[11] Former OneTaste sales chief Rachel Cherwitz was arrested in northern California on June 21, 2023. The next status conference is scheduled for Oct. 3.^[12] Both were indicted on a forced labor conspiracy charge.^[13]

Nicole published her first book, Slow Sex, in 2012. Since 2022, she published a number of books on a range of topics, mostly through a small publishing house called Soulmaker Press.^[14] The principles of her philosophy is in her book, Eros Sutras, Volume 1: Principles which has become an Amazon.com best seller in women's spirituality.^[15]

Controversy

Former members of the organization testifying about their experience at OneTaste said it "resembled a kind of prostitution ring" where managers frequently ordered staffers to engage in sexual relations with customers. In 2015, a former employee received a six-figure settlement for sexual assault and harassment. The company made $12 million in revenue in 2017.^[16]

Publications

• Slow Sex: the Art and Craft of the Female Orgasm. New York: Grand Central Life & Style. 2012. ISBN 978-0-446-56718-3. OCLC 858900850.
• The Eros Sutras. Vol. 3: Orgasmic Meditation. La Vergne: Soulmaker Press. 2022. ISBN 978-1-961064-20-1.
• Erotic Justice. Great Work Publishing. 2023. ISBN 978-1-961064-07-2.
• From Guards to Guardians: Rebuilding Prisons from the Ground Up. La Vergne: Soulmaker Press. 2023. ISBN 978-1-961064-15-7. OCLC 1396699143.
• Play: A Path to Genius. La Vergne: Soulmaker Press. 2023. ISBN 978-1-961064-10-2. OCLC 1407314448.
• The Eros Sutras. Vol. 1: Principles. Soulmaker Press. 2023. ISBN 978-1-961064-00-3. OCLC 1390560063.
• The Eros Sutras. Vol. 2: Tumescence. Soulmaker Press. 2023. ISBN 978-1-961064-02-7.

References