Nicole Daedone | |
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| Born | Los Gatos, California, US |
| Education | San Francisco State University |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, business executive |
Nicole Daedone is an American writer and business executive. She founded and became the CEO of OneTaste in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Nicole Daedone was born in Los Gatos, California, [1] she holds a bachelor's degree in communication studies[ clarification needed ] 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 Daedone 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]
Daedone published her first book, Slow Sex, in 2012. Since 2022, she published a number of books on a range of topics. Daedone draws parallels between slow sex and the Slow Food movement associated with chef Alice Waters. [6] 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. [7] The principles of her philosophy are in her book, Eros Sutras, Volume 1: Principles which has become an Amazon.com best seller in women's spirituality. [8]
OneTaste was cofounded in San Francisco by Nicole Daedone and Robert Kandell. 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. [9] OneTaste trademarked the "orgasmic meditation" (OM) procedure delivered through the company's classes.[ citation needed ]
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. [11] The company produced media, workshops, weekend retreats, and a coach training program. In 2014, OneTaste was listed as an Inc. 5000 fastest growing company. [12]
In June 2018, Bloomberg Businesweek published a story about OneTaste which included several allegations of misconduct at the company which Daedone led. The article also mentioned that in 2015 the company reached a $325,000 settlement with former employee Ayries Blanck to settle a labor dispute. [13] Five months later, Bloomberg Businessweek published a story that the FBI had began making an inquiry in to the company. [14] Later publications confirmed the federal investigation and revealed the FBI was investigating for prostitution, sex trafficking, and violations of labor law. [15] The company made $12 million in revenue in 2017. [13] In 2018, OneTaste closed all of their U.S. locations and stopped hosting in-person classes. [11]
In June 2023, Daedone and former head of sales Rachel Cherwitz were indicted on charges of conspiracy for forced labor. [16] 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. [16] [17]
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. [13] According to NBC News, the company's staffers 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". [18] Meanwhile, according to the indictment, OneTaste did not pay promised wages and commissions to members-turned-workers. [18]
The indictment and investigation have come with unusual public scrutiny.
Legal scholars note that this is the first time in United States history that anyone has been charged with a stand-alone, single count conspiracy for forced labor. The novelty of the prosecution is further drawn in to questions given that the FBI investigated for five years looking for a more substantive crime of sex trafficking.
The investigation itself has been under heavy legal scrutiny since 2023 when the indictment first unsealed. The spotlight on lead FBI agent, Elliot McGinnis, began in summer 2023 when the prosecution were forced to withdraw a warrant after defense revealed evidence that the agent lied on their affidavit. The controversy continued through 2024 with claims that Special Agent Elliot McGinnis improperly appeared in a Netflix film, tampered with witness testimony, instructed a witness to delete key evidence, instructed another witness to hide key evidence, and breached the defendants Attorney Client Privilege while hiding the evidence from superiors. [19] [20] In December 2024 defense counsel presented evidence that Agent McGinnis tampered with key evidence at the heart of the prosecutors case that would otherwise demonstrate that the evidence was fabricated. [21]
Daedone was charged with engaging in a years long conspiracy to manipulate victims of past sexual trauma and abuse into providing forced labor. [22] Former OneTaste sales chief Rachel Cherwitz was arrested in northern California on June 21, 2023. [23] Both were indicted on a forced labor conspiracy charge. [24] As of February 2024 [update] , a federal judge in Brooklyn has tentatively set a trial date for January 2025. [25]
Daedone is the focus of the 2022 Netflix documentary Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste. [26]
In 2024, Daedone was also the focus of an NBC News profile by Chloe Melas. [27]
Arbitration, in the context of the law of the United States, is a form of alternative dispute resolution. Specifically, arbitration is an alternative to litigation through which the parties to a dispute agree to submit their respective evidence and legal arguments to a third party for resolution. In practice, arbitration is generally used as a substitute for litigation. In some contexts, an arbitrator has been described as an umpire. Arbitration is broadly authorized by the Federal Arbitration Act. State regulation of arbitration is significantly limited by federal legislation and judicial decisions applying that law.
Orgasm or sexual climax is the sudden release of accumulated sexual excitement during the sexual response cycle, characterized by intense sexual pleasure resulting in rhythmic, involuntary muscular contractions in the pelvic region. Orgasms are controlled by the involuntary or autonomic nervous system and experienced by both males and females; the body's response includes muscular spasms, a general euphoric sensation, and, frequently, body movements and vocalizations. The period after orgasm is typically a relaxing experience, after the release of the neurohormones oxytocin and prolactin, as well as endorphins.
A sex position is a positioning of the bodies that people use to engage in sexual intercourse or other sexual activities. Sexual acts are generally described by the positions the participants adopt in order to perform those acts. Though sexual intercourse generally involves penetration of the body of one person by another, sex positions commonly involve non-penetrative sexual activities.
Doggy style is a sex position in which one participant bends over, crouches on all fours, or lies on their abdomen, for sexual intercourse, other forms of sexual penetration or other sexual activity. Doggy style is a form of rear-entry position, others being the spoons sex position in which the receiving partner lies on their side or the reverse cowgirl sex position. Non-penetrative sex in this position may also be regarded as doggy style.
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Edging, sometimes also referred to as gooning or surfing, is a sexual technique whereby an orgasm is controlled. It is practiced alone or with a partner and involves the maintenance of a high level of sexual arousal for an extended period without reaching climax. Orgasm control involves either sex partner being in control of the other partner's orgasm, or a person delaying their own orgasm during sexual activity with a partner or through masturbation. Any method of sexual stimulation can be used to experience controlled orgasm.
Fingering is sexual stimulation of the vulva or vagina by using the fingers. Vaginal fingering is legally and medically called digital penetration or digital penetration of the vagina. The term "digital" takes its significance from the English word 'digit', which refers to a finger, thumb, or toe. Fingering may also include the use of fingers to stimulate the anus.
Neotantra, navatantra, or tantric sexuality is a Western new religious movement influenced by the Eastern esoteric spiritual traditions of Tantra. Rooted in elements of Hindu and Buddhist tantras, neotantra blends New Age interpretations with modern Western perspectives, often emphasizing the sexual aspects of these ancient traditions. While some proponents reference traditional texts and principles, many utilize tantra as a broader term encompassing sacred sexuality, occasionally incorporating unconventional practices. However, neotantra does not always adhere to the complete range of Indian tantric practices, particularly the reliance on a guru.
Peter J. Nygård is a Finnish-Canadian businessman, former fashion executive and convicted sex offender. In 1967 he founded Nygård International, a Winnipeg-based company that initially was a sportswear manufacturer before producing women's apparel. He was rated the 70th richest Canadian by Canadian Business Magazine in 2009, with a net worth of CA$817 million, while in 2017 his net worth was estimated to be CA$900 million.
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. It was founded by Nicole Daedone and Robert Kandell in San Francisco. The company started to receive more widespread attention around 2007.
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