Birth Of A Movement
"Just as in the great ocean there is but one taste — the taste of salt — there is but one taste — the taste of freedom"
-The Buddha
Connection,
Empowerment,
and the Path to Awakening
For those who joined OneTaste, the experience often went far beyond their initial expectations. Many came seeking something intangible—a deeper connection with themselves, a new understanding of intimacy, or perhaps simply curiosity about the company’s flagship practice, Orgasmic Meditation (OM). But for those who stayed, OneTaste became more than a community or a business—it became a way of life.
A Movement Rooted in Transformation
From the perspective of its members, OneTaste was never just about the mechanics of OM or the courses it offered. It was a bold experiment in what happens when people come together to explore connection, vulnerability, and empowerment. The early years, often referred to as the "Warehouse Years," were marked by a sense of discovery and unfiltered creativity.
In those formative days, the abandoned warehouse in San Francisco served as a haven for seekers—artists, dreamers, and those longing for something more. Members of the community immersed themselves in weekend workshops, long discussions about intimacy and connection, and the unshakable belief that they were building something revolutionary. It was a time of profound experimentation, where the boundaries between life, work, and personal growth blurred, creating a culture that felt as much like a family as a movement.
Scaling the Vision
As the organization grew, so did its ambitions. By the late 2000s, OneTaste entered a phase of expansion known internally as the "1080 Period," named after the company’s original headquarters at 1080 Folsom Street in San Francisco. Members witnessed the transition from an intimate community to a movement that aimed to reach a billion people worldwide.
During this time, OM was introduced to a broader audience, and OneTaste began developing courses, retreats, and other offerings to make the practice accessible to more people. Members often reflected on the challenges of this growth period—balancing the raw authenticity of the community with the demands of scaling a global organization.
While some worried that the intimacy and experimental spirit of the movement might be diluted, many remained committed to its mission. For them, OM was not just a practice; it was a tool for awakening—a way to reclaim their bodies, their desires, and their voices.
The Heart of OneTaste:
Orgasmic Meditation
At the center of the OneTaste experience was OM, a 15-minute structured practice involving a stroker and a strokee, following a predefined set of steps. For members, OM was much more than its physical description. It was a meditative act of attention and connection, a way to slow down, be present, and truly feel.
For many women, OM became a gateway to empowerment, offering a space to explore their desires without shame or judgment. Members described it as a practice that demanded vulnerability and trust but also offered profound rewards—a sense of intimacy and connection that often felt transformative.
A Community of Empowerment
Those who joined OneTaste often spoke of the empowerment they found within its community. For women in particular, the experience of OM—and the culture surrounding it—helped dismantle societal narratives that had long suppressed their voices and desires. In a world where female sexuality was often stigmatized or commodified, OneTaste offered an alternative: a celebration of desire, connection, and liberation.
Members described the community as a place where they could be seen, heard, and understood in ways they hadn’t encountered elsewhere. While critics questioned the commercialization of such intimate practices, members often viewed the organization as a pioneering force, pushing boundaries and challenging taboos in service of a larger mission.
Evolution and Reflection
By the mid-2010s, OneTaste had evolved significantly. Leadership changes, including Nicole Daedone’s transition away from operational roles, marked a shift toward professionalization and formalization. Members who had been part of the movement from its early days often reflected on these changes with a mix of nostalgia and acceptance.
For many, the evolution of OneTaste was a necessary step in bringing its message to the world. While the organization faced its share of growing pains and controversies, those within the movement remained focused on its core values: connection, empowerment, and awakening.
A Lasting Legacy
For OneTaste insiders, the experience was deeply personal and often transformative. Many credited the organization with helping them find deeper connection—not only with others but with themselves. Despite the challenges of scaling such an intimate and experimental practice into a global enterprise, OneTaste left an indelible mark on those who participated in its journey.
For them, OneTaste was more than a company or a movement. It was a testament to the power of vulnerability, connection, and the belief that everyone deserves to reclaim their relationship with intimacy and empowerment.
OneTaste:
A Radical Approach to
Gender Dynamics and Empowerment
in the MeToo Era
While OneTaste was open to individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities, much of its work centered on the complex relationships between men and women. At the core of the organization’s philosophy was an acknowledgment of deep-rooted societal challenges: women often struggled to find and assert their voices, while men frequently lacked the sensitivity to recognize when they had crossed a boundary. According to OneTaste, addressing these issues was not just important—it was essential to creating a healthier culture of connection and consent.
Training Women to Speak, Training Men to Listen
Nicole Daedone, co-founder of OneTaste, frequently spoke about the importance of training both men and women to navigate the intricate dynamics of power, desire, and communication. “We wanted it to be a place where men and women were learning together,” Daedone explained in a 2015 women’s course. “It was as important for both men and women to train in how to work with this force together; we wanted to empower women and sensitize men.”
For women, this training focused on reclaiming their voices and learning to articulate boundaries clearly and confidently. Daedone argued that a woman without power often freezes in moments of discomfort, unable to express herself or set clear boundaries. Conversely, men, untrained in emotional and physical sensitivity, might inadvertently roll over those boundaries. The solution, OneTaste believed, lay in mutual education: teaching women to assert themselves and teaching men to listen and attune to the subtleties of consent and communication.
This approach to gender dynamics was strikingly forward-thinking, especially when viewed through the lens of the post-#MeToo era. While public discourse has largely focused on accountability and redress, OneTaste sought to create a space for proactive education and transformation. Daedone described it as "women's empowerment beyond the women's march,” an immersive and experiential form of learning “in the line of fire,” within the most challenging arena of all—intimate relationships.
A Framework for Consent and Empowerment
OneTaste took deliberate steps to create what it described as a safe and conscious environment for participants, particularly women. The organization established tools, methods, and even structural entities to ensure accountability and foster empowerment.
Women were given explicit training in recognizing their limits and expressing them without fear. “Freedom of choice without pressure” was a central tenet, with women encouraged to slow down when feeling overwhelmed and to develop a clear understanding of their own boundaries. Beyond individual practice, OneTaste implemented organizational measures such as an Ethics Committee, a Reconciliation Council, and an OMbudsman—a neutral party tasked with handling complaints and concerns.
These structures aimed to address the difficulty many women face in articulating discomfort or dissent in real-time. Members were given access to coaches, community support, and communication tools to navigate these moments, creating an environment that sought to dismantle the very sources of women’s disempowerment.
Bridging a Cultural Divide
OneTaste also positioned itself as a response to two opposing extremes in modern society: unbridled sexual consumption and progressive repression. The organization argued that these dysfunctional tendencies—epitomized by the porn industry on one side and puritanical attitudes on the other—left individuals ill-equipped to navigate the complexities of human intimacy.
“The cure for unwanted attention is not repression; it is consciousness,” the organization asserted. In this view, both parties in any interaction must cultivate skills: the person receiving an advance must learn to articulate their boundaries clearly and confidently, while the initiator must develop the sensitivity to step back and recalibrate. This “conscious synthesis” was at the heart of OneTaste’s mission, offering what it believed was a middle ground between suppression and exploitation.
Evidence and Impact
Despite its radical approach and the controversies that surrounded it, OneTaste pointed to substantial evidence of the practice’s benefits. Over 500 practitioners provided testimonials about how OM had improved their lives, relationships, and overall well-being. Beyond anecdotal accounts, eight peer-reviewed scientific studies supported the effectiveness of OM, showing measurable benefits in areas such as emotional regulation, intimacy, and mental health.
Practitioners often described the experience as transformative, not only in their relationships with others but in their relationships with themselves. For many women, OneTaste offered a path to reclaiming their power and voice in ways that traditional empowerment movements or workshops never could.
A Radical Vision in the MeToo Era
In today’s #MeToo era, OneTaste’s approach feels both prescient and provocative. While many organizations focus on addressing harm after it has occurred, OneTaste sought to prevent harm by equipping people with the tools to engage consciously and respectfully. The movement’s emphasis on mutual education—empowering women to speak and sensitizing men to listen—offered a model for navigating the complex terrain of modern relationships.
Yet, as with all radical visions, OneTaste faced criticism and controversy. Detractors questioned the commercialization of such intimate practices and the potential for power imbalances within its framework. But for its proponents, the organization represented a bold experiment in creating a more conscious and connected world.
In an era marked by increasing polarization around issues of sexuality and gender, OneTaste’s work stands as both a challenge and an invitation: to move beyond the pendulum swings of repression and consumption and to embrace a new paradigm of mutual empowerment, consent, and connection.
A Multilayered Path to Conscious Connection and Empowerment
OneTaste, offered a depth of experience that was both unique and multifaceted. It wasn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, nor was it a place designed solely for those seeking a life-altering journey. Instead, OneTaste deliberately created multiple access points for individuals to engage with its teachings, ranging from free resources to intensive, transformative programs.
A Range of
Accessibility
One of the lesser-known aspects of OneTaste’s model was its commitment to accessibility. The company provided free ways for individuals to learn about OM, including YouTube instructional videos, events at its centers, podcasts and newsletters. These no-cost resources allowed thousands to engage with the philosophy and practice of OM without ever taking a class or spending money. Regular gatherings, such as potlucks, outings, and men’s and women’s groups, cultivated a sense of community for those who chose to remain on the periphery.
For those seeking a deeper engagement, OneTaste offered programs at varying levels of intensity and cost. Daylong workshops, coaching programs, and intensive retreats catered to individuals ready to invest more time and resources. At the highest level, advanced programs and residential living opportunities were available for those who viewed OM as a calling and wanted to immerse themselves fully in the practice.
The numbers tell the story of a wide-reaching but layered community:
20m+ views of free Orgasmic Meditation instructional videos online
100,000+ copies of the book Slow Sex” were sold, containing philosophical and instructional information on Orgasmic Meditation and the OM lifestyle
90,000+ individuals subscribed to the mailing list.
70,000+ had some form of direct contact with OneTaste, whether through events or inquiries.
35,000+ attended an in-person event.
27,000+ made a purchase, from a $10 event ticket to advanced programs.
16,000+ took an in-person course lasting a day or longer.
A smaller subset, such as the 1,400 individuals in coaching programs and 220 participants in Nicole Daedone’s multi-day intensives, reflected the dedicated core of the community.
Despite its layered approach, OneTaste’s teachings were rooted in a consistent philosophy: OM as a tool for harvesting the erotic impulse and elevating it into a broader source of energy for personal and collective growth.
Beyond Sex: The Pursuit of Consciousness
At its core, OneTaste sought to reframe the role of sexuality in personal and spiritual development. While sex was celebrated within the community, it was not the ultimate goal of the practice. Instead, OM was presented as a modality for channeling erotic energy into heightened states of connection and peak-state consciousness—a concept referred to as the "Eros state."
This approach resonated with those seeking more than just physical pleasure. The rigorous structure of OM and its emphasis on consent created an environment where practitioners could explore intimacy as a path to deeper self-awareness and human connection. As one early tagline for OneTaste put it, the organization offered "a clean, well-lit place for sexuality," but its true purpose was far broader.
“The nature of a practice is 90% you hate it. OMing is not a pleasurable experience, nor is it intended to be. The purpose is to cultivate energy that you can use for whatever purpose you like - toward your joy, toward creation, whatever you want to use it for. But the practice in itself isn't designed to be pleasurable. If it's pleasurable, that is the outcome of a good practice.” Nicole Daedone
A Unique Workplace
Philosophy
The culture of OneTaste extended beyond its programs and into its working environment, which reflected the company’s alternative ethos. Salaries were notoriously low, but employees often described the work as fulfilling and aligned with their personal growth. The workplace was infused with the same philosophy taught in its classes: that work could be enjoyable and purposeful, but reaching that point required effort and commitment.
For employees, the challenges of working at OneTaste were balanced by a sense of mission. Staff faced high expectations and a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. While the days were long, they were filled with elective activities such as Yoga, 12-step meetings, and staff check-ins where people had the opportunity to discuss their feelings and work through personal experiences. This practice culture created the conditions that would generate‘flow,’ harmonizing creativity and personal life.
The organization openly acknowledged its demanding nature, comparing the experience to working for a top-tier law firm or teaching in a challenging school district. It was not a casual workplace, but one that attracted individuals driven by the company’s ambitious goals.
Transparency and Philanthropy
OneTaste’s financial model, while sometimes criticized for the high cost of its advanced programs, was built on a philosophy of reinvestment. Revenue was directed back into the mission, funding scientific research, community events, and the growth of OM as a recognized modality.
The company prided itself on transparency, offering detailed sales sheets outlining the cost of its programs and ensuring that participants understood where their money was going. Advanced programs were expensive, but the company described these participants as “philanthropist students” whose contributions enabled broader access and the development of OM.
A Radical Experiment in Conscious Living
For those deeply involved, OneTaste offered more than just a set of practices—it provided a framework for conscious living. Communal residences, known as “OM Houses,” reflected the company’s commitment to fostering connection and sustainability. Residents viewed these arrangements as opportunities to live in alignment with the values taught in OM: collaboration, environmental responsibility, and intentional living.
Critics have questioned OneTaste’s methods, from its pricing structure to the intensity of its programs, but for those within the movement, the experience was transformative. Whether through free resources or intensive retreats, OneTaste provided a path for individuals to engage with its teachings at the level they desired.
In the end, OneTaste was not just a place for sexual exploration—it was a laboratory for personal growth and human connection. Its unique blend of accessibility, depth, and commitment to its mission continues to spark debate about the role of sexuality, empowerment, and spirituality in modern life.
OneTaste’s Community-Based Business Model: A Workplace Built on Practice & Contemplation
OneTaste was intentionally structured as a community-based business, a choice that set it apart from traditional organizations. For those drawn to its mission, the company provided a unique opportunity: a way to pursue a rigorous path of practice and deep contemplation without needing the financial resources or lifestyle sacrifices typically associated with such endeavors.
In most contexts, those seeking a life of introspection and growth might need to withdraw entirely from the world, committing to environments like meditation monasteries. But OneTaste offered a middle path—a workplace that also served as a training ground for personal development.
According to insiders, the organization’s content, coupled with Nicole Daedone’s skill as a teacher, could have yielded far greater financial returns if it had been managed by traditional professionals. However, such a model would have deviated from OneTaste’s core mission. The goal was not to create a business reliant on cheap labor or to demand devotion from its members. Instead, OneTaste sought to integrate its teachings into the fabric of everyday life, creating an environment where work and growth were deeply intertwined.
By and large, this intention was successful. Employees found themselves in a space that blurred the lines between professional development and personal transformation. For many, the OneTaste workplace became a place not only to earn a living but to immerse themselves in a lifestyle rooted in the principles of practice, connection, and empowerment.