#470 Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult

Shameless Sex

Amy Baldwin

Education, Sexuality, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness

4.4 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 27 January 2026

⏱️ 84 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What happens when a sexual wellness practice turns into a cult, and how can we spot the warning signs? Join us on this episode of Shameless Sex as we explore the fascinating and disturbing world of OneTaste, a company that promised to unlock the secrets of orgasmic meditation but allegedly became a breeding ground for abuse and manipulation. Award-winning investigative journalist and author Ellen Huet takes us on a journey into the heart of OneTaste, sharing her insights from her book Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult Here's what you'll learn from this episode: * The history of OneTaste and how it started as a seemingly innocuous wellness practice * The benefits and risks of orgasmic meditation (OM) and how to approach it with a critical eye * The warning signs of a cult and how to spot when a practice or community is becoming toxic * The latest updates on the criminal case against OneTaste's leaders and what it means for the future of the wellness industry * How to prioritize consent, safety, and critical thinking in your own sex life and wellness practices As a journalist who's covered some of the most complex and intriguing stories of our time, Ellen Huet brings her expertise and sharp analysis to the conversation. Whether you're a seasoned sex educator or just curious about the world of wellness, this episode is for you. Tune in to learn more about the intersection of sex, power, and exploitation, and how to create a safer, more consensual world for everyone. And stay until the end to find out how to get your hands on Ellen's book and support her work. So, can a wellness practice be both empowering and toxic? Listen in to find out. website: https://www.ellenhuet.com/ buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Orgasm-Power-Downfall-Wellness/dp/0374604193 instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ehuet/ newsletter: https://ellenhuet.substack.com/ Come to our October 2026th retreats - one for women and one for couples! Learn more and reserve your spot here: ⁠https://www.shamelesssex.com/retreat⁠ Join us on the Killing Kittens cruise in the Mediterranean in June 2026: h⁠ttps://kkcruise.com Do you love us? Do you REALLY love us? Then order ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ now! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shamelesssex.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to snag your copy Support Shameless Sex by sending us gifts via our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Wish List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Other links: Get into turbo drive with Drive Boost from VB.Health, and use code SHAMELESS to get 10% off at vb.health Get Erika Lust's beautiful , connected, ethical, and SUPER HOT porn at ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://erikalust.com⁠⁠⁠⁠, and use code SHAMELESS to get 45% off! Get an additional 15% off taking care of YOU in the New Year + any annual membership at ⁠⁠http://masterclass.com/shameless⁠⁠ Get 10% off + free shipping with code SHAMELESS on Uberlube AKA our favorite lubricant at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://uberlube.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 10% off while learning the art of pleasure at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://OMGyes.com/shameless⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 15% off all of your sex toys with code SHAMELESSSEX at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://purepleasureshop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Transcript

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0:00.0	Okay, so can we talk about how I've basically been living in my quince cashmere sweater?
0:05.5	Amy, can we?
0:06.3	Yes.
0:06.9	Like it's gotten to the point where my partner's, oh, April, do you own other clothes besides quince?
0:11.7	Ah, she definitely does. I can promise you that. And girl, same zies.
0:15.9	But honestly, when something feels this good and looks this polished, why wouldn't you wear it constantly?
0:23.0	I'm doing that now with my new Quince Cardigan, and that's what Quince does.
0:27.4	They make these luxe wardrobe staples that you actually want to reach for every single day.
0:32.6	Right? And it's not just the cashmere either. Their Italian wool coats are gorgeous, like beautifully tailored, insanely soft, built to last four years.
0:42.7	Plus, their silk tops, their denim, everything just works.
0:46.9	The quality is unreal.
0:49.2	You see it in every stitch, every detail.
0:52.0	And here's the thing.
0:53.6	Quince uses premium materials and ethical
0:56.4	factories, but prices everything way below what luxury brands charge. I'm telling you, I cannot
1:02.3	stop buying their stuff. And they also have these Turkish bath towels. They're perfect, like
1:08.5	wrapping yourself up after a long spa day.
1:11.5	Refresh your wardrobe and your towels with Quince.
1:14.8	Go to quince.com slash shameless for free shipping and 365 day returns.
1:21.1	Now available in Canada too.
1:23.2	That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com slash shameless.
1:27.3	Quince.com slash shameless. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com slash shameless. Quince.com slash shameless.
	...

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