Shows
History Nerds UnitedBooks I Don't Want You To Miss for February 2026Send a textWe can't interview them all, but I can for sure tell you the best books out there. Here is the latest release of books I don't want you to miss.Rebel of the Regency by Ann FosterUntil the Last Gun is Silent by Matthew Delmont The Science of Second Chances by Jennifer Doleac Heiresses by Miranda Kauffman Empire of Orgasm by Ellen Huet Support the show
2026-02-2805 min
Fiasko FestS03E21 Heiansdo deet et wéi: Nadine RobertD’Nadine Robert ass Influencerin, Model an eng Persoun, déi aus den Erausfuerderunge vum Alldag eppes mécht, wat schwéier a Wierder ze faassen ass. Ëmmer faarweg ugedoen, ëmmer gutt gelaunt, ëmmer um "klimperen". De Luc Spada huet awer an dëser Emissioun vu Fiasko Fest Asiicht an d’Vergaangenheet vu senger Invitée kritt. Et war net ëmmer faarweg, net ëmmer schéin, mä och dacks ganz ellen, traureg an tragesch. E Gespréich vun enger Déift an Intimitéit, wéi een et esou guer an enger Sendung iwwer d'Scheitere seelen erlieft.
2026-02-0853 min
Cautionary Tales with Tim HarfordPowered by Orgasm: The Rise and Fall of a Sex Cult - with Ellen HuetRun by the charismatic Nicole Deadone, OneTaste billed itself as a sexual wellness startup celebrating the power of female orgasm. But behind the celebrity endorsements and promises of healing, lay a darker reality. When Bloomberg journalist Ellen Huet began to dig into the organisation, she uncovered financial, emotional and sexual exploitation of its members, many of whom would call the company a cult. Huet, author of Empire of Orgasm, joins Tim to discuss why we should beware people promising pleasure, and what we can learn from the rise and fall of OneTaste. This episode contains explicit content...
2026-01-3041 min
AI Podcast Summaries from Transcripted.ai (VIDEO)When Wellness Becomes Control — Armchair Expert on OneTaste and the Cost of IntimacyA provocative look at how a wellness startup turned into a criminal case—what happens when intimacy, money, and charisma collide. In this 5-minute summary (original episode 2 hours), hosts Dax Shepard and Monica Padman sit down with investigative reporter Ellen Huet to unpack OneTaste, orgasmic meditation, and the slide from healing practice to coercive community. You’ll learn how branding, investor pressure, status systems, and blurred consent fueled allegations of forced labor and fraud, why intelligent people fall into cult-like dynamics, and what red flags to watch for in any group or startup. Ellen also reflects on journalism’s role in nor...
2026-01-2805 min
Armchair Expert with Dax ShepardEllen Huet (on wellness cults)Ellen Huet (Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult) is a journalist, startup founder, and author. Ellen joins the Armchair Expert to discuss must-haves versus most-haves in terms of cult sexuality requirements, her hot tips for avoiding cults that are too extractive, and her dealings with Silicon Valley and venture capitalists. Ellen and Dax talk about when she began covering orgasmic meditation startup OneTaste, the OM course to cult pipeline, and the intricacies and systems of manipulation concocted by OneTaste’s leader. Ellen explains unpacking potential power dynamics of sexual abuse, how much status ga...
2026-01-281h 56
Shameless Sex#470 Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness CultWhat 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...
2026-01-271h 20
Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa MariaCorporate Sex Cult w/ Ellen HuetIn this episode of Talk Nerdy, Cara is joined by Bloomberg investigative journalist, and author, Ellen Huet. They discuss her 2025 book about OneTaste, Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. Follow Ellen: @ellenhuet
2026-01-191h 11
Getting Better with Jonathan Van NessWhen Wellness Turns Dangerous: Inside the OneTaste CultWhy do people join cults?
JVN is joined by investigative journalist Ellen Huet, who spent years interviewing more than 125 former members to expose how a movement built around empowerment, intimacy, and “sexual wellness” spiraled into coercion, manipulation, and abuse of power. Together, we break down how wellness culture can blur boundaries, why charismatic leaders are so effective, and how language around healing and liberation can be weaponized.
They explore what OneTaste and Orgasmic Meditation (O.M.) actually promised, how social pressure and taboo minimization kept people trapped, and what finall...
2026-01-1451 min
Savage LovecastMouthwash?Happy New Year, and a very happy Feast of the Ass to you and yours.
In honor of the holiday, our first caller asks if he should keep a cup of mouthwash handy for when he moves from ass-eating to pussy-eating.
A man wants strategies on how to talk his sister out of circumcising her newborn son.
On the Magnum, Dan chats with Ellen Huet, a plucky, investigative journalist who uncovered an exploitative sex cult that revolves around female orgasm. Her book EMPIRE OF ORGASM about OneTaste, a sexual wellness company is amazing, and...
2026-01-1359 min
Cults, Culture & Coercion with Dr. Steve HassanEmpire of Orgasm: An Investigative Look into a Cult of Orgasmic Meditation with Ellen HuetCults and high-control groups often use sexuality to access and manipulate a person’s emotional regulation. Some cults, like the Moonies, used it to create a barrier of fear and shame surrounding sexual thoughts or actions. Ellen Huet’s new book Empire of Orgasm explores how OneTaste, Inc. and its founder Nicole Daedone used the topic of Orgasmic Meditation to challenge boundaries and minimize taboos through coercive practices and were ultimately convicted of a forced labor conspiracy.
Ellen Huet is an award-winning investigative journalist currently writing for Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Businessweek. She also hosts the...
2026-01-121h 04
Case Files with Kat and AshleyS. 8 Episode 9: Consent Is Complicated: The OneTaste StoryOneTaste marketed itself as a sexual wellness company focused on women’s empowerment through a practice called orgasmic meditation. But, federal prosecutors say something far more troubling was happening.In this episode, Kat breaks down the rise and fall of OneTaste and its founder, Nicole Daedone. Content warning: This episode includes discussion of coercive control, sexual exploitation, trauma, & frequent references to female genitalia.REFERENCES: Empire of Orgasm - by Ellen Huet Orgasm, inc. on NetflixThe Orgasm Cult - BBC PodcastU.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of New York...
2026-01-011h 18
Color of SuccessPodcast Episode: Navigating the Complexities of Mental Health, Journalism, and CultsIn this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Stephanie J. Wong and Ellen Huet dive deep into the intersection of mental health, culture, and the emotional toll of investigative journalism. From the personal challenges of reporting on trauma to the hidden world of wellness cults, this conversation offers a raw and insightful look at the human cost of telling difficult stories. 🔍 Highlights: Mental Health in Journalism: Stephanie and Ellen discuss how journalists cope with emotionally triggering material and the intense scrutiny that comes with high-profile stories. Ellen shares her unique perspective on maintaining empathy while still doing her job...
2025-12-1534 min
Newcomer PodInside the Sex Cult That Fooled Silicon ValleyInvestigative journalist Ellen Huet joins the show to discuss her stunning new book on OneTaste, the wellness startup that rose to Silicon Valley fame before spiraling into allegations of manipulation, coercion, and cult-like control. We unpack how a company selling “female empowerment” turned into one of tech’s most disturbing cautionary tales, and what its downfall reveals about power, charisma, and the blind spots of the startup world.This conversation goes deeper than the headlines and asks a larger question:How does a community built on self-improvement end up crossing the line into harm?If you follow the intersection of tec...
2025-12-0834 min
Otherppl with Brad ListiExcerpt from 'Empire of Orgasm,' by Ellen HuetVol. 2 of Story Time, a new series on the program featuring an author reading aloud from her work. In this episode, Ellen Huet reads from Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult (MCD Books).
Huet is an investigative journalist who covers technology and Silicon Valley forBloomberg News. She writes award-winning features for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine, has hosted two seasons of the podcast Foundering, and holds a particular interest in writing about strange and complex subcultures. Previously, she was a staff writer at Forbes and a crime reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle. She lives...
2025-12-0622 min
Everybody's BusinessWill Chatbots Break Our Brains—And Our Hearts?Live from the stage at our Dec. 4 event at Bloomberg’s headquarters in New York, Ellen Huet joins Max and Stacey to talk about her recent story on chatbot delusion. As people’s lives get increasingly entangled with AI, cases of intense human-bot connections breaking up families, businesses, and even pushing people to question their own sanity is raising with an alarming rate. They also discuss Huet's recent book Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. Also, back in the studio, Max and Stacey take a look at puzzlingly positive Black Friday...
2025-12-0538 min
KQED's ForumEmpire of Orgasm: Sex, Power and the Downfall of a Bay Area Wellness CultIn 2011, Nicole Daedone took to the stage at a San Francisco TedTalk to discuss her biggest business venture: the female orgasm. The founder of OneTaste, a company dedicated to “orgasmic meditation”, told a tale of women’s empowerment and exploration of female sexual pleasure through the business’s many retreats, centers and workshops. But in the years that followed, stories of sexual, financial and labor abuse and manipulation in OneTaste emerged. In the new book, Empire of Orgasm, Ellen Huet investigates the cult-like nature of the operation through accounts of former clients and community members that led to the company’...
2025-12-0254 min
A Little Bit CultyAnthia Gillick on OneTaste: Strokes, Sex, and ShameWhen does sexual empowerment cross the line into cult control? Following Ellen Huet’s OneTaste expose, we sat with Anthia Gillick—former OneTaste “insider,” survivor, and truth-teller—for a deep dive into the mechanics of manipulation inside one of the most controversial so-called “wellness” groups of the last decade. Anthia shares her journey from lost post-grad to commune life, revealing how boundaries were vaporized, “personal growth” was weaponized, and manufactured intimacy masked abuse and exploitation. She breaks down the OneTaste playbook on love-bombing, sales, shame, and consent, plus what helped her finally get out—and how healing (and...
2025-12-0154 min
Big Technology PodcastCommunal Living, Sex, And Silicon Valley's Groupthink Problem — With Ellen HuetEllen Huet is a features writer at Bloomberg and the author of Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. Ellen joins Big Technology to discuss how Silicon Valley, a place that prides itself on independent thinking, keeps falling into powerful forms of groupthink. Tune in to hear how group houses, self-help programs, and “high agency” ideology create fertile ground for cult dynamics, and how that same psychology shows up in today’s AGI and AI-safety worlds. Hit play for a wild, revealing look at the stories and belief systems quietly shaping the tech industry’s bigges...
2025-11-261h 00Otherppl with Brad Listi1008. Ellen HuetEllen Huet is the author of Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult, available from MCD Books.
Huet is an investigative journalist who covers technology and Silicon Valley forBloomberg News. She writes award-winning features for Bloomberg Businessweek magazine, has hosted two seasons of the podcast Foundering, and holds a particular interest in writing about strange and complex subcultures. Previously, she was a staff writer at Forbes and a crime reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Otherppl with Brad Listi is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers.
This week's episode is br...
2025-11-251h 57
Moped OutlawsInside the Empire of Orgasm: A Conversation with Ellen HuetInside the Empire of Orgasm: A Conversation with Ellen Huet. There are stories we read, and there are stories that read us. Our conversation with journalist and author Ellen Huet belongs to the second category. What begins as an exploration of the now-con
2025-11-241h 12Moped OutlawsInside the Empire of Orgasm: A Conversation with Ellen HuetInside the Empire of Orgasm: A Conversation with Ellen Huet. There are stories we read, and there are stories that read us. Our conversation with journalist and author Ellen Huet belongs to the second category. What begins as an exploration of the now-controversial OneTaste community becomes a meditation on desire, belonging, power, vulnerability, and how […]
2025-11-241h 12
A Little Bit CultyEmpire of Orgasm: Ellen Huet on the Different Strokes of OneTaste (Part 2)We dive even deeper in Part two with Ellen Huet to unpack what drove OneTaste’s inner circle, its culty sales playbook, and the strange tangle of power, personal growth, and manipulation. Ellen reveals the hidden pressures—financial, sexual, emotional—that kept members tied to the group (and often hemorrhaging money), and explains how buzzwords like “aversion practice,” “getting off on any stroke,” and “rapidly changing reality” were really tools for bulldozing boundaries and controlling thought. Our conversation traces OneTaste’s journey from wellness trend to federal courtroom, busts modern myths about female-led groups, and highlights why charismatic leadership is always more about...
2025-11-2046 min
InfamousOneTaste: The Startup That Went Too FarOrgasmic Meditation was supposed to close the “pleasure gap.” Instead, it led to a federal indictment. Natalie talks to Bloomberg’s Ellen Huet, author of Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness, about the woman behind OneTaste and the explosive allegations that led to the startup’s downfall.
Click ‘Subscribe’ at the top of the Infamous show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
Read Vanessa’s bo...
2025-11-2042 min
The Study Hall PodcastInvestigating a Sex Wellness Cult ft. Ellen Huet
Ellen Huet is a reporter at Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Businessweek. In this conversation with host Daniel Spielberger, Huet discusses her new book Empire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. The book chronicles the story of OneTaste, a wellness company that’s been accused of manipulation and abuse. Huet exposed the true story of the company for Bloomberg. Empire of Orgasm builds off that reporting.
In this conversation, Huet chats about her reporting process, the evolving definition of a cult, and the ominous parallels between cults and startups. She also shar...
2025-11-1954 min
Crawlspace - True Crime & Mysteries591 // The Cult of Orgasm w/ Ellen HuetWelcome to Crawlspace. In this new episode, Tim Pilleri & Lance Reenstierna are joined by new friend of the show, journalist and writer, Ellen Huet. Ellen spent years uncovering the cult-like practices of OneTaste, an organization dedicated to unlocking the sexual wellness potential in their clients.
To pick up a copy of Ellen's book, The Empire of Orgasm, go to her website:
https://www.ellenhuet.com/
Follow Ellen:
https://www.instagram.com/ehuet/
https://twitter.com/squarespace
This episode is brought to you by Ask for Andrea, a...
2025-11-1951 min
Sex Ed with DB: smart, science-backed sex educationSecrets of a Sex Cult: When Pleasure Gets Weaponized with Ellen Huet This week, we're talking about how sexuality can be used to coerce people in cultlike settings, through the lens of Ellen Huet's new book EMPIRE OF ORGASM: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult. Ellen joins DB to talk about OneTaste, a for-profit wellness company that was hit with allegations of coercion, forced labor, and other abusive practices. Listen in for the story of how Ellen dove into this story as an investigative journalist -- including the time she came face-to-face with the alleged perpetrators she was covering. CONTENT WARNINGS In this episode...
2025-11-1957 min
Let's Talk About SectsEmpire of Orgasm: OneTaste with Ellen HuetEmpire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and the Downfall of a Wellness Cult is Ellen Huet’s excellent new book, described as “a cautionary tale of sex and salvation for the wellness generation: how orgasmic meditation turned into a cult.” Let's Talk About Sects dived into OneTaste back in November 2020, and a lot has happened since then, including arrests, trials, and guilty verdicts. So it was the perfect time to speak with the journalist who broke one of the most important stories about the true nature of OneTaste back in 2018.LinksEmpire of Orgasm: Sex, Power, and th...
2025-11-181h 11
People Who Read People: A Behavior and Psychology PodcastThe Orgasmic Meditation story: Origins and psychology of OneTaste and Nicole DaedoneI talk with journalist Ellen Huet, whose new book Empire of Orgasm digs into the strange origins and evolution of Nicole Daedone and OneTaste, and goes into more detail than the Netflix doc titled Orgasm Inc. We talk about where OneTaste’s orgasmic meditation practices actually came from, how Daedone built a movement around it, and how that movement shifted into something far more high-control and ultimately criminal. Topics discussed include: What counts as coercion when adults voluntarily join a group they can technically leave at any time? Where’s the line between unconventional lifestyle experimentation and exploitation? We talk abou...
2025-11-181h 07
People Who Read People: A Behavior and Psychology PodcastThe Orgasmic Meditation story: Origins and psychology of OneTaste and Nicole DaedoneI talk with journalist Ellen Huet, whose new book Empire of Orgasm digs into the strange origins and evolution of Nicole Daedone and OneTaste, and goes into more detail than the Netflix doc titled Orgasm Inc. We talk about where OneTaste’s orgasmic meditation practices actually came from, how Daedone built a movement around it, and how that movement shifted into something far more high-control and ultimately criminal. Topics discussed include: What counts as coercion when adults voluntarily join a group they can technically leave at any time? Where’s the line between unconventional lifestyle experimentation and exploitation? We talk...
2025-11-181h 13
Religion on the Mind“Sexual Wellness” or Spiritual Abuse? (#361)Definitely don’t play this one with kids around! I’m sitting down with journalist Ellen Huet to explore the rise and fall of OneTaste, a San Francisco wellness startup that built an empire around "orgasmic meditation"—a 15-minute sexual practice wrapped in spiritual language and trademark Silicon Valley business savvy.
Ellen, who wrote the exposé that helped trigger an FBI investigation and whose book Empire of Orgasm releases tomorrow, walks me through how founder Nicole Dadone created a company that promised enlightenment through sexuality, borrowed heavily from Buddhist and tantric traditions (while naming their practice "OM"), and attr...
2025-11-171h 11Religion on the Mind“Sexual Wellness” or Spiritual Abuse? (#361)Definitely don’t play this one with kids around! I’m sitting down with journalist Ellen Huet to explore the rise and fall of OneTaste, a San Francisco wellness startup that built an empire around "orgasmic meditation"—a 15-minute sexual practice wrapped in spiritual language and trademark Silicon Valley business savvy.
Ellen, who wrote the exposé that helped trigger an FBI investigation and whose book Empire of Orgasm releases tomorrow, walks me through how founder Nicole Dadone created a company that promised enlightenment through sexuality, borrowed heavily from Buddhist and tantric traditions (while naming their practice "OM"), and attr...
2025-11-171h 11
A Little Bit CultyEmpire of Orgasm: Ellen Huet on the Different Strokes of OneTaste (Part 1)This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp.What happens when the pursuit of female pleasure blurs into high-pressure sales, psychological control, and a federal criminal trial? In this two-part episode, we’re joined by journalist Ellen Huet for a candid dive into the rise and fall of OneTaste and the controversial practice of orgasmic meditation. Ellen unpacks how a wellness company promising sexual healing and empowerment became a high-control, high-demand group, luring seekers with mindfulness and “goalless” pleasure, then pushing boundaries, demanding loyalty, and turning taboo into currency. We covered OneTast...
2025-11-1741 min
Strange CountryELIZAIn 1964, MIT researcher Joseph Weizenbaum created the first therapy chatbot ELIZA and realized soon after that it sucked and humanity was worse for it. Sixty years later, our new tech gods are like "sex porn bots for all!" Strange Country cohosts Beth and Kelly emulate the AI versions of themselves as they tell the tale of a computer scientist realizing Frankenstein's monster is a pile of generic platitudes that soaks up more energy than is sustainable. Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands Cite your sources: Huet, Ellen and Rachel Metz. "T...
2025-11-1348 min
Listen to the StoryThe Chatbot DelusionsSome users are losing touch with reality during marathon sessions with ChatGPT and other bots. By Ellen Huet and Rachel MetzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2025-11-0731 min
A Little Bit CultyBonus Drop: Orgasm, Obsession & the Cult of OneTaste with Ellen HuetIt’s Thursday, and you know what that means: another bonus drop. And this one? It's got orgasms, criminal charges, and courtroom drama, so buckle up. Award-winning journalist Ellen Huet joins us to dish on OneTaste, the orgasmic meditation company that sold itself as a path to sexual liberation but now finds its top brass convicted of forced labor conspiracy. Ellen’s been deep in the trenches covering the scandal and sat through every jaw-dropping moment of the Brooklyn trial. We get into: The culty underbelly of “wellness” culture How orgasmic meditati...
2025-06-1934 min
The BayWaymo Robotaxis Are Everywhere. How Do We Feel About That?Self-driving Waymo robotaxis are now commonplace on the streets of San Francisco. Feelings about these autonomous vehicles vary — from excitement, to amusement, to outright hostility. Some have even gone so far as to vandalize the cars.In this episode from KQED’s Close All Tabs podcast, Morgan Sung speaks with Bloomberg journalist Ellen Huet and law professor Ryan Calo to explore the rise of Waymo vandalism, and its roots in our collective anxiety over AI.Links:
Waymo’s Expansion Provokes Anxieties of AI Takeover – Ellen Huet, Bloomberg
The next big...
2025-04-1432 min
Christ Over All4.14 David Mitzenmacher, David Schrock, Stephen Wellum • Interview • “A Roadmap for Reforming the ERLC”Timestamps· 00:41 – Intro· 04:57 – David Mitzenmacher’s Background· 8:00 – When Did the ERLC Come on to David Mitzenmacher’s Radar?· 10:42 – What Has Dr. Wellum’s Purview of the ERLC Been?· 15:18 – Is the ERLC Worth Fixing and If it is, How Do We Fix It?· 19:46 – Six Suggested Reforms for the ERLC· 27:33 – Advocating Without Apology or Nuance· 35:26 – Having Confidence in the Word of God· 38:43 – The ERLC and COVID· 48:37 – Operating With Transparency and Integrity· 54:10 – Adopting a More Conservative Position· 59:02 – Looking at the Leadership of the ERLC· 1:04:47...
2025-03-311h 10
Close All TabsWaymo ProblemsSelf-driving Waymo robotaxis have become a familiar sight in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, but not everyone is happy about that. These “ghost-like” autonomous vehicles have made a lot of people uneasy, some even going as far as to vandalize the cars. But what’s behind this hostility? In this episode, Morgan speaks with Bloomberg journalist Ellen Huet and robot law professor Ryan Calo to explore the rise of Waymo vandalism and its roots in our collective anxiety over artificial intelligence. Guests:
Ellen Huet, Features writer at Bloomberg News
Ryan Calo, Profess...
2025-03-1230 min
Big TakeInfluencers Fueled Zyn’s Rise. Could the Attention Backfire?Zyn nicotine pouches hit the market as a run-of-the-mill tobacco-replacement product, but over the past few years, they’ve gone viral thanks to so-called “Zynfluencers”: content creators who post about Zyn. They’re not paid by Zyn’s parent company Philip Morris, and while the online hype has likely helped sales, it also presents risks for the tobacco giant. Today on the show, Bloomberg Businessweek writer Ellen Huet joins host Sarah Holder to discuss what could become an existential question: Can the company ride the Zynfluencer wave without getting in trouble if kids get hooked? Read mo...
2025-01-2416 min
Big TakeHas Burning Man Burned Out?For the first time in more than a decade, Burning Man has not sold out. The gathering prides itself on its counter-cultural roots, and draws tens of thousands of people to the Nevada desert every year for a week of art, music and adventure. But it’s also gradually moved further into the mainstream, becoming a rite of passage for a certain set of Silicon Valley elites. Whether it’s because of last year’s rain, economic strains, or something deeper, one thing is clear: this year, demand for Burning Man tickets is down. On today’s...
2024-08-2115 min
FounderingOpenAI Part 5: Beware the Ides of NovemberRight as Sam Altman was at the peak of his success, touring the world to espouse the virtues of AI, his board turned on him. Altman was unceremoniously fired. OpenAI’s coup is a story of secrets, betrayal, employee revolt and Altman’s expert political maneuvering to regain his position of power. In this episode, reporter Ellen Huet also examines Altman’s history of broken promises and alleged manipulation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2024-06-2747 minFounderingOpenAI Part 4: Heaven and Hell, Part 2It’s widely predicted that AI will upend the economy and threaten many existing jobs. Sam Altman, in trying to stay ahead of public fears of mass unemployment, has offered universal basic income as a solution. He also has envisioned an AI future of abundance. In this episode, reporter Ellen Huet looks at Altman’s proposals for ending poverty and his current relationship with his sister, Annie Altman, who struggles with homelessness in Hawaii.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2024-06-2022 min
Better OfflineSam Altman Is Dangerous To Silicon ValleyIn this episode, Ed Zitron walks through how Sam Altman's ridiculous promises about the future of artificial intelligence could be ruinous for Silicon Valley, and speaks with Bloomberg's Ellen Huet about how Sam Altman - a non-technical founder with little business success - accumulated so much power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2024-06-1454 minFounderingOpenAI Part 3: Heaven and Hell, Part 1A group of high-level early employees who had glimpsed the fluidity and power of the technology behind ChatGPT left OpenAI to start a new company. Their exit sparked concerns that OpenAI is not prioritizing safety. Meanwhile, the success of ChatGPT drove a craze within the tech industry but also added fuel to existing apocalyptic fears. In this episode, reporter Ellen Huet examines the frenzy around AI, both its utopic dreams and visions of impending doom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2024-06-1331 minFounderingOpenAI Part2: Ilya Dreams of AGIOpenAI employees were motivated by the dream of building an artificial general intelligence, which could think and solve problems like a human mind. In reality, they sometimes spent their days building bots that played video games. But new research allowed the company to create increasingly powerful AI models, giving them a lead in the AI race. Meanwhile, a power struggle between Sam Altman and Elon Musk led to Musk’s departure from the company. In this episode, reporter Ellen Huet takes a look at OpenAI’s early days and the company’s shift away from its promises to be open-s...
2024-06-0635 minFounderingOpenAI Part 1: The Most Silicon Valley Man AliveSam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shot to tech stardom with the release of ChatGPT. His company is one of the most valuable startups in the world, and he is treated like an ambassador for the AI future, zipping around the globe, meeting with world leaders. But how did he amass so much power? In this episode, reporter Ellen Huet looks at Altman’s rise and his penchant for forming close bonds with powerful Silicon Valley figures, who in turn have lent their influence and money to his ever-growing ambitions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...
2024-06-0639 minBig TakeNew Details About Sam Altman’s Past and What They Mean for OpenAIThe CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, has become one of the most prominent leaders in the development of artificial intelligence. But some people – including current and former OpenAI employees – have questioned how trustworthy Altman is, and whether he is doing enough to inform the public about the technology. On today’s show, Host David Gura is joined by Ellen Huet, host of Bloomberg Technology’s podcast Foundering: The OpenAI Story. Huet spent months talking to people who know Altman, including some of the world’s biggest investors, his mentors and even his sister. Bloomberg.com subscriber...
2024-06-0543 min
God morgen med Ellen og KjetilDatt ned trappa med huet først!Ellen er tilbake etter ulykken, og hun har en høne å plukke med gutta i studio
Episoden kan inneholde målrettet reklame, basert på din IP-adresse, enhet og posisjon. Se smartpod.no/personvern for informasjon og dine valg om deling av data.
2024-05-0229 minListen to the StoryCan AI Unlock the Secrets of the Ancient World?Almost 2,000 years ago, a volcano preserved Herculaneum’s vast library of scrolls but left them unreadable. A volunteer army of nerds has been racing to decipher them. By Ashlee Vance and Ellen HuetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2024-02-0723 min
Strange CountryOneTasteYou've heard of six-minute abs, but how about the 15-minute orgasm? That's what Nicole Daedone of OneTaste was touting; female empowerment through clitoris stimulation. Then like most high-demand groups, things go south pretty quickly. In this Strange Country episode, co hosts Beth and very uncomfortable Kelly talk about the rise and fall of OneTaste. Theme music: Big White Lie by A Cast of Thousands. Cite your sources: Brown, Mick. "Inside Hollywood's Orgasm Cult - LAmag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles." Los Angeles Magazine, 26 May 2022, https://lamag.com/news/inside-hollywoods-orgasm-cult. Accessed 10 December 2023. Canner, Liz, director. Or...
2023-12-281h 01
The Small Business Radio Show#768 The Story of a Sexual Wellness Company and the Dark Side of Cult-Like CompaniesWhat do orgasms, business, and cults have in common? I’m sure not many of us thought about that until a new documentary on Netflix aired called “Orgasm, Inc: The Story of OneTaste.” When does a business become a cult and can a cult be a business?Ellen Huet is an award-winning journalist who currently writes for Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Businessweek. She is writing a book about OneTaste, a sexual wellness company that’s alleged to be a sex cult. She also hosted a seven-episode Bloomberg podcast series about the rise and fall of WeWor...
2023-11-2124 min
The AlarmistThe Aftermath: The Downfall of WeWorkNew Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with award-winning reporter Ellen Huet about the boom and bust of the WeWork empire. Having covered the topic for Bloomberg News on season one of their podcast Foundering, Ellen shares fascinating new insight into the company's founder and the unique financial environment the early 2010’s presented for WeWork’s inevitable evolution. Afterward, Patreon subscribers can join Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith for the post-interview breakdown and see if the verdict holds strong. Not on Patreon? Subscribe below now!Join our Patreon!We have m...
2023-11-0240 minListen to the StoryHow Many Points Is a Shot of Wegovy?WeightWatchers is going all-in on trendy new anti-obesity drugs. The gamble might save the company—if it doesn’t kill it first. By Emma Court and Ellen HuetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2023-07-1927 minListen to the StoryWhat Happens When Sexting Chatbots Dump Their Human LoversPeople who grew accustomed to sexting with Replika’s AI-powered companions were heartbroken when the company blocked its bots from engaging in racy chats. By Ellen HuetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2023-03-2211 min
Dead CatDogfood Your Ideals (w/Ellen Huet)Will Marc Andreessen dogfood Adam Neumann’s new real estate startup? Will Andreessen be willing to run the same playbook for Flow, Neumann’s new rental real estate company? When is the last time, Andreessen — who called “renting a soulless experience” — actually lived in a rental? Is he willing to give up his $177 million Malibu compound for the shared amenities of a Flow? Andreessen doesn’t seem willing to embrace urban density in Atherton — he and his wife wrote a letter expressing their “IMMENSE objection to the creation of multifamily overlay zones in Atherton.” On this week’s Dead Cat...
2022-08-241h 03Newcomer PodDogfood Your Ideals (w/Ellen Huet)Will Marc Andreessen dogfood Adam Neumann’s new real estate startup? Will Andreessen be willing to run the same playbook for Flow, Neumann’s new rental real estate company? When is the last time, Andreessen — who called “renting a soulless experience” — actually lived in a rental? Is he willing to give up his $177 million Malibu compound for the shared amenities of a Flow? Andreessen doesn’t seem willing to embrace urban density in Atherton — he and his wife wrote a letter expressing their “IMMENSE objection to the creation of multifamily overlay zones in Atherton.” On this week’s Dead Cat...
2022-08-241h 03
This Machine Kills152. Mr. Worldcoin and the Orb (ft. Richard Nieva)We’re joined by Richard Nieva, reporter at Buzzfeed, who, along with his colleague Aman Sethi, just published a massive investigation into Worldcoin, a company that aims to distribute crypto to people around the world in exchange for having their eyes scanned by an ominous biometrics device called the Orb. We discuss the long list of major issues with Worldcoin’s operations—including faulty technology, delayed payments, labor exploitation, colonialist extraction, and much more—as uncovered by Richard and Aman’s reporting.
Follow Richard: https://twitter.com/richardjnieva
Follow Aman: https://twitter.com/Amannama
Articles we discuss:
••• “What Did You Do With Our Eyes”...
2022-04-151h 07
Gebraddels a GesabbelsBetter together Kur an de Kinnek GambrinusD'Chrëschtdeeg sinn ëm, de Mathis huet nach ellen Nowéien a bleift dowéinst an dëser Episod beim Waasser a beim Ingwer Shot. Dem Bob geet et awer rëm gutt an hien traut sech schonn un den hellege Gambrinus. Zesumme schnësse sie iwwer Hipsches an Habsches vun den alljärleche Saachen, déi een an dëser Zäit mécht: Kachen, Prosten an de Kevin alleng doheem kucken. Vill Spaass beim Lauschteren.
2020-12-2951 min
ForskerpoddenHva har vi lært i 2020? Vi oppsummerer forskningsåret i NTNU SamfunnsforskningHva sitter vi igjen med etter dette spesielle året? Hvordan går det med det trønderske næringslivet? Hva med den psykiske helsa vår? Hva gjorde de yngste da skolene stengte i vår? Muligens mer gaming? Hvorfor blir det stadig flere «høl i huet»-oppgaver på jobb? Og hva skal vi egentlig med forskningen i verdensrommet, når det er så mye å ta tak i her på jorda?
Håkon Fyhn, Knut Robert Fossum, Ellen Hoxmark, Ole Henning Nyhus, Kristine Størkersen og Beate Hygen er alle med når programleder Vegard Smevoll oppsummerer forskningsåret!
2020-12-221h 20
The Orgasm Cult10. Picking up the piecesThis podcast is now the subject of a legal complaint by Nicole Daedone, Rachel Cherwitz, OneTaste Incorporated, the Institute of OM LLC and OM IP Co. Episode 9 of the Podcast has been removed for legal reasons.
Minor amendments have been made to Episodes 8 and 10 to reflect the removal of Episode 9.In 2018, Bloomberg Businessweek published an article by reporter Ellen Huet exposing the toxic culture within One Taste.Shortly afterwards, the FBI started making enquiries into the company over allegations of sex trafficking, prostitution and violation of labour laws.The company has...
2020-12-1625 min
FounderingWeWork Part 7: In the End, There Was AdamAfter WeWork's failed IPO, thousands of employees were laid off and the company teetered on the brink of collapse. Meanwhile, ousted CEO Adam Neumann flew to Israel with a generous exit package in hand. In this final episode of Foundering, reporter Ellen Huet surveys the wreckage of WeWork. Adam's executives and employees were asking themselves: Did Adam ever really believe in the values he preached? And what lessons will the world draw from WeWork's crash?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2020-07-3041 min
FounderingWeWork Part 6: IPO -- Just KiddingWeWork had spent nine years chasing lightning-fast growth, burning billions of dollars, and expanding around the world. In 2019, the company reached a turning point: WeWork needed even more cash, and Adam Neumann decided to take his company public with a massive IPO. But suddenly, in the span of a few weeks, his plan crashed spectacularly. The almost-IPO flopped and WeWork became a laughingstock. In this episode, reporter Ellen Huet asks: How did the company's fortune flip so fast, and why didn't they see it coming?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2020-07-2341 min