Melissa Jeltsin

Listen to What Happened to Talena Zarr on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

It hasn't been easy to get people into Lena's life to speak to me on the record. It's clear she was well-loved, and you've heard from some of her friends already. I've reached out to many more and to her family, but for whatever reason, most have been apprehensive to participate. I was able to talk to Talena's sister, Cheryl Jones. She called me back the day she received my letter.

It hasn't been easy to get people into Lena's life to speak to me on the record. It's clear she was well-loved, and you've heard from some of her friends already. I've reached out to many more and to her family, but for whatever reason, most have been apprehensive to participate. I was able to talk to Talena's sister, Cheryl Jones. She called me back the day she received my letter.

She said she was relieved to have the chance to talk about her sister. She refers to Talena as Jana, her birth name.

She said she was relieved to have the chance to talk about her sister. She refers to Talena as Jana, her birth name.

As you may recall, Talena was part of the Gorian community, a niche group of BDSM followers who live by the strict social structure outlined in the Gore books, a sci-fi series where men are the dominant gender and women are naturally subservient.

As you may recall, Talena was part of the Gorian community, a niche group of BDSM followers who live by the strict social structure outlined in the Gore books, a sci-fi series where men are the dominant gender and women are naturally subservient.

For the better part of a decade, Talena lived as a 24-7 slave to her husband Tom, or Master Zarius, doing whatever and acting however he wished, in the bedroom and outside of it.

For the better part of a decade, Talena lived as a 24-7 slave to her husband Tom, or Master Zarius, doing whatever and acting however he wished, in the bedroom and outside of it.

Talena was active online, and her nieces were too. They saw the types of things she posted, the terms she used, and eventually worked out that Talena was part of the BDSM community and that that identity was very important to her.

Talena was active online, and her nieces were too. They saw the types of things she posted, the terms she used, and eventually worked out that Talena was part of the BDSM community and that that identity was very important to her.

One day, Cheryl heard her sister Jana refer to herself as Talena.

One day, Cheryl heard her sister Jana refer to herself as Talena.

When Cheryl learned that Talena legally changed her name, she was surprised to find out that she kept Jana as her middle name.

When Cheryl learned that Talena legally changed her name, she was surprised to find out that she kept Jana as her middle name.

We all have duality in our lives, present different versions of ourselves in different contexts. On Instagram, the image we portray might be a lot shinier than reality. The voice we adopt on a work call might be more optimistic or confident than we really feel. But what happens when the line between our different selves becomes sharper, severing the two worlds?

We all have duality in our lives, present different versions of ourselves in different contexts. On Instagram, the image we portray might be a lot shinier than reality. The voice we adopt on a work call might be more optimistic or confident than we really feel. But what happens when the line between our different selves becomes sharper, severing the two worlds?

When the people in one part of your life can't protect you from the other?

When the people in one part of your life can't protect you from the other?

From iHeart Podcasts, I'm Melissa Jeltsin, and this is What Happened to Talena Zar.