Melissa Jeltsin

And on the other end are people who live every day like this. Couples who enter into a contract, sometimes written, sometimes not, where the woman submits to the man, relinquishing her rights to choice, freedom, agency... It sounds shocking, but for some people, it is very sexy and very satisfying.

And on the other end are people who live every day like this. Couples who enter into a contract, sometimes written, sometimes not, where the woman submits to the man, relinquishing her rights to choice, freedom, agency... It sounds shocking, but for some people, it is very sexy and very satisfying.

Hi, listeners. I'm Melissa Jeltsin, host of What Happened to Talena Zarr. It's the story of a woman who disappears in the early days of COVID lockdowns and the group of online sleuths who try to find her.

Hi, listeners. I'm Melissa Jeltsin, host of What Happened to Talena Zarr. It's the story of a woman who disappears in the early days of COVID lockdowns and the group of online sleuths who try to find her.

You can now get access to episodes of What Happened to Talena Zar 100% ad-free with an iHeart True Crime Plus subscription. I'm a subscriber and you should be too. So don't wait. Head to Apple Podcasts, search iHeart True Crime Plus and subscribe today.

You can now get access to episodes of What Happened to Talena Zar 100% ad-free with an iHeart True Crime Plus subscription. I'm a subscriber and you should be too. So don't wait. Head to Apple Podcasts, search iHeart True Crime Plus and subscribe today.

I'm looking at a social media account that Talena created. In her bio, she describes herself and her husband Tom, a.k.a. Master Zarius.

I'm looking at a social media account that Talena created. In her bio, she describes herself and her husband Tom, a.k.a. Master Zarius.

This is a dramatization of some of Talena's writing on FetLife, a dating and social media site for people interested in fetish and BDSM. Picture Facebook, but with dick pics and leather. If you're curious, it's not safe for work, unless your work is making a podcast about all of this. I was able to see Talena's profile simply by signing up for an account.

This is a dramatization of some of Talena's writing on FetLife, a dating and social media site for people interested in fetish and BDSM. Picture Facebook, but with dick pics and leather. If you're curious, it's not safe for work, unless your work is making a podcast about all of this. I was able to see Talena's profile simply by signing up for an account.

As far as I can tell, there was a time when Talena was a prolific FetLife user. She connected with new friends, found events to attend, and shared a lot of personal writing. Although FetLife is primarily a sexual forum, there's not much on her page about sex at all. Most of what she shared was overwhelmingly wholesome, little essays focused on the banality of everyday life.

As far as I can tell, there was a time when Talena was a prolific FetLife user. She connected with new friends, found events to attend, and shared a lot of personal writing. Although FetLife is primarily a sexual forum, there's not much on her page about sex at all. Most of what she shared was overwhelmingly wholesome, little essays focused on the banality of everyday life.

And people would respond with kind comments. This was clearly her chosen community, where she felt safe to be herself.

And people would respond with kind comments. This was clearly her chosen community, where she felt safe to be herself.

Talena revealed a lot about her life, her insecurities, her ongoing weight loss journey.

Talena revealed a lot about her life, her insecurities, her ongoing weight loss journey.

Reading through these essays, I got a real feel for Talena's personality. She's spunky and adventurous. In one post, she talks about skydiving with her niece. But she's also not afraid to be vulnerable.

Reading through these essays, I got a real feel for Talena's personality. She's spunky and adventurous. In one post, she talks about skydiving with her niece. But she's also not afraid to be vulnerable.

Talena wrote a lot about her relationship with her husband, Tom, who she refers to as Master Zarius, or just Master.

Talena wrote a lot about her relationship with her husband, Tom, who she refers to as Master Zarius, or just Master.