What does it take to spend a career staring into the darkest corners of human behavior? In this episode, Lyndsay Soprano sits down with retired Alaskan police officer Doug Fifer for a candid and often unsettling look at the reality behind true crime.

Doug spent decades working on cases that most people can barely imagine. From deviant sexual crimes to the psychological patterns behind violent offenders, he shares what it’s really like to investigate crimes that push the limits of human understanding. They also talk about the unique challenges of policing in Alaska, a place where the vastness of the land can sometimes give criminals the anonymity they seek.

But this conversation isn’t just about crime. Doug opens up about the toll the work takes on law enforcement officers and the coping strategies that keep them going. Humor, strong support systems, and the ability to compartmentalize Trauma often become survival tools when your job requires witnessing the worst of humanity.

Lyndsay and Doug also discuss his book, 50 Shades of True Crime, which pulls back the curtain on cases that rarely make headlines and exposes the gaps in a legal system that often struggles to keep up with the complexity of certain crimes.

This episode offers a raw, unfiltered look at the realities behind true crime and the people tasked with confronting it.

Tune in for a conversation that goes beyond the headlines and into the human side of policing, trauma, and truth.

Content Warning: This episode discusses violent crime, disturbing criminal behavior, and the psychological realities of investigating serious offences. Some listeners may find these topics difficult to hear. Please listen with care.

Episode Highlights:
(00:00) Introduction and Content Disclaimers
(01:00) Travelling Through Alaska and Its Dark Secrets
(02:08) Doug Pfeiffer’s Career in Law Enforcement
(04:19) Why Alaska Attracts Criminals
(05:13) Writing ’50 Shades of True Crime
(10:46) The Depths of Human Depravity
(12:10) The Most Shocking Stories
(13:33) Handling Trauma and Emotional Detachment
(14:54) Memories and Writing the Book
(16:14) Structure of the Book and Crime Solving
(17:39) Laws Against Bestiality and Societal Changes
(19:00) The Dark World of Paraphilias
(23:52) Interrogation Techniques and Human Psychology
(27:58) Dealing with Victims’ Families
(29:21) The Emotional Toll of Police Work
(37:16) Closing Remarks and Resources

Find Doug Fifer Online Here:
Website: dougfifer.com
Instagram: @fiftyshadesoftruecrime
Facebook: Fifty Shades of True Crime
LinkedIn: Doug Fifer
YouTube: Doug Fifer

Find The Pain Game Podcast Online Here:
Website: thepaingamepodcast.com
Instagram: @thepaingamepodcast
Facebook: The Pain Game Podcast
LinkedIn: Lyndsay Soprano
YouTube: The Pain Game Podcast

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Lyndsay Soprano Lyndsay Soprano, Host of Giving Pain Purpose and Founder of The Pain Hub

Lyndsay Soprano is a bold, unfiltered voice in the chronic pain and trauma recovery space—transforming unimaginable suffering into unstoppable advocacy. She’s the founder and host of Giving Pain Purpose, a raw and riveting show that dives into the realities of living in—and rising from—chronic pain, trauma, and invisible illness.

Diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in 2017—one of the most painful conditions on the McGill Pain Scale—Lyndsay is also a survivor of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, infertility, depression, anxiety, and divorce. She’s walked through hell more than once—and set up a mic right in the middle of it.

Her mantra, “The only way out…is through,” isn’t just podcast fodder—it’s a way of life. After years lost to misdiagnoses and failed surgeries, she took healing into her own hands, choosing a trauma-informed, integrative approach that blends grit, grace, and humor.

She brings over two decades of entrepreneurial and creative firepower as the owner of Bound-by Marketing, launched in 2000. With degrees in Communications, Creative Writing, Vocal Performance, and an MBA in International Sales + Marketing, Lyndsay knows how to tell stories that stick—and heal.

Lyndsay is not here to sugarcoat the journey. She’s here to give pain purpose—and to help her audience and guests feel seen, understood, and not alone.