500 Open Tabs

Latest Episodes:

126: Coney Island Infantoriums Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

This week we learn how a non-doctor doctor named Martin Couney leveraged the crowds at Coney Island's fascination with freak shows into giving birth to the modern NICU. A listener voicemail combines everyone's love of cats with planes.

Episode Tabs:

Preemies on Parade: How a Fake Doctor's Coney Island Incubator Shows Ended Up Saving Thousands of Lives

https://www.mentalfloss.com/science/medicine/martin-couney-baby-incubator-shows

Listener Tabs:

Profile of Matatabi-kun

http://www.tcat-hakozaki.co.jp/en/company/matatabi.html

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

125: KUMIT۵B (500 Open Stabs Round 5) Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

The ancient tournament of Kumitab returns as we pit some of our craziest subjects against one another including Colonel Sanders, Kaveh the Blacksmith, and the Magic Eye turtle wearing a bowler hat.

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500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

124: The Battle of Santiago Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

This week we slide tackle into learning about the infamously bloody 1962 World Cup match between Chile and Italy that was preceded by new goal rules, a warring international press, and the largest earthquake ever recorded. A listener email gives the Ballroom scene a Jellicle twist.

Episode Tabs:

World Cup stunning moments: The Battle of Santiago

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/mar/04/stunning-moments-no4-battle-of-santiago

Listener Tabs:

Cats: The Jellicle Ball

https://www.broadway.com/shows/cats-the-jellicle-ball

Email your closed tab submissions to: 500opentabs@gmail.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Tabs Wiki: https://500-open-tabs.fandom.com/wiki/500_Open_Tabs_Wiki

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

Get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

123: Beanie Babies (feat Alyssa Cooper) Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

This week we are joined by special guest co-host Alyssa Cooper as she walks us through the insane Beanie Baby craze of the late 90s. A listener email explains the Mr. Trashwheel phenomenon that has taken over Baltimore.

Episode Tabs:

How Playground Rumors and Artificial Scarcity Created the Billion-Dollar Beanie Baby Mania

https://www.mentalfloss.com/fun/toys/how-playground-rumors-and-artificial-scarcity-created-beanie-baby-mania

Listener Tabs:

MEET THE MR. TRASH WHEEL FAMILY

https://www.mrtrashwheel.com/trash-wheel-family

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500 Open Tabs Wiki: https://500-open-tabs.fandom.com/wiki/500_Open_Tabs_Wiki

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

Get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

122: Narodniks (feat Josie Azzam) Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

This week we are joined by special guest co-host Josie Azzam as she tells us about when Russian rich kids called the Narodniks tried and failed horribly to convince the newly freed Serfs to join them in overthrowing the Czar. A listener email reveals the Swedish origins of an iconic Muppets tune.

Episode Tabs:

Going to the People

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_to_the_People

Listener Tabs:

Sweden: Heaven and Hell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden:_Heaven_and_Hell

Email your closed tab submissions to: 500opentabs@gmail.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Tabs Wiki: https://500-open-tabs.fandom.com/wiki/500_Open_Tabs_Wiki

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

Get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

121: Colonel Sanders pt 2 Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

This week we conclude the insane life story of KFC founder Harland Sanders as he fries chicken for Oppenheimer and publicly beefs (chickens?) with his corporate overlords. A listener email explains the Seinfeldian origins of the Canadian Toonie coin.

Episode Tabs:

Colonels of Truth

https://www.damninteresting.com/colonels-of-truth/

Listener Tabs:

A Tale of Two Designs: How Canada’s 1-dollar Coin Became the Loonie

https://www.mint.ca/en/blog/2022-07-a-tale-of-two-designs-loonie?srsltid=AfmBOopJcFf1iTs8v3Yl80J3QrkxLgD9SG61shMZiCAWWThq_dlrAZ7j

Email your closed tab submissions to: 500opentabs@gmail.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Tabs Wiki: https://500-open-tabs.fandom.com/wiki/500_Open_Tabs_Wiki

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

Get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

120: Colonel Sanders pt 1 Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

This week we learn about the insane life of KFC founder Harland Sanders as he is put in charge of his younger siblings from the age of 5 and later worked the railroads where he developed a reputation for constantly getting into fistfights. A listener email tells of about that time in 1876 when chunks of red meat rained from the sky in Kentucky.

Episode Tabs:

Colonels of Truth

https://www.damninteresting.com/colonels-of-truth/

Listener Tabs:

Kentucky Meat Shower 150th anniversary draws hundreds to Bath County

https://www.weku.org/kentucky-arts-culture/2026-03-06/kentucky-meat-shower-150th-anniversary-draws-hundreds-to-bath-county

Email your closed tab submissions to: 500opentabs@gmail.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Tabs Wiki: https://500-open-tabs.fandom.com/wiki/500_Open_Tabs_Wiki

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

Get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

119: History of Courtroom Sketching May 27, 2026

Show notes

This week we learn about the history of courtroom sketching and how the Lindbergh kidnapping helped get cameras banned from courtrooms altogether. A listener voice memo ponders how all airline safety brochures ended up looking the same.

Episode Tabs:

Why Do We Still Need Courtroom Artists?

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-courtroom-artists

Listener Tabs:

Airline Safety Cards

https://www.airlinesafetycards.be/Safety%20cards.htm

Email your closed tab submissions to: 500opentabs@gmail.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Tabs Wiki: https://500-open-tabs.fandom.com/wiki/500_Open_Tabs_Wiki

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

Get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

118: Snake Island (with Holden McNeely) May 20, 2026

Show notes

This week we're joined by cohost of Nerd of Mouth/ producer of LPNtv Holden McNeely as he tells us about the horrors of an entire island off the coast of Brazil populated by extremely poisonous snakes that jump from trees as well as his soft pitch for a movie where looksmaxxing influencers are trapped on said island. A listener emails tells us about a very offensively named shop in India.

Episode Tabs:

Snake Island (Full Length Documentary)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjaz0mynQvk

Listener Tabs:

India's Hitler clothing shop owners to choose new name

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-19481400

Email your closed tab submissions to: 500opentabs@gmail.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Tabs Wiki: https://500-open-tabs.fandom.com/wiki/500_Open_Tabs_Wiki

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

Get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

117: History of Personality Tests May 13, 2026

Show notes

This week we learn how personality tests went from determining if you could handle PTSD in WW1 to whether or not you could be employed by a Fortune 500 company. A listener emails tells the story of that time Gary Larson had to explain a not so complicated Far Side comic to his fans.

Episode Tabs:

The First Personality Test Was Developed During World War I

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/first-personality-test-was-developed-during-world-war-i-180973192/

Listener Tabs:

Odd This Day

https://mulberryhall.medium.com/odd-this-day-177340319a6c

Email your closed tab submissions to: 500opentabs@gmail.com

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Tabs Wiki: https://500-open-tabs.fandom.com/wiki/500_Open_Tabs_Wiki

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

Get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs