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: [email protected]

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.

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: [email protected]

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.

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: [email protected]

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.

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: [email protected]

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.

This week we learn how during Jim Crow, a group of Black artists sold between 50 to 200,000 landscape paintings from the trunks of their cars directly to doctors offices, real estate agents, and motels. A listener emails tells us about the award winning goodest boy.

Episode Tabs:

History of the Florida Highwaymen

https://www.floridahighwaymenpaintings.com

Listener Tabs:

Good Boy dog actor Indy wins Best Performance at Astra Film Awards

https://www.dexerto.com/tv-movies/good-boy-dog-actor-indy-wins-best-performance-at-astra-film-awards-3303163/

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

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.

This week we learn how activist Marion Stokes archived 30 years of television in an effort to protect the truth from fake news. A listener voice memo suggests a novel way to clone Richard Nixon.

Episode Tabs:

The Remarkable Story of a Woman Who Preserved Over 30 Years of TV History

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/marion-stokes-television-news-archive

Listener Tabs:

This man has held onto Richard Nixon's half-eaten sandwich for 60 years

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-wednesday-edition-1.5735767/this-man-has-held-onto-richard-nixon-s-half-eaten-sandwich-for-60-years-1.5737750

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

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.

This week we learn about Uncle Sam's predecessor Brother Jonathan, and how America's mascot for itself evolved between the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. A listener email explains the importance of a finely carved 2000 year old statue of the Buddha recently found in Egypt.

Episode Tabs:

Before America Got Uncle Sam, It Had to Endure Brother Jonathan

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/brother-jonathan-uncle-sam

Listener Tabs:

Berenike Buddha

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

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

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.

This week we learn how a rejected Belgian inventor's obsession with creating new instruments eventually led to the creation of one of the great American art forms. A listener email explains how bikes were used to smuggle drugs in the Netherlands.

Episode Tabs:

It was banned by the Nazis, Stalin and the Vatican. This is the surprising history of the saxophone

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-25/saxophone-history-of-musical-instrument-brutal-and-beautiful/11960922

Listener Tabs:

CONTRABAND AND SMUGGLERS’ OBJECTS

https://www.bdmuseum.nl/en/collectie/smokkelobjecten/

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

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.

This week we conclude the story of controversial comic artist Mike Diana whose run in with the law eventually ends up with him being taken to trial with charges of obscenity. A listener email explains how the how until recently, nipples in comics were considered taboo.

Episode Tabs:

Author of pedophile guide arrested on Florida obscenity charge

https://archive.ph/20130203144830/http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/criminal/article1141156.ece

Listener Tabs:

A First for Prince Valiant

https://aprincenamedvaliant.blogspot.com/2018/04/a-first-for-prince-valiant.html?m=1

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

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.

This week we dive into the origin of the controversial comic artist Mike Diana, who sought to create the "most offense zine ever made." A listener email explains how the release of a million balloons over the skies of Cleveland led to civilian deaths.

Episode Tabs:

Mike Diana Comics (TRIGGER WARNING!)

https://mikedianacomix.com/

Listener Tabs:

When Cleveland Released 1.5 million Balloons and Two Men Died

https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/cleveland-balloons-1986/

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

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.