diff --git a/remarkbox/templates/topsecret-dashboard.j2 b/remarkbox/templates/topsecret-dashboard.j2
index cbd9f46..d0478cf 100644
--- a/remarkbox/templates/topsecret-dashboard.j2
+++ b/remarkbox/templates/topsecret-dashboard.j2
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
 
 {# --- PEOPLE WAITING ON US --- #}
 <div class="ts-card">
-  <h4>people waiting on us {% if pending_requests %}<span class="ts-badge">{{ pending_requests|length }}</span>{% endif %}</h4>
+  <h4>people waiting on us {% if pending_requests_total %}<span class="ts-badge">{{ pending_requests_total }}</span>{% endif %}</h4>
   {% if pending_requests %}
   <p style="font-size:0.85em; opacity:0.7;">these people chose us over disqus. don't leave them hanging.</p>
   {% for req in pending_requests %}
@@ -131,6 +131,9 @@
     {% endif %}
   </div>
   {% endfor %}
+  {% if pending_requests_total > pending_requests|length %}
+  <p class="meta"><a href="{{ request.route_url('topsecret') }}/namespace-requests">...and {{ pending_requests_total - pending_requests|length }} more</a></p>
+  {% endif %}
   {% else %}
   <p>everyone's taken care of. nice work.</p>
   {% endif %}
diff --git a/remarkbox/views/authenticated/topsecret.py b/remarkbox/views/authenticated/topsecret.py
index 2d6220b..9524006 100644
--- a/remarkbox/views/authenticated/topsecret.py
+++ b/remarkbox/views/authenticated/topsecret.py
@@ -85,19 +85,26 @@ def topsecret_dashboard(request):
     total_namespaces = db.query(func.count(Namespace.id)).scalar()
     total_nodes = db.query(func.count(Node.id)).scalar()
 
-    # --- People waiting on us ---
+    # --- People waiting on us (oldest first, capped) ---
     pending_requests = (
         db.query(NamespaceRequest)
         .filter(NamespaceRequest.verified == False)
         .order_by(NamespaceRequest.created_timestamp.asc())
+        .limit(25)
         .all()
     )
+    pending_requests_total = (
+        db.query(func.count(NamespaceRequest.id))
+        .filter(NamespaceRequest.verified == False)
+        .scalar()
+    )
 
     # --- New humans (last 7 days) ---
     new_users = (
         db.query(User)
         .filter(User.created > now_ms - seven_days_ms, User.disabled == False)
         .order_by(User.created.desc())
+        .limit(50)
         .all()
     )
 
@@ -137,8 +144,18 @@ def topsecret_dashboard(request):
         .all()
     )
 
-    # --- Recent root nodes ---
-    recent_roots = get_topsecret_roots(db).limit(50)
+    # --- Recent root nodes (created in last 30 days) ---
+    recent_roots = (
+        db.query(Node)
+        .filter(
+            Node.parent_id == None,
+            Node.verified == True,
+            Node.disabled == False,
+            Node.created > now_ms - thirty_days_ms,
+        )
+        .order_by(Node.created.desc())
+        .limit(50)
+    )
 
     return {
         "the_title": "topsecret",
@@ -146,6 +163,7 @@ def topsecret_dashboard(request):
         "total_namespaces": total_namespaces,
         "total_nodes": total_nodes,
         "pending_requests": pending_requests,
+        "pending_requests_total": pending_requests_total,
         "new_users": new_users,
         "held_nodes": held_nodes,
         "spam_flagged": spam_flagged,