app.js

@@ -3741,6 +3741,11 @@ async function initBookshelves() {
     } catch (err) {
       errorEl.textContent = 'Failed to load SOUL.md. Check console for details.';
       errorEl.style.display = 'block';
+      errorEl.style.opacity = '1';
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        errorEl.style.opacity = '0';
+        setTimeout(() => errorEl.style.display = 'none', 300);
+      }, 3000);
       console.error('Podcast error:', err);
     }
   });
@@ -3764,6 +3769,9 @@ async function initBookshelves() {
     speakNext();
   }
 
+  // Add error handling and visual feedback
+  document.getElementById('podcast-error').style.display = 'none';
+
   if (prs.length === 0) return;
 
   // Split PRs across two shelves — left and right of the scene background

style.css

@@ -128,6 +128,19 @@ canvas {
   opacity: 0.6;
   cursor: not-allowed;
 }
+
+#podcast-error {
+  position: fixed;
+  bottom: 10px;
+  left: 50%;
+  transform: translateX(-50%);
+  background: rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.9);
+  color: white;
+  padding: 8px 16px;
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  display: none;
+}
 }
 #podcast-toggle:hover {
   background-color: var(--color-primary);