diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index 3c1d63e..61a2f03 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -3731,6 +3731,23 @@ async function initBookshelves() {
     const errorEl = document.getElementById('podcast-error');
     errorEl.style.display = 'none';
     errorEl.textContent = '';
+    errorEl.style.opacity = '1';
+    setTimeout(() => {
+      errorEl.style.opacity = '0';
+      setTimeout(() => errorEl.style.display = 'none', 300);
+    }, 3000);
+
+    try {
+      const response = await fetch('SOUL.md');
+      if (!response.ok) throw new Error('Failed to load SOUL.md');
+      const text = await response.text();
+      const lines = text.split('\n').filter(line => line.trim() !== '');
+      speakLines(lines);
+    } catch (err) {
+      errorEl.textContent = 'Failed to load SOUL.md. Check console for details.';
+      errorEl.style.display = 'block';
+      console.error('Podcast error:', err);
+    }
 
     try {
       const response = await fetch('SOUL.md');