refactor(feed): port refresh batch to Effect for concurrency and timeout

Replace the hand-rolled worker pool (mapWithConcurrency) with an Effect
program (src/effects/feed-refresh.ts): Effect.forEach bounds in-flight
fetches, Effect.timeout bounds each feed via the Clock service, and
failures fold to null so a bad feed never fails the batch. Per-feed
apply-as-it-lands is preserved — the apply callback runs inside each
feed's own fiber, so there is no Promise.all barrier.

Store boundary unchanged: refreshAllFeeds runs the program through
Effect.runPromise, keeping runAutoDownload + flushPendingSave after the
batch and isLoadingFeeds around it.

Adds TestClock-driven tests (tests/feed-refresh-effect.test.ts) that pin
concurrency, per-feed apply, timeout, and failure isolation without real
20s waits. Pins effect@^3 (V4 is in beta).

.eslintrc.cjs

@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-module.exports = {
-  root: true,
-  parser: "@typescript-eslint/parser",
-  plugins: ["@typescript-eslint"],
-  extends: ["eslint:recommended", "plugin:@typescript-eslint/recommended"],
-  env: {
-    es2022: true,
-    node: true,
-  },
-  ignorePatterns: ["dist", "node_modules"],
-}

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ jobs:
             plat: darwin
     steps:
       - name: Check out repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        uses: actions/checkout@v5
 
       - name: Set up Bun
         uses: oven-sh/setup-bun@v2
@@ -66,17 +66,19 @@ jobs:
         env:
           DIST_TAR: podtui-${{ matrix.plat }}-${{ matrix.arch }}.tar.gz
         run: |
-          # The embedded runtime reads the launching process's CWD bunfig.toml.
-          # This repo's bunfig lists a preload the standalone can't resolve
-          # ("preload not found"), so kicking the binary from the workspace root
-          # would falsely fail every build. cd into a clean dir first.
+          # The binary is compiled with bunfig autoload disabled
+          # (autoloadBunfig: false in build.ts), so it must boot even from a
+          # directory holding a bunfig.toml with a top-level preload the
+          # standalone can't resolve. Plant one to make this a real regression
+          # test for "preload not found".
           SMOKE_DIR=$(mktemp -d)
           tar -xzf "dist/$DIST_TAR" -C "$SMOKE_DIR"
+          printf 'preload = ["./definitely-missing.ts"]\n' > "$SMOKE_DIR/bunfig.toml"
           cd "$SMOKE_DIR"
           ./podtui-*/podtui --version
 
       - name: Upload artifact
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v6
         with:
           name: podtui-${{ matrix.plat }}-${{ matrix.arch }}
           path: dist/podtui-*.tar.gz
@@ -87,12 +89,12 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - name: Download all binaries
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@v7
         with:
           path: artifacts
 
       - name: Publish release
-        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v3
         with:
           generate_release_notes: true
           files: |

.gitignore

@@ -34,3 +34,6 @@ report.[0-9]*.[0-9]*.[0-9]*.[0-9]*.json
 .DS_Store
 .harness/
 .ralpi
+notes.md
+# pygienium run-state and check artifacts
+.pygienium/

AGENTS.md

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 - `bun tests/cavacore-smoke.ts` - Run specific native library smoke test
 
 ### Linting
-- `bun run lint` - Run ESLint with TypeScript rules
+- `bun run lint` - Run the TypeScript typecheck (`bun tsc --noEmit`)
 
 ## Code Style Guidelines
 

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ The app is a TUI — it expects a real terminal (Ghostty, kitty, iTerm2,
 | `bun run lint`        | Type-check                                         |
 | `bun run build`    | Bundle JS into `dist/` + copy native libs (the `podtui` npm script path)  |
 | `make dist`        | Compile the standalone binary + make the current platform's tarball       |
+| `make dist-mac` / `make dist-linux` | Aliases for `dist` on their platform (CI runs these)          |
 | `make clean`       | Remove `dist/`                                                             |
 
 ## Repository layout
@@ -90,19 +91,21 @@ Cavacore smoke test: `bun tests/cavacore-smoke.ts`
 
 ## Gotchas (read before touching anything)
 
-1. **Never add a top-level `preload` to `bunfig.toml`.**
-   A compiled PodTui binary's embedded runtime reads the *launching process's*
-   CWD `bunfig.toml`, and a `preload` entry points at a module the standalone
-   can't resolve (`@opentui/solid/preload`) → the binary dies at startup with
-   `preload not found`. This is why `bunfig.toml` has **no** top-level
-   `preload`; dev-mode preloading happens via explicit `--preload` flags in
-   `package.json`. The `[test]` section *does* keep a preload — that only
-   affects `bun test`.
+1. **The compiled binary must keep bunfig autoload disabled.**
+   `build.ts` compiles the standalone with `autoloadBunfig: false`, so its
+   embedded runtime *never* reads the launching CWD's `bunfig.toml`. Without
+   that flag, a top-level `preload` in the CWD bunfig (common in Bun project
+   dirs) resolves against the CWD rather than the binary and kills startup
+   with `preload not found`. Don't remove the flag. Preloads for dev/test
+   belong in the explicit `--preload` flags in `package.json` and the
+   `[test]` section of `bunfig.toml` — not as a top-level entry.
 
-2. **Smoke-test the compiled binary from a bunfig-free dir.**
-   Because of (1), `./dist/podtui --version` run from the repo root launched
-   inside CI would fail. CI always unpacks the tarball into a `mktemp` dir
-   before booting. Do the same when testing a release build locally.
+2. **Smoke-test the binary from a dir with a poisoned bunfig.**
+   The CI smoke test unpacks the tarball into a `mktemp` dir, drops a
+   `bunfig.toml` containing an unresolvable top-level `preload` next to it,
+   and boots the binary — proving bunfig autoload stayed disabled. `./dist/
+   podtui --version` must work from any directory, including the repo root;
+   do the same check when testing a release build locally.
 
 3. **Homebrew's dylib-repair warning is benign.**
    `brew install` may print “load commands do not fit in the header … needs
@@ -166,7 +169,7 @@ Releases are built and published from **tags**
    test: `brew install mikefreno/tap/podtui`.
 5. **AUR packaging** (`packaging/aur/PKGBUILD`): the `podtui-bin` package is
    staged, not yet published (AUR account registrations are closed; see the
-   README note in section 3). On each release, keep the AUR sources in sync
+   README's Installation section). On each release, keep the AUR sources in sync
    with the new tag: bump `pkgver`, recompute the two tarball `sha256sums`
    entries, keep the `LICENSE` asset source (the workflow above uploads
    `LICENSE` to every release), and regenerate `packaging/aur/.SRCINFO` with
@@ -190,13 +193,36 @@ make dist          # builds the binary + tarball for THIS machine only
 
 Bun cannot cross-compile — the other platforms come from CI.
 
+## Distribution & packaging
+
+A release tarball is three files sitting side by side: the `podtui` binary
+plus its two FFI libraries (`libopentui.<dylib|so>`,
+`libcavacore.<dylib|so>`). The sibling rule above is why they ship together.
+
+PodTui deliberately ships **no** `.deb`, `.rpm`, Flatpak, or Snap packages:
+for a terminal app that's overwhelmingly installed through repositories or
+archives, those formats add desktop-sandboxing overhead and a packaging tax
+with little benefit. Instead:
+
+- **GitHub Release tarballs** are the universal path — one upload per
+  OS/arch, works on any distro with `curl` + `tar`.
+- **AUR (`podtui-bin`)** covers Arch/Manjaro with the same binary through the
+  native package manager.
+- **Nix / cross-distro** users build from source (or a Nix flake can be added
+  later).
+
+This keeps maintenance to a single build per OS/arch while still reaching the
+vast majority of desktop Linux users. The AUR PKGBUILD lives in
+`packaging/aur/` and can be built locally to test before publication:
+
+```bash
+cd packaging/aur && makepkg -si
+```
+
 ---
 
 ## Open items / things to sort out
 
-- **LICENSE**: `README.md` says "TBD — choose and document a license before
-  the first release". Pick one (MIT/BSD-3) and add `LICENSE` + update the
-  README footer.
 - **Native libs in `dist/` still need committing?** No — they're built from
   sources kept in the repo (`cava/`, `node_modules/@opentui/core-*`). Only
   `src/native/libcavacore.dylib` is a committed binary artifact; macOS arm64

LICENSE

@@ -19,12 +19,3 @@ AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
 LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
 OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 SOFTWARE.
-
----
-
-This project bundles third-party components under their own licenses:
-
-- **cava** (karlstav/cava, vendored under `cava/`) — MIT,
-  Copyright (c) 2015 Karl Stavestrand. See `cava/LICENSE-cava.txt`.
-- **Bun runtime** (embedded in the standalone binary) — MIT.
-- **OpenTUI** (`@opentui/core`) — MIT.

Makefile

@@ -47,9 +47,8 @@ native:
 	scripts/build-cavacore.sh
 
 ## Standalone binary + native-libs tarball for the current platform.
-## Unaffected by bunfig.toml at build time. Note: the compiled runtime reads
-## the launching process's CWD bunfig.toml, so smoke tests must run the binary
-## from a bunfig-free dir (see release.yml).
+## Built with bunfig autoload disabled (build.ts sets autoloadBunfig: false),
+## so the embedded runtime ignores any bunfig.toml in the launching directory.
 dist:
 	bun run build.ts --compile
 

README.md

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # PodTui
 
-A keyboard-first, yazi-style terminal podcast client written in TypeScript and
-built on [OpenTUI](https://github.com/opentui/opentui). Subscribe to RSS feeds,
+A keyboard-first, terminal podcast client built on [OpenTUI](https://github.com/opentui/opentui). Subscribe to RSS feeds,
 browse episodes in a three-pane file-manager layout, and play audio through an
 external player with full transport control — all from your terminal.
 
@@ -11,8 +10,7 @@ external player with full transport control — all from your terminal.
   `Enter` to open, `1–6` / `[` `]` to switch tabs. The tab list is the app root:
   at launch it fills the current pane, and drilling into a tab's contents slides
   it into the parent pane.
-- **Three-pane view** — parent / current / preview (Up | Current | Preview),
-  mirroring yazi's pane model.
+- **Three-pane view** — parent / current / preview (Up | Current | Preview).
 - **Podcast feeds** — add feeds, browse episodes, and manage your library
   (My Shows, Discover, Feed tabs).
 - **Search** across your subscribed shows.
@@ -22,22 +20,28 @@ external player with full transport control — all from your terminal.
 - Ships as a **standalone compiled binary** — no runtime or install step beyond
   a system audio player.
 
+## Quick start
+
+1. Install PodTui ([Installation](#installation)) and make sure **mpv** is in
+   your `PATH`.
+2. Run `podtui` in your terminal.
+3. Press `3` to open **Discover** (or `4` to open **Search**, then `s`), drill
+   in with `Enter`, and press `Enter` on a show to subscribe.
+4. Press `1` (**Feed**) or `2` (**My Shows**), open an episode with `Enter`,
+   and use `P` to play/pause, `N`/`B` for next/previous, and `shift-.` /
+   `shift-,` to seek.
+
+Press `~` any time for in-app help. All keys are remappable — see
+[Keybindings](#keybindings).
+
 ## Requirements
 
 - A terminal with UTF-8 and modern color support (kitty, iTerm2, WezTerm,
-  tmux, GNOME Terminal, etc.).
-- An **audio player** on `PATH`. PodTui auto-detects in priority order:
-
-  | Player   | Platforms      | Seek | Speed | Position tracking |
-  |----------|----------------|:----:|:-----:|:------------------|
-  | `mpv`     | any            | ✔    | ✔     | ✔ (recommended)   |
-  | `ffplay`  | any            | ✔    | ✘     | ✘                 |
-  | `afplay`  | macOS built-in | ✔    | ✔     | ✘                 |
-  | `open`/`xdg-open` | any    | ✘    | ✘     | ✘                 |
-
-  Install `mpv` for the best experience (`brew install mpv`,
-  `sudo apt install mpv`, `pacman -S mpv`). You can force a specific backend
-  with `PODTUI_AUDIO_BACKEND=mpv|ffplay|afplay|system|none`.
+  Ghostty, tmux etc.).
+- **mpv** on `PATH` for audio playback. PodTui drives mpv over JSON IPC, so
+  seek, speed, and position tracking all work. Without `mpv` on `PATH`,
+  playback is a silent no-op (the `none` backend) — see
+  [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting).
 
 ## Installation
 
@@ -47,13 +51,9 @@ Linux (arm64/x64). Pick whichever fits your platform.
 ### 1. Homebrew (macOS)
 
 ```sh
-brew install mikefreno/tap/podtui   # requires mpv: brew install mpv
+brew install mikefreno/tap/podtui
 ```
 
-> The formula installs the standalone binary plus its two native libraries
-> side by side (see [Packaging model](#packaging-model)). It does **not**
-> depend on Bun.
-
 ### 2. Standalone tarball (all platforms)
 
 Grab `podtui-<platform>-<arch>.tar.gz` from the latest
@@ -71,69 +71,29 @@ sudo ln -sf /opt/podtui/podtui /usr/local/bin/podtui
 > The tarball contains `podtui` plus `libopentui.<ext>` and
 > `libcavacore.<ext>` **beside it** — keep them together (don't move just the
 > binary alone), or the native FFI libraries won't load.
->
-> One caveat: the embedded runtime reads a `bunfig.toml` from the directory
-> you launch from. If that file has a `preload` entry (as Bun project
-> directories often do), startup fails with `preload not found`. Launching
-> from a normal directory (home, `~/bin`, …) works fine.
 
 ### 3. Arch Linux (AUR)
 
 ```bash
-# Status: PKGBUILD ready, not yet on the AUR (see note below)
 yay -S podtui-bin   # once published
 ```
 
-Requires an AUR helper ([paru](https://github.com/morgan/paru)). The AUR
-package (PKGBUILD lives in `packaging/aur/`) installs the released binary and
-its two FFI sibling libraries into `/usr/lib/podtui/` with a `/usr/bin/podtui`
-symlink, and pulls in `mpv` (the sole audio backend) as a dependency.
+Requires an AUR helper ([paru](https://github.com/morgan/paru)); the package
+pulls in `mpv` as a dependency.
 
-> **Not yet on the AUR.** The `podtui-bin` PKGBUILD and `.SRCINFO` are ready
-> in `packaging/aur/` and can be built locally today:
->
-> ```bash
-> cd packaging/aur && makepkg -si
-> ```
->
-> Publishing is on hold until [AUR account registrations](https://aur.archlinux.org)
-> reopen (suspended while the AUR team works on suspicious-package
-> moderation). Once a key can be registered, push `PKGBUILD` + `.SRCINFO`
-> with `git push ssh://aur@aur.archlinux.org/podtui-bin` and update this note.
+> **Not yet on the AUR.** The `podtui-bin` package is staged and awaiting
+> publication (AUR account registrations are currently suspended). Until it
+> lands, use the standalone tarball above.
 
 ### 4. From source
 
-Requires [Bun](https://bun.sh) ≥ 1.2.
-
-```bash
-git clone https://github.com/mikefreno/podtui.git
-cd podtui
-bun install
-bun run build:native   # build the cavacore FFI lib from C source
-bun run dev            # run with hot reload, or: bun start
-```
-
-## Linux distribution notes
-
-PodTUI deliberately does **not** ship `.deb`, `.rpm`, Flatpak, or Snap
-packages. For a terminal application that's overwhelmingly installed through
-repositories or archives, those formats add desktop-sandboxing overhead and a
-packaging tax with little benefit. Instead:
-
-- **GitHub Release tarballs** are the universal path — one upload, works on
-  any distro with `curl` + `tar`.
-- **AUR (`podtui-bin`)** covers Arch. Anyone on Arch/Manjaro gets the same
-  binary through their native package manager.
-- **Nix / cross-distro** users can build from source (or a Nix flake can be
-  added later).
-
-This keeps maintenance to a single build per OS/arch and still reaches the
-vast majority of desktop Linux users through their preferred path.
+PodTui is written in TypeScript and runs on [Bun](https://bun.sh). To build
+from source (development, distro packaging, unreleased versions), see
+[CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md).
 
 ## Usage
 
-Launch `podtui` (or `bun src/index.tsx` from the source tree). Press `~`
-for the in-app help.
+Launch `podtui`. Press `~` for the in-app help.
 
 ### Command-line flags
 
@@ -145,30 +105,73 @@ for the in-app help.
 
 ### Keybindings
 
-All keys are remappable — edit `~/.config/podtui/keybinds.jsonc`.
+All keys are remappable — edit `keybinds.jsonc` in your config directory
+(see [Configuration](#configuration)).
+
+**Movement**
 
 | Keys | Action |
 |------|--------|
-| `j` / `k` | Move cursor down / up |
-| `J` / `K` | Jump 5 lines |
+| `j` / `k` (or `down` / `up`) | Move down / up |
+| `J` / `K` | Jump 5 lines down / up |
 | `ctrl-d` / `ctrl-u` | Page down / up |
+| `ctrl-f` / `ctrl-b` | Full page down / up |
 | `gg` / `G` | Go to top / bottom |
-| `h` / `l` | Swipe to parent pane / preview pane |
+
+**Panes**
+
+| Keys | Action |
+|------|--------|
+| `h` / `l` (or `left` / `right`) | Focus parent pane / preview pane |
 | `Enter` | Open the item under the cursor (a tab, episode, show…) |
-| `Space` | Select / toggle selection |
+| `shift-enter` | Open with the interactive variant |
+
+**Selection**
+
+| Keys | Action |
+|------|--------|
+| `Space` | Toggle selection |
 | `v` | Visual mode (multi-select) |
+| `ctrl-a` | Select / deselect all |
+| `ctrl-r` | Invert selection |
+| `Esc` | Cancel / escape |
+
+**Tabs**
+
+| Keys | Action |
+|------|--------|
 | `1`–`6` | Jump to tab 1–6 (Feed, My Shows, Discover, Search, Player, Settings) |
 | `[` / `]` | Previous / next tab |
-| `P` (shift) | Play / pause |
+
+**Commands, help, quit**
+
+| Keys | Action |
+|------|--------|
+| `:` or `q` | Open the command palette (type `q` + `Enter` there to quit) |
+| `Q` or `ctrl-c` | Quit |
+| `~` or `f1` | In-app help |
+
+**Lists**
+
+| Keys | Action |
+|------|--------|
+| `s` | Search |
+| `f` | Filter |
+| `,` | Sort |
+| `.` | Toggle hidden |
+| `r` | Refresh |
+| `x` | Unsubscribe the focused show (My Shows) |
+| `d` | Download the focused episode (Feed / My Shows detail pane) |
+| `D` | Delete the focused episode's download (if one exists) |
+| `w` | Toggle the focused show in/out of the auto-download whitelist (My Shows, whitelist scope) |
+
+**Audio**
+
+| Keys | Action |
+|------|--------|
+| `P` | Play / pause |
 | `N` / `B` | Next / previous episode |
 | `shift-.` / `shift-,` | Seek forward / backward |
-| `s` | Search (in a list) |
-| `f` | Filter |
-| `r` | Refresh |
-| `:` | Command bar |
-| `~`, `f1` | Help |
-| `q`, `ctrl-c` | Quit |
-| `Esc` | Escape / cancel |
 
 ## Configuration
 
@@ -177,56 +180,49 @@ default (`$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/podtui` if set).
 
 | File | Purpose |
 |------|---------|
-| `feeds.json` | Your subscribed feeds (RSS/podcast sources) |
-| `sources.json` | Custom feed sources |
+| `config.json` | Unified settings (theme, playback speed, download path), feeds, and custom feed sources |
 | `downloads.json` | Downloaded episode metadata |
 | `keybinds.jsonc` | Keybinding remaps (see above) |
 | `themes/` | Optional custom theme files |
 
-Env overrides: `PODTUI_AUDIO_BACKEND`, `XDG_CONFIG_HOME`. Startup also reads
-the same OpenTUI environment variables.
+Legacy `feeds.json`, `sources.json`, and `app-state.json` are auto-migrated
+into `config.json` on first run.
 
-## Development
+**Auto-download** — in Settings → Preferences: `Auto Download` (master
+toggle) downloads the `Auto Download Count` most recent episodes (default 2,
+any positive integer — type it in the editor) of every show in the `Auto
+Download Scope` (all / none / whitelist, default all). With the whitelist
+scope, a search field appears under the setting to pick shows (Space toggles
+a suggestion in/out), and `w` in My Shows adds/removes the focused show.
 
-```bash
-bun install        # install dependencies
-bun run dev        # run with hot reload
-bun test           # run the test suite
-bun run build      # bundle JS + copy native libs into dist/
-make native        # rebuild cavacore from C source
-make lint          # type-check (tsc)
-```
+Env overrides: `PODTUI_AUDIO_BACKEND`, `XDG_CONFIG_HOME`, `PODTUI_NERD_FONTS`.
 
-### Releasing
+**Fonts** — PodTui prepends Nerd Font glyphs to non-episode/show list rows (tabs, Discover categories, Settings sections, the Feed and per-show "Fetch More" rows). Icons are hidden automatically when your terminal font is not Nerd Font capable (no tofu, no layout gaps); detection is heuristic (terminal type), so force it with `PODTUI_NERD_FONTS=1` or `=0` if it guesses wrong. A Nerd Font-patched font (e.g. JetBrainsMono Nerd Font) is recommended.
 
-Tag a release (e.g. `v0.1.0`); CI builds and uploads the per-platform tarballs
-to your GitHub Release automatically:
+## Troubleshooting
 
-```bash
-make dist        # build the standalone binary + tarball for THIS platform
-make dist-mac    # (run on macOS)    → podtui-darwin-<arch>.tar.gz
-make dist-linux  # (run on Linux)    → podtui-linux-<arch>.tar.gz
-```
+**`preload not found` at startup** — this used to happen when the binary was
+launched from a Bun project directory whose `bunfig.toml` had a `preload`
+entry. Releases are compiled with bunfig autoload disabled
+(`autoloadBunfig: false`), so current binaries ignore the CWD's `bunfig.toml`
+entirely. If you still hit it, you're on an old release — upgrade.
 
-`make dist` emits a config-independent binary: Bun does not bake bunfig
-settings into `--compile` output, and the solid JSX transform is registered in
-`build.ts` itself. The binary then embeds the `preload`-free runtime, so launch
-it from any normal directory.
+**No audio — playback is a silent no-op** — PodTui needs **mpv** on your
+`PATH`. Install it (`brew install mpv`, `pacman -S mpv`, …) and relaunch.
 
-## Packaging model
+**Homebrew prints a dylib warning** — “load commands do not fit in the header
+… needs `-headerpad`” is benign: the app loads its libraries by path, the
+install completes, and the app boots normally.
 
-A release tarball is three files sitting side by side:
+**The app won't start / no spectrum after moving files** — `podtui` loads its
+two native libraries relative to the binary, so keep `podtui`,
+`libopentui.*`, and `libcavacore.*` together in the same directory (the
+tarball unpacks them side by side).
 
-```
-podtui                  # standalone compiled binary (embeds the Bun runtime)
-libopentui.<dylib|so>   # OpenTUI native renderer FFI library
-libcavacore.<dylib|so>  # cavacore spectrum FFI library (built from C)
-```
+## Building from source / contributing
 
-PodTui loads its native libraries relative to the binary, so **keep them in
-the same directory**. The compiled binary embeds the Bun runtime, so it runs
-with no Bun installed. Each release builds one tarball per OS/arch in CI; there
-is no cross-compilation.
+Development setup, the test suite, packaging, and the release process are
+documented in [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md).
 
 ## License
 

assets/App Icon/App Icon.icon/Assets/Podcast Waveform.svg

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<svg width="400" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="125.714" id="screenshot-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7b1374b8" viewBox="0 0 400 125.714" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" fill="none" version="1.1"><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7b1374b8" rx="0" ry="0"><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7a62c77d"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7a62c77d"><rect rx="6.857142857142833" ry="6.857142857142833" x="0" y="56" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="13.714285714285666" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7a89c956"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7a89c956"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="45.71428571428572" y="45.714285714285666" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="34.285714285714334" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7a9fe4f2"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7a9fe4f2"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="91.42857142857144" y="33.14285714285711" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="59.428571428571445" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7ab46172"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7ab46172"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="137.1428571428571" y="18.285714285714306" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.285714285714334" height="89.14285714285714" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7ac82b71"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7ac82b71"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="182.85714285714283" y="0" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.285714285714334" height="125.71428571428578" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7ad6c7b7"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7ad6c7b7"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="228.57142857142856" y="18.285714285714306" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="89.14285714285714" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7aea70cd"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7aea70cd"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="274.28571428571433" y="33.14285714285711" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="59.428571428571445" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7af77904"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7af77904"><rect rx="15" ry="15" x="320" y="45.714285714285666" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="34.285714285714334" style="fill: rgb(59, 66, 82); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7b04705e"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-769a7b04705e"><rect rx="6.857142857142833" ry="6.857142857142833" x="365.7142857142858" y="56" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="34.28571428571428" height="13.714285714285666" style="fill: rgb(59, 66, 82); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g></g></svg>

assets/App Icon/App Icon.icon/Assets/Terminal Cursor.svg

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<svg width="80" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="256" id="screenshot-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-76a1e45d35f1" viewBox="0 0 80 256" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" fill="none" version="1.1"><g id="shape-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-76a1e45d35f1"><g class="fills" id="fills-993fe4cb-279d-80e0-8008-76a1e45d35f1"><rect rx="10" ry="10" x="0" y="0" transform="matrix(1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000, 1.000000, 0.000000, 0.000000)" width="80" height="256" style="fill: rgb(136, 192, 208); fill-opacity: 1;"/></g></g></svg>

assets/App Icon/App Icon.icon/icon.json

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+{
+  "fill" : {
+    "solid" : "display-p3:0.18481,0.20325,0.24683,1.00000"
+  },
+  "groups" : [
+    {
+      "layers" : [
+        {
+          "glass" : false,
+          "image-name" : "Podcast Waveform.svg",
+          "name" : "Podcast Waveform",
+          "position" : {
+            "scale" : 2,
+            "translation-in-points" : [
+              0,
+              0
+            ]
+          }
+        },
+        {
+          "blend-mode" : "normal",
+          "fill" : "automatic",
+          "glass" : false,
+          "image-name" : "Terminal Cursor.svg",
+          "name" : "Terminal Cursor",
+          "position" : {
+            "scale" : 2,
+            "translation-in-points" : [
+              320.00000000000006,
+              0
+            ]
+          }
+        }
+      ],
+      "shadow" : {
+        "kind" : "neutral",
+        "opacity" : 0.5
+      },
+      "translucency" : {
+        "enabled" : true,
+        "value" : 0.5
+      }
+    }
+  ],
+  "supported-platforms" : {
+    "circles" : [
+      "watchOS"
+    ],
+    "squares" : "shared"
+  }
+}

build.ts

@@ -82,6 +82,12 @@ if (COMPILE) {
 		plugins: [solidPlugin],
 		compile: {
 			outfile,
+			// Don't let the embedded runtime autoload the launching CWD's
+			// bunfig.toml. A top-level `preload` there (common in Bun project
+			// dirs) resolves against the CWD, not the binary, so startup dies
+			// with "preload not found". With autoload disabled, the binary is
+			// config-independent and boots from any directory.
+			autoloadBunfig: false,
 		},
 	});
 	console.log(`Compiled standalone binary: ${outfile}`);
@@ -110,6 +116,21 @@ if (COMPILE) {
 		const s = join("dist", lib);
 		if (existsSync(s)) copyFileSync(s, join(tarRoot, lib));
 	}
+
+	// App icon: bundled into every platform tarball; Linux also gets the
+	// desktop entry so the AUR package can install both system-wide
+	// (icon to hicolor, entry to applications/).
+	const iconSrc = join("assets", "App Icon", "App Icon.png");
+	if (existsSync(iconSrc)) {
+		copyFileSync(iconSrc, join(tarRoot, "podtui.png"));
+	}
+	if (platform === "linux") {
+		const desktopSrc = join("packaging", "podtui.desktop");
+		if (existsSync(desktopSrc)) {
+			copyFileSync(desktopSrc, join(tarRoot, "podtui.desktop"));
+		}
+	}
+
 	const tar = Bun.spawnSync([
 		"tar",
 		"-czf",

bunfig.toml

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
-# NO top-level `preload` here — intentional. A compiled PodTUI binary's
-# embedded Bun runtime reads the launching process's CWD bunfig.toml, and a
-# top-level `preload` entry (e.g. "@opentui/solid/preload", which the
-# standalone cannot resolve) makes the binary die at startup with
-# "preload not found". Dev/test still get the solid transform via explicit
-# `--preload` flags in package.json and the [test] section below.
+# No top-level `preload` here — dev/test get the solid JSX transform via the
+# explicit `--preload` flags in package.json and the [test] section below.
+# Releases don't read this file at all: build.ts compiles the standalone with
+# `autoloadBunfig: false`, so its embedded runtime ignores any bunfig.toml in
+# the launching directory — no more "preload not found" from CWD bunfigs.
 
 [test]
 preload = "@opentui/solid/preload"

package.json

@@ -18,15 +18,13 @@
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@types/bun": "latest",
-    "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^8.54.0",
-    "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^8.54.0",
-    "eslint": "^9.39.2",
     "typescript": "^5.9.3"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@opentui/core": "^0.1.77",
     "@opentui/solid": "^0.1.77",
     "date-fns": "^4.1.0",
+    "effect": "^3",
     "solid-js": "^1.9.9"
   }
 }

packaging/aur/PKGBUILD

@@ -51,5 +51,13 @@ package() {
 	install -Dm644 "${srcdir}/${libdir}/libcavacore.so" "${pkgdir}/usr/lib/podtui/libcavacore.so"
 	install -Dm644 "${srcdir}/${libdir}/libopentui.so" "${pkgdir}/usr/lib/podtui/libopentui.so"
 	ln -s /usr/lib/podtui/podtui "${pkgdir}/usr/bin/podtui"
+
+	# App icon + desktop entry ship inside the release tarball; Terminal=true
+	# makes launchers drop the TUI into a terminal window.
+	install -Dm644 "${srcdir}/${libdir}/podtui.png" \
+		"${pkgdir}/usr/share/icons/hicolor/512x512/apps/podtui.png"
+	install -Dm644 "${srcdir}/${libdir}/podtui.desktop" \
+		"${pkgdir}/usr/share/applications/podtui.desktop"
+
 	install -Dm644 "${srcdir}/LICENSE" "${pkgdir}/usr/share/licenses/${pkgname}/LICENSE"
 }

packaging/podtui.desktop

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+[Desktop Entry]
+Type=Application
+Name=PodTui
+GenericName=Podcast Player
+Comment=Terminal podcast and audio player with waveform visualization
+Exec=podtui
+Icon=podtui
+Terminal=true
+Categories=Audio;AudioVideo;Player;
+Keywords=podcast;audio;player;terminal;
+StartupNotify=false

src/App.tsx

@@ -18,22 +18,21 @@ const DEBUG = import.meta.env.DEBUG;
 
 export function App() {
 	const nav = useNavigation();
-	const audio = useAudio();
 	const toast = useToast();
 	const renderer = useRenderer();
 	const themeContext = useTheme();
 	const theme = themeContext.theme;
 	const keybind = useKeybinds();
 
-	// Multimedia keys (physical play/seek keys) still feed the audio backend
-	// regardless of the on-screen yazi keybinds.
+	// Multimedia keys (physical play/volume/speed keys) still feed the audio
+	// backend regardless of the on-screen yazi keybinds. Seek lives on the
+	// keybind router (< / > = shift+, / shift+.), so arrows stay on navigation.
 	useMultimediaKeys({
 		playerFocused: () =>
 			nav.activeTab() === TABS.PLAYER && nav.mode() !== NavMode.NORMAL
 				? true
 				: false,
 		inputFocused: () => nav.inputFocused(),
-		hasEpisode: () => !!audio.currentEpisode(),
 	});
 
 	// Mouse text-selection → clipboard (unchanged from the old shell).

src/api/rss-parser.ts

@@ -74,6 +74,114 @@ const parseEpisodeType = (raw: string): EpisodeType | undefined => {
   return undefined
 }
 
+/** FNV-1a 32-bit hash. Deterministic across processes and Bun versions
+ *  (unlike Bun.hash) — used to derive stable episode ids from audio URLs so
+ *  a feed's episode ids never change between refreshes. */
+const fnv1a = (input: string): number => {
+  let hash = 0x811c9dc5
+  for (let i = 0; i < input.length; i++) {
+    hash ^= input.charCodeAt(i)
+    hash = Math.imul(hash, 0x01000193)
+  }
+  return hash >>> 0
+}
+
+/**
+ * Stable per-episode identity. The old positional id (`feedUrl#index`) was
+ * invalidated by ANY feed change: a new episode or a pruned one shifted
+ * every episode's index, so progress/downloads saved under `feedUrl#5`
+ * attached to whatever episode now sat at index 5 — new episodes resumed
+ * minutes in. Identity derives from stable content instead:
+ *   1. `<guid>` — the canonical per-episode identifier (required by Apple
+ *      Podcasts; nearly universal).
+ *   2. The enclosure URL, hashed to keep the id compact (hosts serve
+ *      permanent per-episode URLs; guids can be absent in hand-rolled feeds).
+ *   3. Positional index as a last resort: no guid AND no audio URL means
+ *      the episode cannot be played, so nothing persistent keys off it.
+ */
+const stableEpisodeId = (
+  feedUrl: string,
+  item: string,
+  audioUrl: string,
+  index: number,
+): string => {
+  const guid = getTagValue(item, "guid")
+  if (guid) return `${feedUrl}#guid:${guid}`
+  if (audioUrl) return `${feedUrl}#url:${fnv1a(audioUrl).toString(36)}`
+  return `${feedUrl}#${index}`
+}
+
+/** Extract the `<item>` blocks from an RSS document. Matches items directly
+ *  on the full XML string — scoping to <channel> first is a redundant 5MB
+ *  regex pass that doubles parse cost with no practical benefit (well-formed
+ *  RSS has no items outside <channel>). */
+export const getRSSItems = (xml: string): string[] => {
+  return xml.match(/<item[\s\S]*?<\/item>/gi) ?? []
+}
+
+/** Channel-level artwork: `<itunes:image href>` (podcasts) or RSS 2.0
+ *  `<image><url>`. Works on the full XML — channel-level tags precede
+ *  <item> blocks in RSS, so the first match is the channel image. */
+export const parseChannelCoverUrl = (xml: string): string | undefined => {
+  const itunesHref = getAttr(xml, "itunes:image", "href")
+  if (itunesHref) return itunesHref
+  const url = getTagValue(xml, "image").match(/<url>([\s\S]*?)<\/url>/i)?.[1]
+  return url?.trim() || undefined
+}
+
+/** Parse a single `<item>` into an Episode. Exported so the feed store can
+ *  parse large feeds in bounded chunks (yielding to the event loop between
+ *  chunks) instead of one synchronous block. */
+export const parseRSSItem = (item: string, feedUrl: string, index: number): Episode => {
+  const epTitle = cleanField(getTagValue(item, "title")) || `Episode ${index + 1}`
+  const epDescription = cleanField(getTagValue(item, "description"))
+  const pubDate = new Date(getTagValue(item, "pubDate") || Date.now())
+
+  const enclosure = item.match(/<enclosure[^>]*url=["']([^"']+)["'][^>]*>/i)
+  const audioUrl = enclosure?.[1] ?? ""
+  const fileSizeStr = getAttr(item, "enclosure", "length")
+  const fileSize = fileSizeStr ? parseInt(fileSizeStr, 10) : undefined
+  const mimeType = getAttr(item, "enclosure", "type") || undefined
+
+  const durationRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:duration")
+  const duration = parseDuration(durationRaw)
+
+  const episodeNumRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:episode")
+  const episodeNumber = episodeNumRaw ? parseInt(episodeNumRaw, 10) : undefined
+  const seasonNumRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:season")
+  const seasonNumber = seasonNumRaw ? parseInt(seasonNumRaw, 10) : undefined
+
+  const episodeType = parseEpisodeType(getTagValue(item, "itunes:episodeType"))
+  const explicitRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:explicit").toLowerCase()
+  const explicit = explicitRaw === "yes" || explicitRaw === "true" ? true : undefined
+
+  // Episode image (itunes:image has href attribute)
+  const imageUrl = getAttr(item, "itunes:image", "href") || undefined
+
+  const ep: Episode = {
+    id: stableEpisodeId(feedUrl, item, audioUrl, index),
+    podcastId: feedUrl,
+    title: epTitle,
+    description: epDescription,
+    audioUrl,
+    duration,
+    pubDate,
+  }
+
+  if (episodeNumber !== undefined && !isNaN(episodeNumber)) ep.episodeNumber = episodeNumber
+  if (seasonNumber !== undefined && !isNaN(seasonNumber)) ep.seasonNumber = seasonNumber
+  if (episodeType) ep.episodeType = episodeType
+  if (explicit !== undefined) ep.explicit = explicit
+  if (imageUrl) ep.imageUrl = imageUrl
+  if (fileSize !== undefined && !isNaN(fileSize) && fileSize > 0) ep.fileSize = fileSize
+  if (mimeType) ep.mimeType = mimeType
+
+  return ep
+}
+
+/** Parse a full RSS document (channel metadata + all episodes). The sync
+ *  whole-feed variant — callers that parse potentially huge feeds on a UI
+ *  thread should prefer the store's chunked incremental parse instead. */
 export const parseRSSFeed = (xml: string, feedUrl: string): Podcast & { episodes: Episode[] } => {
   const channel = xml.match(/<channel[\s\S]*?<\/channel>/i)?.[0] ?? xml
   const title = cleanField(getTagValue(channel, "title")) || "Untitled Podcast"
@@ -81,58 +189,8 @@ export const parseRSSFeed = (xml: string, feedUrl: string): Podcast & { episodes
   const author = decodeEntities(getTagValue(channel, "itunes:author"))
   const lastUpdated = new Date()
 
-  const items = channel.match(/<item[\s\S]*?<\/item>/gi) ?? []
-  const episodes = items.map((item, index) => {
-    const epTitle = cleanField(getTagValue(item, "title")) || `Episode ${index + 1}`
-    const epDescription = cleanField(getTagValue(item, "description"))
-    const pubDate = new Date(getTagValue(item, "pubDate") || Date.now())
-
-    // Audio URL + file size + MIME type from <enclosure>
-    const enclosure = item.match(/<enclosure[^>]*url=["']([^"']+)["'][^>]*>/i)
-    const audioUrl = enclosure?.[1] ?? ""
-    const fileSizeStr = getAttr(item, "enclosure", "length")
-    const fileSize = fileSizeStr ? parseInt(fileSizeStr, 10) : undefined
-    const mimeType = getAttr(item, "enclosure", "type") || undefined
-
-    // Duration from <itunes:duration>
-    const durationRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:duration")
-    const duration = parseDuration(durationRaw)
-
-    // Episode & season numbers
-    const episodeNumRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:episode")
-    const episodeNumber = episodeNumRaw ? parseInt(episodeNumRaw, 10) : undefined
-    const seasonNumRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:season")
-    const seasonNumber = seasonNumRaw ? parseInt(seasonNumRaw, 10) : undefined
-
-    // Episode type & explicit
-    const episodeType = parseEpisodeType(getTagValue(item, "itunes:episodeType"))
-    const explicitRaw = getTagValue(item, "itunes:explicit").toLowerCase()
-    const explicit = explicitRaw === "yes" || explicitRaw === "true" ? true : undefined
-
-    // Episode image (itunes:image has href attribute)
-    const imageUrl = getAttr(item, "itunes:image", "href") || undefined
-
-    const ep: Episode = {
-      id: `${feedUrl}#${index}`,
-      podcastId: feedUrl,
-      title: epTitle,
-      description: epDescription,
-      audioUrl,
-      duration,
-      pubDate,
-    }
-
-    // Only set optional fields if present
-    if (episodeNumber !== undefined && !isNaN(episodeNumber)) ep.episodeNumber = episodeNumber
-    if (seasonNumber !== undefined && !isNaN(seasonNumber)) ep.seasonNumber = seasonNumber
-    if (episodeType) ep.episodeType = episodeType
-    if (explicit !== undefined) ep.explicit = explicit
-    if (imageUrl) ep.imageUrl = imageUrl
-    if (fileSize !== undefined && !isNaN(fileSize) && fileSize > 0) ep.fileSize = fileSize
-    if (mimeType) ep.mimeType = mimeType
-
-    return ep
-  })
+  const items = getRSSItems(xml)
+  const episodes = items.map((item, index) => parseRSSItem(item, feedUrl, index))
 
   return {
     id: feedUrl,
@@ -142,6 +200,7 @@ export const parseRSSFeed = (xml: string, feedUrl: string): Podcast & { episodes
     feedUrl,
     lastUpdated,
     isSubscribed: true,
+    coverUrl: parseChannelCoverUrl(channel),
     episodes,
   }
 }

src/components/EpisodeList.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,246 @@
+/**
+ * Shared list-row and preview components for the Feed and My Shows pages.
+ *
+ * Both pages render the same episode rows (marker + title, optional subtitle
+ * line, date/duration/selection/download meta line), "[Fetch More]" rows, and
+ * hovered-episode / fetch-more preview panes; the pages differ only in the
+ * props they pass (subtitle line, hint text, manual-mode wording). Extracted
+ * so the previously 3-4-level-nested render blocks run as flat named
+ * components.
+ *
+ * Anything that can change at runtime arrives as a signal getter: Solid
+ * components do not re-render, so only props that are called inside the
+ * component's own JSX stay reactive (focus, selection, download state).
+ */
+
+import { Show } from "solid-js";
+import { format } from "date-fns";
+import type { RGBA } from "@opentui/core";
+import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
+import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { NF_ICONS } from "@/utils/nerd-fonts";
+import { LoadingIndicator } from "@/components/LoadingIndicator";
+import type { Episode } from "@/types/episode";
+
+// ── formatting helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+export const formatDate = (d: Date) => format(d, "MMM d, yyyy");
+
+export const formatDuration = (s: number) => {
+	const mins = Math.floor(s / 60);
+	const hrs = Math.floor(mins / 60);
+	return hrs > 0 ? `${hrs}h ${mins % 60}m` : `${mins}m`;
+};
+
+// ── EpisodeRow ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+export function EpisodeRow(props: {
+	/** The episode this row renders. */
+	episode: Episode;
+	/** Optional second line under the title (podcast/show name). */
+	subtitle?: () => string | undefined;
+	/** For index signal (row position). */
+	index: () => number;
+	/** Focused row index in this list (-1 while the Fetch More row is
+	 *  focused, so no episode row draws the cursor). */
+	focused: () => number;
+	/** Whether the current pane has keyboard focus. */
+	active: () => boolean;
+	/** Whether this episode is selection-marked. */
+	selected: () => boolean;
+	downloadLabel: () => string;
+	downloadColor: () => RGBA;
+	marker: () => string;
+	onMouseDown: () => void;
+}) {
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
+	const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => props.index() === props.focused());
+	const isFocused = () => props.index() === props.focused();
+	const bg = () =>
+		isFocused() && props.active()
+			? theme.primary
+			: isFocused()
+				? theme.border
+				: undefined;
+	const fg = () =>
+		isFocused() && props.active()
+			? theme.surface
+			: isFocused()
+				? theme.selectedListItemText ?? theme.text
+				: theme.text;
+	return (
+		<box
+			ref={ref}
+			flexDirection="column"
+			gap={0}
+			paddingRight={1}
+			backgroundColor={bg()}
+			onMouseDown={props.onMouseDown}
+		>
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
+				<text flexShrink={0} fg={fg()}>
+					{isFocused() ? props.marker() : " "}
+				</text>
+				<text wrapMode="none" truncate fg={fg()}>
+					{props.episode.episodeNumber ? `#${props.episode.episodeNumber} ` : ""}
+					{props.episode.title}
+				</text>
+			</box>
+			{/* podcast name on its own row — readable at a glance; the 50%
+			    current pane fits it in full for typical names, and truncate
+			    keeps the row one line tall either way */}
+			<Show when={props.subtitle?.()}>
+				<box paddingLeft={2}>
+					<text
+						wrapMode="none"
+						truncate
+						fg={isFocused() ? theme.surface : theme.textSecondary}
+					>
+						{props.subtitle?.()}
+					</text>
+				</box>
+			</Show>
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={2} paddingLeft={2}>
+				<text flexShrink={0} fg={isFocused() ? theme.surface : theme.info}>
+					{formatDate(props.episode.pubDate)}
+				</text>
+				<text flexShrink={0} fg={isFocused() ? theme.surface : muted()}>
+					{formatDuration(props.episode.duration)}
+				</text>
+				<Show when={props.selected()}>
+					<text flexShrink={0} fg={theme.warning}>
+						●
+					</text>
+				</Show>
+				<Show when={props.downloadLabel()}>
+					<text flexShrink={0} fg={props.downloadColor()}>
+						{props.downloadLabel()}
+					</text>
+				</Show>
+			</box>
+		</box>
+	);
+}
+
+// ── FetchMoreRow ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+export function FetchMoreRow(props: {
+	/** Row index of the Fetch More button within the list. */
+	index: () => number;
+	/** Focused row index. */
+	focused: () => number;
+	/** True while the Fetch More row itself is focused. */
+	onMore: () => boolean;
+	/** Whether the current pane has keyboard focus. */
+	active: () => boolean;
+	isLoadingMore: () => boolean;
+	nerd: boolean;
+	marker: () => string;
+	onMouseDown: () => void;
+}) {
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const ref = useScrollIntoView(props.onMore);
+	const bg = () =>
+		props.index() === props.focused() && props.active()
+			? theme.primary
+			: props.index() === props.focused()
+				? theme.border
+				: undefined;
+	const fg = () =>
+		props.index() === props.focused() && props.active()
+			? theme.surface
+			: props.index() === props.focused()
+				? theme.selectedListItemText ?? theme.text
+				: theme.text;
+	return (
+		<box
+			ref={ref}
+			flexDirection="row"
+			gap={1}
+			paddingRight={1}
+			backgroundColor={bg()}
+			onMouseDown={props.onMouseDown}
+		>
+			<text fg={fg()}>{props.onMore() ? props.marker() : " "}</text>
+			{props.nerd && (
+				<text fg={fg()}>{NF_ICONS.more}</text>
+			)}
+			<Show
+				when={!props.isLoadingMore()}
+				fallback={<LoadingIndicator label="Fetching…" />}
+			>
+				<text fg={fg()}>[Fetch More]</text>
+			</Show>
+		</box>
+	);
+}
+
+// ── EpisodePreview ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+export function EpisodePreview(props: {
+	episode: () => Episode;
+	/** Optional line under the meta row (podcast/show name). */
+	subtitle?: () => string | undefined;
+	author: () => string | undefined;
+	downloadLabel: () => string;
+	downloadColor: () => RGBA;
+	/** Page-specific action-hint line. */
+	hint: () => string;
+}) {
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
+	return (
+		<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
+			<text fg={theme.textPrimary ?? theme.text}>
+				<strong>
+					{props.episode().episodeNumber ? `#${props.episode().episodeNumber} ` : ""}
+					{props.episode().title}
+				</strong>
+			</text>
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={2}>
+				<text fg={theme.info}>{formatDate(props.episode().pubDate)}</text>
+				<text fg={muted()}>{formatDuration(props.episode().duration)}</text>
+				<Show when={props.downloadLabel()}>
+					<text fg={props.downloadColor()}>{props.downloadLabel()}</text>
+				</Show>
+			</box>
+			<Show when={props.subtitle?.()}>
+				<text fg={muted()}>{props.subtitle?.()}</text>
+			</Show>
+			<Show when={props.author()}>
+				<text fg={muted()}>by {props.author()}</text>
+			</Show>
+			<box height={1} />
+			<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
+				{props.episode().description?.slice(0, 400) ?? "No description available."}
+				{(props.episode().description?.length ?? 0) > 400 ? "…" : ""}
+			</text>
+			<box height={1} />
+			<text fg={muted()}>{props.hint()}</text>
+		</box>
+	);
+}
+
+// ── FetchMorePreview ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+export function FetchMorePreview(props: {
+	isLoadingMore: () => boolean;
+	fetchMoreMode: () => string;
+	/** Manual-mode explanation line ("across all feeds" vs "for this show"). */
+	manualText: () => string;
+}) {
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
+	return (
+		<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
+			<text fg={theme.textPrimary ?? theme.text}>
+				<strong>[Fetch More]</strong>
+			</text>
+			<text fg={muted()}>
+				{props.isLoadingMore()
+					? "Loading the next batch of episodes…"
+					: props.fetchMoreMode() === "auto"
+						? "Auto mode: the next batch loads automatically at the bottom of the list."
+						: props.manualText()}
+			</text>
+			<box height={1} />
+			<text fg={muted()}>enter: load more · h back</text>
+		</box>
+	);
+}

src/components/GlobalActivityIndicator.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { Show } from "solid-js";
+import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
+import { useSearchStore } from "@/stores/search";
+import { useDownloadStore } from "@/stores/download";
+import { useActivityStore } from "@/stores/activity";
+import { LoadingIndicator } from "@/components/LoadingIndicator";
+
+/**
+ * GlobalActivityIndicator — one global top-right signal that ANY feed
+ * refresh, fetch-more, subscribe fetch, search, or download is in flight.
+ * Per-page spinners are unchanged; this overlays the content row and status
+ * bar as a single app-wide "something is happening" indicator.
+ */
+export function GlobalActivityIndicator() {
+  const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+  const searchStore = useSearchStore();
+  const downloadStore = useDownloadStore();
+  const activity = useActivityStore();
+
+  /** True while any tracked activity is in flight */
+  const isActive = () =>
+    feedStore.isLoadingFeeds() ||
+    feedStore.isLoadingMore() ||
+    searchStore.isSearching() ||
+    downloadStore.getActiveCount() + downloadStore.getQueue().length > 0 ||
+    activity.isActive();
+
+  return (
+    <Show when={isActive()}>
+      <box position="absolute" top={0} right={0} paddingRight={1}>
+        <LoadingIndicator />
+      </box>
+    </Show>
+  );
+}

src/components/LoadingIndicator.tsx

@@ -1,23 +1,30 @@
-import { createSignal, createMemo, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
+import { createSignal, createMemo, Show, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 
 const spinnerChars = ["⠋", "⠙", "⠹", "⠸", "⠼", "⠴", "⠦", "⠧", "⠇", "⠏"];
 
-export function LoadingIndicator() {
-  const { theme } = useTheme();
-  const [index, setIndex] = createSignal(0);
+/**
+ * Animated braille spinner with an optional label (e.g. "Refreshing…").
+ * The spinner is rendered in the theme primary color; the label in muted.
+ */
+export function LoadingIndicator(props: { label?: string }) {
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const [index, setIndex] = createSignal(0);
 
-  const interval = setInterval(() => {
-    setIndex((i) => (i + 1) % spinnerChars.length);
-  }, 65);
+	const interval = setInterval(() => {
+		setIndex((i) => (i + 1) % spinnerChars.length);
+	}, 65);
 
-  onCleanup(() => clearInterval(interval));
+	onCleanup(() => clearInterval(interval));
 
-  const currentChar = createMemo(() => spinnerChars[index()]);
+	const currentChar = createMemo(() => spinnerChars[index()]);
 
-  return (
-    <box flexDirection="row" justifyContent="flex-end" alignItems="flex-start">
-      <text fg={theme.primary} content={currentChar()} />
-    </box>
-  );
+	return (
+		<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} alignItems="flex-start">
+			<text fg={theme.primary} content={currentChar()} />
+			<Show when={props.label}>
+				<text fg={theme.muted || theme.text} content={props.label} />
+			</Show>
+		</box>
+	);
 }

src/components/PaneRow.tsx

@@ -1,39 +1,42 @@
 /**
  * PaneRow — the shared parent | current | preview 3-pane layout primitive.
  *
- * Implements yazi's `mgr.ratio = [1, 2, 2]` contract: three bordered columns
- * grow at 1/5 : 2/5 : 2/5 of the row width via Yoga `flexGrow`, so every list
- * tab renders an identical, layout-stable shell. Columns use `flexBasis={0}`
- * so the ratio is exact regardless of content width — a column's content can
- * never stretch its slot.
+ * Implements yazi's `mgr.ratio` contract: three columns grow at
+ * 20% : 50% : 30% (PANE_RATIO 2:5:3) of the row width via Yoga `flexGrow`,
+ * so every list tab renders an identical, layout-stable shell. Columns use
+ * `flexBasis={0}` so the ratio is exact regardless of content width — a
+ * column's content can never stretch its slot.
  *
  * Column semantics (per the yazi depth model):
  *   parent  — the previous-depth list. Renders a muted `—` placeholder and
- *             KEEPS its 1/5 slot when blank (never collapses to width 0).
+ *             KEEPS its 20% slot when blank (never collapses to width 0).
+ *             Borderless (no left/right/top/bottom edge). Carries the single
+ *             header row: the CURRENT column's title renders top-left in the
+ *             parent's slot (the panes above current/preview were removed).
  *   current — the current-depth list. The only focusable content column; it
- *             carries the active-border focus ring when `focused` is truthy.
- *   preview — detail of the hovered item in `current`; always muted border.
+ *             is the ONLY bordered column — left/right edges only, always
+ *             muted (no active-border highlight, focused or not).
+ *   preview — detail of the hovered item in `current`. Borderless, no header.
  *
  * The primitive is purely structural: callers pass their own JSX per column
- * (static elements or accessors) plus header labels. Theme colors are resolved
- * internally via `useTheme()`. Only the current column's `<scrollbox>` receives
- * `focused`, so scroll focus follows the cursor (j/k stay in the current pane).
+ * (static elements or accessors) plus the current-column title. Theme colors
+ * are resolved internally via `useTheme()`. Only the current column's
+ * `<scrollbox>` receives `focused`, so scroll focus follows the cursor (j/k
+ * stay in the current pane).
  *
  * Example:
  *   <PaneRow
  *     parent={parentList}
  *     current={currentList}
  *     preview={detail}
- *     parentLabel="Up"
  *     currentLabel="List · 42"
- *     previewLabel="Detail"
  *     focused={isActive}
  *   />
  */
 
 import { createMemo, Show } from "solid-js";
 import type { JSX } from "solid-js";
-import type { RGBA } from "@opentui/core";
+import type { RGBA, BorderSides } from "@opentui/core";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import { PANE_RATIO } from "@/utils/navigation";
 
@@ -50,16 +53,19 @@ export type PaneRowProps = {
 	/** Preview column content (detail of the hovered item). Omit/undefined
 	 *  together with `panes={2}` to render a 2-pane parent|current row. */
 	preview?: PaneContent;
-	parentLabel?: PaneLabel;
+	/** Title of the current column — rendered once, top-left in the parent
+	 *  pane's header slot (the per-pane Up/Detail headers are gone). */
 	currentLabel?: PaneLabel;
-	previewLabel?: PaneLabel;
-	/** Whether the current column carries the active-border focus ring. Defaults to
-	 *  true; pass `false` (or a signal) when the row is inactive. Parent and
-	 *  preview columns always render muted borders. */
+	/** Whether the current column's `<scrollbox>` receives scroll focus. Defaults to
+	 *  true; pass `false` (or a signal) when the row is inactive. Does NOT change
+	 *  border colors — the current column's border is always muted. */
 	focused?: boolean | (() => boolean);
 	/** Number of visible columns. `3` (default) = parent|current|preview;
 	 *  `2` = parent|current (preview omitted, current grows to fill). */
 	panes?: 2 | 3;
+	/** Which sides of the current column's border render. Defaults to
+	 *  `["left", "right"]` (the standard focused-list frame). */
+	currentBorder?: boolean | BorderSides[];
 };
 
 // ── Helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -96,16 +102,15 @@ function Pane(props: {
 	grow: number;
 	label: () => string;
 	content: () => JSX.Element | undefined;
-	borderColor: () => RGBA;
+	border: boolean | BorderSides[];
 	scrollFocused: () => boolean;
 }) {
 	const themeContext = useTheme();
 	const theme = themeContext.theme;
 	const muted = () => theme.muted ?? theme.textMuted ?? theme.text;
 
-	// Memoize accessor results so the prop expressions below stay reactive
-	// when the underlying signals (e.g. `focused`) change.
-	const borderColor = createMemo(() => props.borderColor());
+	// Memoize the scroll-focus accessor result so the prop expression below
+	// stays reactive when the underlying signal (e.g. `focused`) changes.
 	const scrollFocused = createMemo(() => props.scrollFocused());
 
 	return (
@@ -115,24 +120,32 @@ function Pane(props: {
 			flexBasis={0}
 			height="100%"
 		>
-			{/* ── slim header label row ─────────────────────────────────────────── */}
-			<box
-				height={1}
-				paddingLeft={1}
-				backgroundColor={
-					themeContext.transparentBackground()
-						? "transparent"
-						: theme.background
-				}
-			>
-				<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>{props.label()}</text>
-			</box>
-			{/* ── bordered scrollbox ────────────────────────────────────────────── */}
+			{/* ── title row: rendered only when the pane carries a label ────────── */}
+			<Show when={props.label() !== ""}>
+				<box
+					height={1}
+					paddingLeft={1}
+					backgroundColor={
+						themeContext.transparentBackground()
+							? "transparent"
+							: theme.background
+					}
+				>
+					<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>{props.label()}</text>
+				</box>
+			</Show>
+			{/* ── scrollbox; border always muted (focused or not) ──────────────── */}
 			<scrollbox
 				height="100%"
 				focused={scrollFocused()}
-				border
-				borderColor={borderColor()}
+				border={props.border}
+				// Only supply colors when a border is requested — opentui flips a
+				// borderless box to bordered when borderColor/focusedBorderColor
+				// are passed, which would frame the parent/preview panes too.
+				borderColor={props.border === false ? undefined : theme.border}
+				focusedBorderColor={
+					props.border === false ? undefined : theme.border
+				}
 				backgroundColor={
 					themeContext.transparentBackground()
 						? "transparent"
@@ -147,9 +160,7 @@ function Pane(props: {
 
 // ── Row primitive ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 export function PaneRow(props: PaneRowProps) {
-	const { theme } = useTheme();
-
-	/** true → the current column gets the active-border focus ring. */
+	/** true → the current column's scrollbox is focused (scroll follows cursor). */
 	const focused = createMemo(() => {
 		const f = props.focused;
 		return typeof f === "function" ? f() : (f ?? true);
@@ -161,9 +172,9 @@ export function PaneRow(props: PaneRowProps) {
 	const currentContent = normalizeContent(props.current);
 	const previewContent = normalizeContent(props.preview);
 
-	const parentLabel = createMemo(() => resolveLabel(props.parentLabel));
+	// The single title: the CURRENT column's label, rendered in the parent
+	// pane's header slot (top-left). Current/preview panes have no headers.
 	const currentLabel = createMemo(() => resolveLabel(props.currentLabel));
-	const previewLabel = createMemo(() => resolveLabel(props.previewLabel));
 
 	// 2-pane mode (parent|current) grows the current column to fill the
 	// preview slot. Defaults to 3 (parent|current|preview).
@@ -173,32 +184,35 @@ export function PaneRow(props: PaneRowProps) {
 			? PANE_RATIO.current + PANE_RATIO.preview
 			: PANE_RATIO.current,
 	);
+	const currentBorder = createMemo<boolean | BorderSides[]>(
+		() => props.currentBorder ?? ["left", "right"],
+	);
 
 	return (
 		<box flexDirection="row" flexGrow={1} width="100%" height="100%">
-			{/* ── parent (1/5) — previous-depth list; always muted ─────────────── */}
+			{/* ── parent (20%) — previous-depth list; title row top-left ────────── */}
 			<Pane
 				grow={PANE_RATIO.parent}
-				label={parentLabel}
+				label={currentLabel}
 				content={parentContent}
-				borderColor={() => theme.border}
+				border={false}
 				scrollFocused={() => false}
 			/>
-			{/* ── current — the focused list; active-border ring when focused ──────────── */}
+			{/* ── current — the focused list; left/right borders only ─────────── */}
 			<Pane
 				grow={currentGrow()}
-				label={currentLabel}
+				label={() => ""}
 				content={currentContent}
-				borderColor={() => (focused() ? theme.borderActive : theme.border)}
+				border={currentBorder()}
 				scrollFocused={() => focused()}
 			/>
-			{/* ── preview (2/5) — hovered-item detail; always muted ────────────── */}
+			{/* ── preview (30%) — hovered-item detail; no border, no header ────── */}
 			<Show when={panes() === 3}>
 				<Pane
 					grow={PANE_RATIO.preview}
-					label={previewLabel}
+					label={() => ""}
 					content={previewContent}
-					borderColor={() => theme.border}
+					border={false}
 					scrollFocused={() => false}
 				/>
 			</Show>

src/components/Shell.tsx

@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@
  * event bus. There is no sidebar pane.
  */
 
-import { createSignal, Show, For } from "solid-js";
-import { useKeyboard, useRenderer } from "@opentui/solid";
+import { createEffect, createSignal, onCleanup, Show, For } from "solid-js";
+import { useKeyboard, useRenderer, useTerminalDimensions } from "@opentui/solid";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import { useKeybinds, type KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
 import { useNavigation, NavMode } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
@@ -23,19 +23,11 @@ import { useAppStore } from "@/stores/app";
 import { useToast } from "@/ui/toast";
 import { emit, on } from "@/utils/event-bus";
 import { LayerGraph } from "@/utils/layer-graph";
-import { TABS, TabPaneCount } from "@/utils/navigation";
+import { TABS } from "@/utils/navigation";
 import { createDispatcher } from "@/utils/dispatch";
 import { TabListPane } from "@/components/TabPanel";
 import { PaneRow } from "@/components/PaneRow";
-
-const TAB_LABEL: Record<TABS, string> = {
-	[TABS.FEED]: "Feed",
-	[TABS.MYSHOWS]: "My Shows",
-	[TABS.DISCOVER]: "Discover",
-	[TABS.SEARCH]: "Search",
-	[TABS.PLAYER]: "Player",
-	[TABS.SETTINGS]: "Settings",
-};
+import { GlobalActivityIndicator } from "@/components/GlobalActivityIndicator";
 
 export function Shell() {
 	const theme = useTheme();
@@ -177,7 +169,6 @@ export function Shell() {
 			nav.backspaceCommand();
 			return;
 		}
-		// printable char
 		if (evt.name && evt.name.length === 1 && !evt.ctrl && !evt.meta) {
 			evt.preventDefault();
 			nav.appendCommand(evt.name);
@@ -225,11 +216,18 @@ export function Shell() {
 	);
 
 	// ── Status bar fragments ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
-	const nowPlaying = () => {
+	// Now-playing text carries the podcast name (custom name when set) when
+	// the episode's feed is resolvable, mirroring advanceEpisode's lookup.
+	const nowPlayingText = () => {
 		const ep = audio.currentEpisode();
 		if (!ep) return null;
-		const title = ep.title.length > 40 ? ep.title.slice(0, 38) + "…" : ep.title;
-		return `♪ ${title}`;
+		const feeds = feedStore.getFilteredFeeds();
+		const feed =
+			feeds.find((f) => f.podcast.id === ep.podcastId) ??
+			feeds.find((f) => f.episodes.some((e) => e.id === ep.id));
+		return feed
+			? `♪ ${feed.customName || feed.podcast.title} — ${ep.title}`
+			: `♪ ${ep.title}`;
 	};
 	const modeLabel = () =>
 		nav.mode() === NavMode.NORMAL ? "" : `-- ${nav.mode()} --`;
@@ -239,6 +237,68 @@ export function Shell() {
 			.map((s) => s.key)
 			.join(" ");
 
+	// ── Now-playing marquee ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	// The now-playing segment takes the full remaining status-bar width and
+	// marquee-scrolls when its text overflows; when it fits (or the bar is too
+	// narrow to show anything) it renders statically. Each pass scrolls at
+	// SCROLL_STEP_MS per char, then holds at the start for SCROLL_HOLD_MS
+	// before scrolling again.
+	const dims = useTerminalDimensions();
+	const GAP = 3;
+	const SCROLL_STEP_MS = 150;
+	const SCROLL_HOLD_MS = 10_000;
+	const [scrollOffset, setScrollOffset] = createSignal(0);
+	const leftFixed = () =>
+		modeLabel().length +
+		(nav.selectedIds().length > 0
+			? 4 + String(nav.selectedIds().length).length
+			: 0);
+	const rightFixed = () => k.pending().map((p) => p.key).join(" ").length + 3;
+	const availableWidth = () =>
+		Math.max(0, dims().width - leftFixed() - rightFixed() - 2);
+	const visible = () => {
+		const text = nowPlayingText();
+		const avail = availableWidth();
+		if (!text || avail <= 0) return "";
+		if (text.length <= avail) return text;
+		// Double the text with a gap so the wrap is seamless: the window
+		// slides over text + gap + text without ever hitting the tail.
+		return (text + " ".repeat(GAP) + text).slice(
+			scrollOffset(),
+			scrollOffset() + avail,
+		);
+	};
+	createEffect(() => {
+		const text = nowPlayingText();
+		const avail = availableWidth();
+		setScrollOffset(0);
+		if (!text || avail <= 0 || text.length <= avail) return;
+		const cycle = text.length + GAP - avail;
+		// Hold at the start position for SCROLL_HOLD_MS, scroll one pass,
+		// then hold again before the next pass.
+		let holdId: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+		let scrollId: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+		const startHold = () => {
+			setScrollOffset(0);
+			holdId = setTimeout(() => {
+				scrollId = setInterval(() => {
+					const next = scrollOffset() + 1;
+					if (next >= cycle) {
+						clearInterval(scrollId!);
+						startHold();
+					} else {
+						setScrollOffset(next);
+					}
+				}, SCROLL_STEP_MS);
+			}, SCROLL_HOLD_MS);
+		};
+		startHold();
+		onCleanup(() => {
+			if (holdId) clearTimeout(holdId);
+			if (scrollId) clearInterval(scrollId);
+		});
+	});
+
 	return (
 		<box
 				flexDirection="column"
@@ -271,9 +331,7 @@ export function Shell() {
 								<text fg={t.textMuted}>j/k move · l/Enter open a tab</text>
 							</box>
 						}
-						parentLabel="Up"
 						currentLabel="Tabs"
-						previewLabel=""
 						focused
 					/>
 				</Show>
@@ -296,26 +354,19 @@ export function Shell() {
 							<text fg={t.accent} paddingLeft={1}>
 								{modeLabel()}
 							</text>
-							<text fg={t.textMuted} paddingLeft={1}>
-								{nav.atRootTab()
-									? "Tabs · root"
-									: `${TAB_LABEL[nav.activeTab()]} · ${
-											nav.isDepthTab()
-												? `depth ${nav.currentDepth()}`
-												: `pane ${nav.activePane()}/${TabPaneCount[nav.activeTab()]}`
-										}`}
-							</text>
 							<Show when={nav.selectedIds().length > 0}>
 								<text fg={t.warning} paddingLeft={1}>
 									● {nav.selectedIds().length}
 								</text>
 							</Show>
-							<Show when={nowPlaying()}>
-								<text fg={t.primary} paddingLeft={1}>
-									{nowPlaying()}
-								</text>
+							<Show when={nowPlayingText()}>
+								<box flexGrow={1} paddingLeft={1}>
+									{/* content prop (not a text child): the babel-preset-solid JSX
+									 *  transform HTML-escapes static string children (`<` → `&lt;`),
+									 *  which opentui renders verbatim; content bypasses that. */}
+									<text fg={t.primary} content={visible()} />
+								</box>
 							</Show>
-							<box flexGrow={1} />
 							<text fg={t.textMuted} paddingRight={1}>
 								{pendingLabel()}
 							</text>
@@ -345,6 +396,8 @@ export function Shell() {
 					theme={t as any}
 				/>
 			</Show>
+			{/* ── Global activity indicator (top-right overlay) ─────────────────────── */}
+			<GlobalActivityIndicator />
 		</box>
 	);
 }
@@ -396,6 +449,7 @@ function helpSections(k: ReturnType<typeof useKeybinds>) {
 				["enter", "open"],
 				["r", "refresh"],
 				["s", "search"],
+				[p("search-scope-toggle"), "shows/episodes"],
 				["f", "filter"],
 				[",", "sort"],
 				[".", "hidden"],

src/components/TabPanel.tsx

@@ -19,86 +19,105 @@ import { For } from "solid-js";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import { useNavigation } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
 import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
 import { TABS } from "@/utils/navigation";
+import { NF_ICONS, supportsNerdFonts } from "@/utils/nerd-fonts";
 
 const TAB_LABEL: Record<TABS, string> = {
-	[TABS.FEED]: "Feed",
-	[TABS.MYSHOWS]: "My Shows",
-	[TABS.DISCOVER]: "Discover",
-	[TABS.SEARCH]: "Search",
-	[TABS.PLAYER]: "Player",
-	[TABS.SETTINGS]: "Settings",
+  [TABS.FEED]: "Feed",
+  [TABS.MYSHOWS]: "My Shows",
+  [TABS.DISCOVER]: "Discover",
+  [TABS.SEARCH]: "Search",
+  [TABS.PLAYER]: "Player",
+  [TABS.SETTINGS]: "Settings",
+};
+
+/** Nerd Font glyph per tab (rendered only when the terminal supports them). */
+const TAB_ICON: Record<TABS, string> = {
+  [TABS.FEED]: NF_ICONS.feed,
+  [TABS.MYSHOWS]: NF_ICONS.shows,
+  [TABS.DISCOVER]: NF_ICONS.discover,
+  [TABS.SEARCH]: NF_ICONS.search,
+  [TABS.PLAYER]: NF_ICONS.player,
+  [TABS.SETTINGS]: NF_ICONS.settings,
 };
 
 /** Numeric TABS values, in declaration order (1..TabsCount). */
 const TAB_ORDER = Object.values(TABS).filter(
-	(v): v is TABS => typeof v === "number",
+  (v): v is TABS => typeof v === "number",
 ) as TABS[];
 
 export function TabListPane(props: { muted?: boolean }) {
-	const { theme } = useTheme();
-	const nav = useNavigation();
+  // Static: detection never changes mid-session.
+  const nerd = supportsNerdFonts();
+  const { theme } = useTheme();
+  const nav = useNavigation();
+  const marker = useSelectionMarker();
 
-	const cursor = () => nav.tabCursor();
-	const activeTab = () => nav.activeTab();
-	/** `active=true` when this pane is the CURRENT column (Shell root);
-	 *  `false` when it is the muted UP/parent column (pages' parent pane). */
-	const active = () => !props.muted;
+  const cursor = () => nav.tabCursor();
+  const activeTab = () => nav.activeTab();
+  /** `active=true` when this pane is the CURRENT column (Shell root);
+   *  `false` when it is the muted UP/parent column (pages' parent pane). */
+  const active = () => !props.muted;
 
-	// Same focus-bg / focus-fg contract every other pane uses.
-	const focusBg = (t: TABS) =>
-		t === cursor() && active()
-			? theme.primary
-			: t === cursor()
-				? theme.border
-				: undefined;
-	const focusFg = (t: TABS) =>
-		t === cursor() && active()
-			? theme.surface
-			: t === cursor()
-				? theme.selectedListItemText ?? theme.text
-				: theme.text;
+  // Same focus-bg / focus-fg contract every other pane uses.
+  const focusBg = (t: TABS) =>
+    t === cursor() && active()
+      ? theme.primary
+      : t === cursor()
+      ? theme.border
+      : undefined;
+  const focusFg = (t: TABS) =>
+    t === cursor() && active()
+      ? theme.surface
+      : t === cursor()
+      ? theme.selectedListItemText ?? theme.text
+      : theme.text;
 
-	return (
-		<For each={TAB_ORDER}>
-			{(tab) => {
-				const isCursor = () => cursor() === tab;
-				const isActive = () => activeTab() === tab;
-				// The active tab is only accented in the Up/parent position — when this
-				// pane is CURRENT, the cursor highlight is the only highlight.
-				const labelFg = () =>
-					isCursor()
-						? focusFg(tab)
-						: isActive() && !active()
-							? theme.accent
-							: theme.text;
-				const ref = useScrollIntoView(isCursor);
-				return (
-					<box
-						ref={ref}
-						width="100%"
-						height={1}
-						flexDirection="row"
-						paddingRight={1}
-						backgroundColor={focusBg(tab)}
-						onMouseDown={() => {
-							// Click = hover + open, the yazi "open" of the row
-							// (switches to the tab and enters its content), the same
-							// as l/Enter. Restores mouse support the tab-strip
-							// refactor dropped.
-							nav.setTabCursor(tab);
-							nav.activateTabCursor();
-						}}
-					>
-						{/* ── selection marker (j/k cursor) ─────────────────────────── */}
-						<text fg={focusFg(tab)}>{isCursor() ? "❯" : " "}</text>
-						<text fg={isCursor() ? focusFg(tab) : theme.textMuted}>{tab}</text>
-						<text fg={labelFg()} paddingLeft={1}>
-							{TAB_LABEL[tab]}
-						</text>
-					</box>
-				);
-			}}
-		</For>
-	);
+  return (
+    <For each={TAB_ORDER}>
+      {(tab) => {
+        const isCursor = () => cursor() === tab;
+        const isActive = () => activeTab() === tab;
+        // The active tab is only accented in the Up/parent position — when this
+        // pane is CURRENT, the cursor highlight is the only highlight.
+        const labelFg = () =>
+          isCursor()
+            ? focusFg(tab)
+            : isActive() && !active()
+            ? theme.accent
+            : theme.text;
+        const ref = useScrollIntoView(isCursor);
+        return (
+          <box
+            ref={ref}
+            width="100%"
+            height={1}
+            flexDirection="row"
+            paddingRight={1}
+            backgroundColor={focusBg(tab)}
+            onMouseDown={() => {
+              // Click = hover + open, the yazi "open" of the row
+              // (switches to the tab and enters its content), the same
+              // as l/Enter. Restores mouse support the tab-strip
+              // refactor dropped.
+              nav.setTabCursor(tab);
+              nav.activateTabCursor();
+            }}
+          >
+            {/* ── selection marker (j/k cursor) ─────────────────────────── */}
+            <text fg={focusFg(tab)}>{isCursor() ? marker() : " "}</text>
+            {nerd && (
+              <text fg={focusFg(tab)} paddingRight={1}>
+                {TAB_ICON[tab]}
+              </text>
+            )}
+            <text fg={labelFg()} paddingLeft={1}>
+              {TAB_LABEL[tab]}
+            </text>
+          </box>
+        );
+      }}
+    </For>
+  );
 }

src/config/keybinds.jsonc

@@ -59,19 +59,28 @@
   "help":           ["~", "f1"],
 
   // ── List operations (yazi: s search, f filter, , sort, . hidden, r refresh)
-  "search":         ["s"],
-  "filter":         ["f"],
+  "search":             ["s"],
+  // tab toggles the Search page between show and episode scope (re-runs the
+  // current query when viewing results)
+  "search-scope-toggle": ["tab"],
+  "filter":             ["f"],
   "sort":           [","],
   "toggle-hidden":  ["."],
   "refresh":        ["r"],
+  "subscribe":      ["a"],   // subscribe focused show in place (Discover/Search)
   "unsubscribe":    ["x"],   // unsubscribe focused show in My Shows
 
+  // ── Downloads & auto-download whitelist ───────────────────────────────────
+  "download":          ["d"],   // download the focused episode (detail pane)
+  "delete-download":   ["D"],   // delete the focused episode's download (if any)
+  "whitelist-toggle":  ["w"],   // add/remove the focused show from the auto-download whitelist (My Shows)
+
   // ── Audio transport (preserved) ──────────────────────────────────────────
   // Kept on shifted single keys so they never collide with the yazi core
   // (space=select, s=search, f=filter, etc.). Edit freely in this file.
   "audio-toggle":          ["P"],   // play / pause   (shift+p)
   "audio-next":            ["N"],   // next episode   (shift+n)
   "audio-prev":            ["B"],   // prev episode   (shift+b)
-  "audio-seek-forward":    ["shift-."],   // seek forward   (shift+.)
-  "audio-seek-backward":   ["shift-,"]    // seek backward  (shift+,)
+  "audio-seek-forward":    ["shift-."],   // seek forward   (> = shift+.)
+  "audio-seek-backward":   ["shift-,"]    // seek backward  (< = shift+,)
 }

src/context/KeybindContext.tsx

@@ -63,11 +63,16 @@ export type KeybindActionName =
 	| "quit"
 	| "help"
 	| "search"
+	| "search-scope-toggle"
 	| "filter"
 	| "sort"
 	| "toggle-hidden"
 	| "refresh"
+	| "subscribe"
 	| "unsubscribe"
+	| "download"
+	| "delete-download"
+	| "whitelist-toggle"
 	| "audio-toggle"
 	| "audio-next"
 	| "audio-prev"

src/context/ThemeContext.tsx

@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ import {
   generateSyntax,
   generateSubtleSyntax,
 } from "../utils/syntax-highlighter";
-import { resolveTerminalTheme, loadThemes } from "../utils/theme";
+import { resolveTerminalTheme } from "../utils/theme";
+import { getCustomThemes } from "../utils/custom-themes";
 import { detectModeFromBackground } from "../utils/system-theme";
 import { createSimpleContext } from "./helper";
 import {
@@ -175,7 +176,7 @@ export const { use: useTheme, provider: ThemeProvider } = createSimpleContext({
 
     function init() {
       resolveSystemTheme();
-      loadThemes()
+      getCustomThemes()
         .then((custom) => {
           setStore(
             produce((draft) => {
@@ -187,7 +188,6 @@ export const { use: useTheme, provider: ThemeProvider } = createSimpleContext({
           setStore("active", "catppuccin");
         })
         .finally(() => {
-          // Only set ready if not waiting for system theme
           if (store.active !== "system") {
             setStore("ready", true);
           }

src/context/navigation-store.ts

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
  *
  *        parent  |  current  |  preview
  *
- * Layout ratios (1/5 : 2/5 : 2/5 in the final remake) live in
+ * Layout ratios (20% : 50% : 30% — PANE_RATIO 2:5:3) live in
  * `@/utils/navigation` (PANE_RATIO). This module owns only the *focusable*
  * nav model — which column is focused and where its list cursor lives. The
  * parent/preview columns are always derived, never focused.

src/effects/feed-refresh.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+/**
+ * Feed-refresh batch as an Effect program.
+ *
+ * Replaces the hand-rolled worker pool (mapWithConcurrency) + per-feed
+ * fetch/apply plumbing in stores/feed.ts with Effect's structured
+ * concurrency:
+ *   - `Effect.forEach(..., { concurrency })` bounds in-flight fetches to
+ *     `concurrency` (starts exactly that many fibers; each completion pulls
+ *     the next feed — identical semantics to the old shared-counter pool).
+ *   - `Effect.timeout` bounds each feed's fetch to `timeoutMs`. It runs
+ *     through the `Clock` service, so under `TestContext` the TestClock
+ *     drives it deterministically (no real 20s wait in tests).
+ *   - Failures are folded to a null result: a failed or timed-out feed is
+ *     left untouched instead of failing the batch.
+ *   - The apply callback runs inside each feed's own fiber, so a feed's
+ *     refreshed episodes land AS ITS OWN FETCH COMPLETES — the
+ *     per-feed-apply-as-it-lands contract, no Promise.all barrier.
+ *
+ * The store boundary (stores/feed.ts) supplies the real fetch and apply
+ * closures and runs the program with Effect.runPromise.
+ */
+
+import { Duration, Effect } from "effect"
+import type { Episode } from "../types/episode"
+import type { Feed } from "../types/feed"
+
+/** Result of fetching one feed's RSS. `episodes: null` means the fetch
+ *  failed or timed out — callers must leave that feed untouched. */
+export interface RefreshFetchResult {
+  episodes: Episode[] | null
+  coverUrl: string | undefined
+}
+
+/** Result guaranteed to have parsed episodes (the apply path only). */
+export interface RefreshSuccess {
+  episodes: Episode[]
+  coverUrl: string | undefined
+}
+
+export interface RefreshBatchOptions {
+  /** Max simultaneous in-flight fetches. */
+  concurrency: number
+  /** Per-feed fetch timeout in milliseconds. */
+  timeoutMs: number
+}
+
+/** Fold any failure (network error, timeout, rejection) to a null result so
+ *  one bad feed can never fail the batch. */
+const failedResult: RefreshFetchResult = { episodes: null, coverUrl: undefined }
+
+/** Fetch one feed with a timeout, applying its result as its own fetch
+ *  lands. A failed or timed-out fetch yields null — the feed is untouched. */
+const refreshOne = (
+  feed: Feed,
+  fetchOne: (feed: Feed) => Promise<RefreshFetchResult>,
+  applyOne: (feed: Feed, result: RefreshSuccess) => void,
+  timeoutMs: number,
+): Effect.Effect<void> =>
+  Effect.tryPromise(() => fetchOne(feed)).pipe(
+    Effect.timeout(Duration.millis(timeoutMs)),
+    Effect.catchAll(() => Effect.succeed(failedResult)),
+    Effect.flatMap((result) => {
+      if (result.episodes === null) return Effect.void
+      // Capture the narrowed array before the closure — TS drops the
+      // `episodes !== null` narrowing inside Effect.sync's callback.
+      const episodes = result.episodes
+      return Effect.sync(() => applyOne(feed, { episodes, coverUrl: result.coverUrl }))
+    }),
+  )
+
+/** Refresh every feed with bounded concurrency. Each feed's refreshed
+ *  episodes are applied as its own fetch lands (no barrier); a failed or
+ *  timed-out feed is left untouched. The program never fails — failures
+ *  are folded to per-feed no-ops. */
+export const refreshFeedsBatch = (
+  feeds: readonly Feed[],
+  fetchOne: (feed: Feed) => Promise<RefreshFetchResult>,
+  applyOne: (feed: Feed, result: RefreshSuccess) => void,
+  options: RefreshBatchOptions,
+): Effect.Effect<void> =>
+  Effect.forEach(
+    feeds,
+    (feed) => refreshOne(feed, fetchOne, applyOne, options.timeoutMs),
+    { concurrency: options.concurrency, discard: true },
+  )

src/hooks/useAudio.ts

@@ -12,21 +12,52 @@
  * ```
  */
 
-import { createSignal, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
+import { onCleanup } from "solid-js";
+import {
+	cachedCoverPath,
+	fetchCoverArt,
+} from "../utils/cover-art";
 import {
 	createAudioBackend,
 	detectPlayers,
+	PlayerRestartedError,
 	type AudioBackend,
 	type BackendName,
 	type DetectedPlayer,
 } from "../utils/audio-player";
+import {
+	isPlaying,
+	setIsPlaying,
+	position,
+	setPosition,
+	duration,
+	setDuration,
+	volume,
+	setVolume,
+	speed,
+	setSpeed,
+	backendName,
+	setBackendName,
+	error,
+	setError,
+	currentEpisode,
+	setCurrentEpisode,
+	availablePlayers,
+	setAvailablePlayers,
+} from "../utils/audio-signals";
 import { emit, on } from "../utils/event-bus";
 import { useAppStore } from "../stores/app";
 import { useProgressStore } from "../stores/progress";
 import { useMediaRegistry } from "../utils/media-registry";
-import type { Episode } from "../types/episode";
+import {
+	loadLastPlayerFromFile,
+	saveLastPlayerToFile,
+	saveLastPlayerSync,
+} from "../utils/app-persistence";
+import type { Episode, Progress } from "../types/episode";
 import type { Feed } from "../types/feed";
 import { useAudioNavStore, AudioSource } from "../stores/audio-nav";
+import { useDownloadStore } from "../stores/download";
 import { useFeedStore } from "../stores/feed";
 
 export interface AudioControls {
@@ -43,6 +74,8 @@ export interface AudioControls {
 
 	// Actions
 	play: (episode: Episode) => Promise<void>;
+	/** Load an episode into the player WITHOUT starting playback. */
+	load: (episode: Episode) => Promise<void>;
 	pause: () => Promise<void>;
 	resume: () => Promise<void>;
 	togglePlayback: () => Promise<void>;
@@ -62,17 +95,26 @@ let pollTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
 let refCount = 0;
 let pollCount = 0; // Counts poll ticks for throttling progress saves
 
-const [isPlaying, setIsPlaying] = createSignal(false);
-const [position, setPosition] = createSignal(0);
-const [duration, setDuration] = createSignal(0);
-const [volume, setVolume] = createSignal(0.7);
-const [speed, setSpeed] = createSignal(1);
-const [backendName, setBackendName] = createSignal<BackendName>("none");
-const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
-const [currentEpisode, setCurrentEpisode] = createSignal<Episode | null>(null);
-const [availablePlayers, setAvailablePlayers] = createSignal<DetectedPlayer[]>(
-	[],
-);
+// Playback signals are declared in utils/audio-signals.ts (imported above)
+// so non-component consumers (the visualizer store) can subscribe without
+// mounting a useAudio() owner.
+
+/** True once the current episode has been handed to the backend (play
+ *  started). `false` means the episode is only LOADED in the player (e.g.
+ *  restored at boot) and the first play action must start the backend
+ *  instead of unpausing it. */
+let startedPlayback = false;
+
+/** Completion fraction at/above which an episode is NOT restored at boot. */
+const RESTORE_COMPLETION_THRESHOLD = 0.98;
+
+/** True when saved progress is below the restore cutoff. Episodes with no
+ *  progress (never reached the persist threshold) or unknown duration count
+ *  as eligible — they restore from the start. */
+function isRestoreEligible(progress: Progress | undefined): boolean {
+	if (!progress || progress.duration <= 0) return true;
+	return progress.position / progress.duration < RESTORE_COMPLETION_THRESHOLD;
+}
 
 function ensureBackend(): AudioBackend {
 	if (!backend) {
@@ -99,6 +141,17 @@ function registerExitTeardown(): void {
 	exitTeardownRegistered = true;
 	const teardown = (): void => {
 		stopPolling();
+		// Persist "what's loaded in the player right now" synchronously —
+		// process.exit(0) runs this handler synchronously and an async write
+		// would never land. The next launch restores this episode paused.
+		try {
+			const ep = currentEpisode();
+			if (ep) {
+				saveLastPlayerSync({ episodeId: ep.id, timestamp: new Date() });
+			}
+		} catch {
+			/* best-effort at exit */
+		}
 		try {
 			backend?.dispose();
 		} catch {
@@ -119,45 +172,118 @@ function registerExitTeardown(): void {
 	}
 }
 
+/** Poll ticks between paused-state checks (~1s at 150ms/tick). While the
+ *  UI believes playback is paused we only need to catch an external
+ *  resume (AirPod play tap, lock-screen/media-center play); checking every
+ *  tick would just hammer mpv IPC for nothing. */
+const PAUSE_WATCH_TICKS = 7;
+
+/** The player process died while we believed playback was live — track
+ *  ended (mpv quits at EOF) or the process crashed. Persist the final
+ *  position and stop polling. */
+function finalizeTrackEnd(): void {
+	setIsPlaying(false);
+	stopPolling();
+	const ep = currentEpisode();
+	if (ep) {
+		const progressStore = useProgressStore();
+		progressStore.update(ep.id, position(), duration(), speed());
+	}
+}
+
+/** mpv paused itself OUTSIDE PodTUI — system sleep/lock, AirPod removal,
+ *  device swap, OS media keys, the Now Playing center. Bring the UI in
+ *  sync; the poll stays armed so an external resume is caught too. */
+function reconcileExternalPause(): void {
+	setIsPlaying(false);
+	const ep = currentEpisode();
+	if (ep) {
+		const progressStore = useProgressStore();
+		progressStore.update(ep.id, position(), duration(), speed());
+		emit("player.pause", { episodeId: ep.id });
+		const media = useMediaRegistry();
+		media.setPlaybackState(false);
+		media.setPosition(position());
+	}
+}
+
+/** Playback was restarted from outside PodTUI (AirPods, lock-screen or
+ *  media-center play, OS media keys). Bring the UI back to "playing". */
+function reconcileExternalResume(): void {
+	setIsPlaying(true);
+	const ep = currentEpisode();
+	if (ep) {
+		emit("player.play", { episodeId: ep.id });
+		useMediaRegistry().setPlaybackState(true);
+	}
+}
+
 function startPolling(): void {
 	stopPolling();
 	pollCount = 0;
+	// Guard against overlapping ticks if a socket read ever outlives the
+	// interval (getPosition opens a fresh mpv IPC connection per call).
+	let pollInFlight = false;
 	pollTimer = setInterval(async () => {
-		if (!backend || !isPlaying()) return;
+		if (!backend || pollInFlight) return;
+		pollInFlight = true;
 		try {
-			const pos = await backend.getPosition();
-			const dur = await backend.getDuration();
-			setPosition(pos);
-			if (dur > 0) setDuration(dur);
-
-			// Save progress every ~5 seconds (10 ticks * 500ms)
 			pollCount++;
-			if (pollCount % 10 === 0) {
-				const ep = currentEpisode();
-				if (ep) {
-					const progressStore = useProgressStore();
-					progressStore.update(ep.id, pos, dur > 0 ? dur : duration(), speed());
-
-					const media = useMediaRegistry();
-					media.setPosition(pos);
+			if (isPlaying()) {
+				// Track ended (eof-reached observed) or process died. Check
+				// BEFORE pause reconciliation: mpv keeps the file open at EOF
+				// and reports pause=true there, which would otherwise be
+				// mistaken for an external pause and never finalize.
+				if (!backend.isPlaying()) {
+					finalizeTrackEnd();
+					return;
 				}
-			}
 
-			// Check if backend stopped playing (track ended)
-			if (!backend.isPlaying() && isPlaying()) {
-				setIsPlaying(false);
-				stopPolling();
-				// Save final position on track end
-				const ep = currentEpisode();
-				if (ep) {
-					const progressStore = useProgressStore();
-					progressStore.update(ep.id, pos, dur > 0 ? dur : duration(), speed());
+				// mpv can pause itself outside PodTUI. Reconcile instead of
+				// staying stuck on "playing" with a frozen waveform
+				// (getPosition would just re-read the same frozen time-pos).
+				const paused = await backend.getPauseState();
+				if (paused === true) {
+					reconcileExternalPause();
+					return;
+				}
+
+				const pos = await backend.getPosition();
+				const dur = await backend.getDuration();
+				setPosition(pos);
+				if (dur > 0) setDuration(dur);
+
+				// Save progress every ~5 seconds (33 ticks * 150ms)
+				if (pollCount % 33 === 0) {
+					const ep = currentEpisode();
+					if (ep) {
+						const progressStore = useProgressStore();
+						progressStore.update(ep.id, pos, dur > 0 ? dur : duration(), speed());
+
+						const media = useMediaRegistry();
+						media.setPosition(pos);
+					}
+				}
+			} else if (pollCount % PAUSE_WATCH_TICKS === 0) {
+				// Paused — watch for playback restarted from outside (AirPods,
+				// lock-screen/media-center play). Only while the player is
+				// still alive: a dead player while we thought we were paused
+				// means the track ended (mpv quits at EOF) or it crashed.
+				if (!backend.isAlive()) {
+					finalizeTrackEnd();
+					return;
+				}
+				const paused = await backend.getPauseState();
+				if (paused === false) {
+					reconcileExternalResume();
 				}
 			}
 		} catch {
 			// Backend may have been disposed
+		} finally {
+			pollInFlight = false;
 		}
-	}, 500);
+	}, 150);
 }
 
 function stopPolling(): void {
@@ -167,6 +293,39 @@ function stopPolling(): void {
 	}
 }
 
+// ── Cover art for system Now Playing ─────────────────────────────────────────
+// macOS shows the media session's albumart in the audio center; mpv reads it
+// from `--cover-art-files`. Shared helper (utils/cover-art.ts) fetches the
+// podcast cover to a temp file BEFORE playback starts, bounded to 3s.
+
+/** Resolve cover art to a local path for mpv's --cover-art-files, per the
+ *  call site's latency budget:
+ *  "cache"   — disk cache only (sync): resume paths must never wait on the
+ *              network, so a miss plays artless and warms for next time.
+ *  "bounded" — disk hit, else fetch capped at 1.2s: cold play needs the art
+ *              at file LOAD, but a slow cover server must not stall audio.
+ *  "await"   — disk hit, else full (8s-bounded) fetch: boot restore preloads
+ *              while feeds/progress load anyway, so the wait is free and the
+ *              cover must be present when the file loads.
+ * fetchCoverArt already short-circuits on the disk cache, so "await" costs
+ * nothing on a warm cache. */
+async function resolveCoverArt(
+	coverUrl: string | undefined,
+	mode: "cache" | "bounded" | "await",
+): Promise<string | null> {
+	if (!coverUrl) return null;
+	if (mode === "cache") return cachedCoverPath(coverUrl);
+	if (mode === "bounded") {
+		const cached = cachedCoverPath(coverUrl);
+		if (cached) return cached;
+		return Promise.race([
+			fetchCoverArt(coverUrl),
+			new Promise<null>((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve(null), 1200)),
+		]);
+	}
+	return fetchCoverArt(coverUrl);
+}
+
 async function play(episode: Episode): Promise<void> {
 	const b = ensureBackend();
 	setError(null);
@@ -183,6 +342,24 @@ async function play(episode: Episode): Promise<void> {
 		const vol = volume();
 		const spd = storeSpeed || speed();
 
+		const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+		const feed = feedStore.feeds().find((f) => f.podcast.id === episode.podcastId);
+		const podcastTitle = feed?.customName || feed?.podcast.title || "";
+		// Play the downloaded file when present (offline + no network stalls);
+		// otherwise stream. Cover resolves to the feed art, falling back to the
+		// episode's own image (feeds added by URL may lack a channel cover).
+		const downloadStore = useDownloadStore();
+		const url = downloadStore.getDownloadedFilePath(episode.id) ?? episode.audioUrl;
+		// Cover art only applies at file LOAD (the runtime video-add fallback
+		// never becomes an albumart track), so a cold-cache play must wait for
+		// the fetch or play artless. Serve the disk cache synchronously; on a
+		// miss, await the bounded fetch (covers fetch in ~300ms typically) —
+		// past the 1.2s cap, play bare and let the fetch warm the cache.
+		const coverArtPath = await resolveCoverArt(
+			feed?.podcast.coverUrl ?? episode.imageUrl,
+			"bounded",
+		);
+
 		// Resume from saved progress if available and not completed
 		const savedProgress = progressStore.get(episode.id);
 		let startPos = 0;
@@ -190,10 +367,12 @@ async function play(episode: Episode): Promise<void> {
 			startPos = savedProgress.position;
 		}
 
-		await b.play(episode.audioUrl, {
+		await b.play(url, {
 			volume: vol,
 			speed: spd,
 			startPosition: startPos > 0 ? startPos : undefined,
+			mediaTitle: episode.title,
+			coverArtPath: coverArtPath ?? undefined,
 		});
 
 		setCurrentEpisode(episode);
@@ -201,12 +380,17 @@ async function play(episode: Episode): Promise<void> {
 		setPosition(startPos);
 		setSpeed(spd);
 		if (episode.duration) setDuration(episode.duration);
+		startedPlayback = true;
+
+		// Remember this episode as "loaded in the player" so the next launch
+		// can restore it paused (cleared by stop()).
+		saveLastPlayerToFile({ episodeId: episode.id, timestamp: new Date() });
 
 		// Register with platform media controls
 		const media = useMediaRegistry();
 		media.setNowPlaying({
 			title: episode.title,
-			artist: episode.podcastId,
+			artist: podcastTitle || episode.podcastId,
 			duration: episode.duration,
 		});
 		media.setPlaybackState(true);
@@ -223,12 +407,85 @@ async function play(episode: Episode): Promise<void> {
 	}
 }
 
+/**
+ * Load an episode into the player WITHOUT starting playback. The player tab
+ * renders it paused at its saved position; the first play action starts the
+ * backend from there (see togglePlayback). Used to restore the last player
+ * session at boot.
+ */
+async function load(episode: Episode): Promise<void> {
+	ensureBackend();
+	setError(null);
+
+	setCurrentEpisode(episode);
+	setIsPlaying(false);
+	startedPlayback = false;
+
+	// Show the saved position so the player tab reflects where playback
+	// will resume; episodes at/above the completion threshold start from 0.
+	const progressStore = useProgressStore();
+	const saved = progressStore.get(episode.id);
+	const pos = saved && isRestoreEligible(saved) ? saved.position : 0;
+	setPosition(pos);
+	if (episode.duration) setDuration(episode.duration);
+
+	const appStore = useAppStore();
+	const storeSpeed = appStore.state().settings.playbackSpeed;
+	setSpeed(storeSpeed || speed());
+
+	// Surface the loaded-but-paused track to the OS media controls.
+	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+	const feed = feedStore.feeds().find((f) => f.podcast.id === episode.podcastId);
+	const podcastTitle = feed?.customName || feed?.podcast.title || "";
+	const media = useMediaRegistry();
+	media.setNowPlaying({
+		title: episode.title,
+		artist: podcastTitle || episode.podcastId,
+		duration: episode.duration,
+	});
+	media.setPlaybackState(false);
+	if (pos > 0) media.setPosition(pos);
+
+	// Preload the episode into the backend PAUSED: mpv opens the stream and
+	// fills its demuxer cache while parked, so the user's first Play flips
+	// `pause` off instead of paying the ~2s stream-open cold. Fire-and-forget
+	// — a failed preload just makes the first play take the cold path.
+	const downloadStore = useDownloadStore();
+	const url = downloadStore.getDownloadedFilePath(episode.id) ?? episode.audioUrl;
+	if (episode.audioUrl && backend) {
+		// The preload must carry the cover AT LOAD: cover-art-files only
+		// applies when the file loads, and the runtime video-add fallback
+		// never becomes an albumart track (verified). Restore already waits
+		// on feeds/progress at boot, so the bounded fetch (~300ms typical,
+		// 8s worst case) is free. Falls back to the episode's own image when
+		// the feed has no channel cover.
+		const coverArtPath = await resolveCoverArt(
+			feed?.podcast.coverUrl ?? episode.imageUrl,
+			"await",
+		);
+		const backendSnap = backend;
+		backendSnap
+			.preload(url, {
+				volume: volume(),
+				speed: storeSpeed || speed(),
+				startPosition: pos > 0 ? pos : undefined,
+mediaTitle: episode.title,
+				coverArtPath: coverArtPath ?? undefined,
+			})
+			.catch(() => {});
+	}
+
+	saveLastPlayerToFile({ episodeId: episode.id, timestamp: new Date() });
+}
+
 async function pause(): Promise<void> {
 	if (!backend) return;
 	try {
 		await backend.pause();
 		setIsPlaying(false);
-		stopPolling();
+		// Polling stays armed (paused-watch mode): playback can be resumed
+		// from OUTSIDE PodTUI — AirPods, lock-screen/media-center play —
+		// and the poll must be live to catch it.
 		const ep = currentEpisode();
 		if (ep) {
 			// Save progress on pause
@@ -246,8 +503,25 @@ async function pause(): Promise<void> {
 	}
 }
 
+/** mpv was killed/crashed: respawn it and restart playback from the saved
+ *  position via the full play path (fresh loadfile, cover art, media
+ *  registry). A bare unpause would target a dead — or freshly-idle —
+ *  daemon and silently do nothing. */
+async function recoverPlayback(): Promise<void> {
+	const ep = currentEpisode();
+	if (ep && ep.audioUrl) {
+		await play(ep);
+	} else {
+		setError("Player is not running");
+	}
+}
+
 async function resume(): Promise<void> {
 	if (!backend) return;
+	if (!backend.isAlive()) {
+		await recoverPlayback();
+		return;
+	}
 	try {
 		await backend.resume();
 		setIsPlaying(true);
@@ -259,6 +533,13 @@ async function resume(): Promise<void> {
 			media.setPlaybackState(true);
 		}
 	} catch (err) {
+		// Race: the daemon died between the liveness check above and the
+		// unpause — backend.resume() respawned it and threw
+		// PlayerRestartedError (the fresh daemon has no file loaded).
+		if (err instanceof PlayerRestartedError) {
+			await recoverPlayback();
+			return;
+		}
 		setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Resume failed");
 	}
 }
@@ -267,7 +548,15 @@ async function togglePlayback(): Promise<void> {
 	if (isPlaying()) {
 		await pause();
 	} else if (currentEpisode()) {
-		await resume();
+		if (startedPlayback) {
+			await resume();
+		} else {
+			// Episode is only LOADED (e.g. restored at boot) — the backend
+			// was never started, so unpausing a dead player would fail
+			// silently. Start playback from the saved position instead.
+			const ep = currentEpisode();
+			if (ep) await play(ep);
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -284,9 +573,13 @@ async function stop(): Promise<void> {
 		setIsPlaying(false);
 		setPosition(0);
 		setCurrentEpisode(null);
+		startedPlayback = false;
 		stopPolling();
 		emit("player.stop", {});
 
+		// Player is empty again — nothing to restore on the next launch.
+		saveLastPlayerToFile({ episodeId: null, timestamp: null });
+
 		const media = useMediaRegistry();
 		media.clearNowPlaying();
 	} catch (err) {
@@ -319,6 +612,10 @@ async function doSetVolume(vol: number): Promise<void> {
 		}
 	}
 	setVolume(clamped);
+
+	// Sync back to app store (persisted to config.json for the next launch).
+	const appStore = useAppStore();
+	appStore.updateSettings({ volume: clamped });
 }
 
 async function doSetSpeed(spd: number): Promise<void> {
@@ -357,12 +654,26 @@ async function switchBackend(name: BackendName): Promise<void> {
 	// Resume playback if we were playing
 	if (wasPlaying && ep && ep.audioUrl) {
 		try {
-			await backend.play(ep.audioUrl, {
+			const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+			const feed = feedStore
+				.feeds()
+				.find((f) => f.podcast.id === ep.podcastId);
+			const podcastTitle = feed?.customName || feed?.podcast.title || "";
+			const url =
+				useDownloadStore().getDownloadedFilePath(ep.id) ?? ep.audioUrl;
+			const coverArtPath = await resolveCoverArt(
+				feed?.podcast.coverUrl ?? ep.imageUrl,
+				"cache",
+			);
+			await backend.play(url, {
 				startPosition: pos,
 				volume: vol,
 				speed: spd,
+mediaTitle: ep.title,
+				coverArtPath: coverArtPath ?? undefined,
 			});
 			setIsPlaying(true);
+			startedPlayback = true;
 			startPolling();
 		} catch (err) {
 			setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Backend switch failed");
@@ -371,6 +682,46 @@ async function switchBackend(name: BackendName): Promise<void> {
 	}
 }
 
+/** Serialized restore chain: the boot-triggered restore and any explicit
+ *  call run one after another, so a late-finishing earlier restore can never
+ *  overwrite state changed by a later one (and callers can await the latest
+ *  attempt deterministically). */
+let restoreChain: Promise<void> = Promise.resolve();
+
+/**
+ * Boot-time session restore: reload the episode that was loaded in the
+ * player when the previous run ended (persisted on play/load and at exit),
+ * paused at its saved position — never autostarted. Episodes at/above the
+ * completion threshold are skipped. Silently no-ops when there is nothing
+ * to restore (empty player, unsubscribed show, or completed episode).
+ */
+export async function restoreLastSession(): Promise<void> {
+	const attempt = restoreChain.then(async () => {
+		const marker = await loadLastPlayerFromFile();
+		if (!marker?.episodeId) return;
+
+		// Feeds and progress load asynchronously at boot; wait for both
+		// before looking the episode up.
+		await Promise.all([
+			useProgressStore().whenReady(),
+			useFeedStore().whenReady(),
+		]);
+
+		const episode = useFeedStore().findEpisode(marker.episodeId);
+		if (!episode) return;
+
+		// Only restore episodes below the completion threshold.
+		const saved = useProgressStore().get(episode.id);
+		if (!isRestoreEligible(saved)) return;
+
+		await load(episode);
+	});
+	// Keep the chain alive even when an attempt fails; the caller awaiting
+	// this attempt still observes its own outcome.
+	restoreChain = attempt.catch(() => {});
+	await attempt;
+}
+
 /**
  * Reactive audio controls hook.
  *
@@ -381,13 +732,29 @@ export function useAudio(): AudioControls {
 	// Initialize backend on first use
 	ensureBackend();
 
-	// Sync initial speed from app store
+	// Sync initial speed/volume from app store (reuse the previous session's
+	// playback levels; defaults are 1x and 100%).
 	if (refCount === 0) {
 		const appStore = useAppStore();
 		const storeSpeed = appStore.state().settings.playbackSpeed;
 		if (storeSpeed && storeSpeed !== speed()) {
 			setSpeed(storeSpeed);
 		}
+
+		// Volume re-syncs once settings finish loading (async config read)
+		// so a level persisted last session is applied at boot.
+		appStore
+			.whenReady()
+			.then(() => {
+				const storeVolume = appStore.state().settings.volume;
+				if (storeVolume !== undefined && storeVolume !== volume()) {
+					setVolume(storeVolume);
+				}
+			})
+			.catch(() => {});
+
+		// Restore the last player session once at boot (loaded, not playing).
+		restoreLastSession().catch(() => {});
 	}
 
 	refCount++;
@@ -421,14 +788,6 @@ export function useAudio(): AudioControls {
 		await doSetVolume(Math.max(0, Number((volume() - 0.05).toFixed(2))));
 	});
 
-	const unsubMediaSeekFwd = on("media.seekForward", async () => {
-		await seekRelative(10);
-	});
-
-	const unsubMediaSeekBack = on("media.seekBackward", async () => {
-		await seekRelative(-10);
-	});
-
 	const unsubMediaSpeed = on("media.speedCycle", async () => {
 		const next = speed() >= 2 ? 0.5 : Number((speed() + 0.25).toFixed(2));
 		await doSetSpeed(next);
@@ -515,8 +874,6 @@ export function useAudio(): AudioControls {
 		unsubMediaToggle();
 		unsubMediaVolUp();
 		unsubMediaVolDown();
-		unsubMediaSeekFwd();
-		unsubMediaSeekBack();
 		unsubMediaSpeed();
 
 		if (refCount <= 0) {
@@ -545,6 +902,7 @@ export function useAudio(): AudioControls {
 		availablePlayers,
 
 		play,
+		load,
 		pause,
 		resume,
 		togglePlayback,

src/hooks/useMultimediaKeys.ts

@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 /**
  * Global multimedia key handler hook.
  *
- * Captures media-related key events (play/pause, volume, seek, speed)
+ * Captures media-related key events (play/pause, volume, speed)
  * regardless of which component is focused. Uses the event bus to
  * decouple key detection from audio control logic.
  *
  * Volume and speed are app-level settings — adjustable with or without
  * an episode loaded (they apply to the next playback and persist). Seek
- * is playback-dependent, so it still requires a loaded episode.
+ * is NOT handled here: it lives on the yazi keybind router (`<` / `>` =
+ * shift+, / shift+.), so the arrow keys stay free for navigation.
  */
 
 import { useKeyboard } from "@opentui/solid";
@@ -17,8 +18,6 @@ export type MediaKeyAction =
 	| "media.toggle"
 	| "media.volumeUp"
 	| "media.volumeDown"
-	| "media.seekForward"
-	| "media.seekBackward"
 	| "media.speedCycle";
 
 export interface MultimediaKeysOptions {
@@ -26,8 +25,6 @@ export interface MultimediaKeysOptions {
 	playerFocused?: () => boolean;
 	/** When true, skip handling (text input has focus) */
 	inputFocused?: () => boolean;
-	/** Whether an episode is currently loaded */
-	hasEpisode?: () => boolean;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -59,17 +56,9 @@ export function useMultimediaKeys(options: MultimediaKeysOptions = {}) {
 				emit("media.volumeDown", {});
 				break;
 
-			case "left":
-				if (!options.hasEpisode?.()) return;
-				emit("media.seekBackward", {});
-				break;
-
-			case "right":
-				if (!options.hasEpisode?.()) return;
-				emit("media.seekForward", {});
-				break;
-
 			case "s":
+				// Speed is shift+s (S) so plain `s` stays free for search.
+				if (!key.shift) return;
 				emit("media.speedCycle", {});
 				break;
 

src/hooks/useSelectionMarker.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+/**
+ * useSelectionMarker — reactive accessor for the row-selection marker glyph.
+ *
+ * When the `showSelectionMarker` setting is on, the focused row of every list
+ * renders `❯`; when off (the default), it renders a space so column alignment
+ * is preserved. Every list pane in the app reads the marker through this hook
+ * so the setting applies consistently everywhere.
+ */
+
+import { useAppStore } from "@/stores/app";
+
+export function useSelectionMarker(): () => string {
+	const app = useAppStore();
+	return () =>
+		app.state().settings.showSelectionMarker ? "❯" : " ";
+}

src/index.tsx

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { Feed } from "./types/feed"
 import type { Episode } from "./types/episode"
 
-const VERSION = "0.3.0";
+const VERSION = "0.6.2";
 
 interface CliArgs {
 	version: boolean;
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ if (cliArgs.version) {
 
 // ── CLI handlers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-/** Find the most recent episode across all feeds */
 function findLatestEpisode(
 	feeds: Feed[],
 ): { feed: Feed; episode: Episode } | null {
@@ -182,9 +181,22 @@ async function handlePlay(feeds: Feed[], arg: string): Promise<void> {
 
 	try {
 		const { createAudioBackend } = await import("./utils/audio-player")
+		const { fetchCoverArt } = await import("./utils/cover-art")
 		const backend = createAudioBackend()
 		if (episodeResult.audioUrl) {
-			await backend.play(episodeResult.audioUrl)
+			// Stage the podcast cover so the system Now Playing shows
+			// artwork (mpv --cover-art-files), like the UI path does. Falls
+			// back to the episode's own image when the feed has no channel
+			// cover (URL-added feeds).
+			const coverUrl =
+				feedResult.podcast.coverUrl ?? episodeResult.imageUrl;
+			const coverArtPath = coverUrl
+				? await fetchCoverArt(coverUrl)
+				: null
+			await backend.play(episodeResult.audioUrl, {
+				mediaTitle: episodeResult.title,
+				coverArtPath: coverArtPath ?? undefined,
+			})
 			console.log("Playback started (use the UI to control)")
 		} else {
 			console.log("No audio URL available for this episode")

src/pages/Discover/DiscoverPage.tsx

@@ -5,18 +5,28 @@
  *                       placeholder (1/5 slot kept).
  *   depth 1 (current) — podcast results for the drilled category. Parent
  *                       pane = the categories list.
- *   preview            — detail of the hovered item (category summary, or
- *                       podcast detail + subscribe action).
+ *   depth 2 (current) — episodes of the drilled show, fetched on demand
+ *                       WITHOUT subscribing. Parent pane = the results list.
+ *   preview            — detail of the hovered item (category summary,
+ *                       podcast detail, or episode detail).
  *
  * Renders entirely through `<PaneRow>`; no bespoke 3-column flexbox JSX
- * remains. `l`/Enter drills in (category → results) or subscribes (on a
- * podcast); `h` pops a depth (noop at 0). j/k move only within the current
- * column. Moving through categories at depth 0 updates the store's selected
- * category so the preview follows.
+ * remains. `l`/Enter drills in (category → results → episodes); `a`
+ * subscribes the focused show (enter/l never subscribe — they open the
+ * episode list); `h` pops a depth (noop at 0). j/k move only within the
+ * current column. Moving through categories at depth 0 updates the store's
+ * selected category so the preview follows.
  */
 
 import { createMemo, For, Show, onMount, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
 import { useDiscoverStore, DISCOVER_CATEGORIES } from "@/stores/discover";
+import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
+import { useDownloadStore } from "@/stores/download";
+import { useAudio } from "@/hooks/useAudio";
+import { useAudioNavStore, AudioSource } from "@/stores/audio-nav";
+import { DownloadStatus } from "@/types/episode";
+import type { Episode } from "@/types/episode";
+import type { Podcast } from "@/types/podcast";
 import { format } from "date-fns";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import {
@@ -27,19 +37,31 @@ import {
 	type DepthFrame,
 } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
 import { on, off } from "@/utils/event-bus";
+import { supportsNerdFonts } from "@/utils/nerd-fonts";
 import type { KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
 import { PaneRow } from "@/components/PaneRow";
 import { TabListPane } from "@/components/TabPanel";
+import { LoadingIndicator } from "@/components/LoadingIndicator";
+import { EpisodeRow, EpisodePreview } from "@/components/EpisodeList";
 import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
 
 export const DiscoverPaneCount = 1;
 
 function DiscoverPage() {
+	// Static: detection never changes mid-session.
+	const nerd = supportsNerdFonts();
 	const discoverStore = useDiscoverStore();
+	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+	const downloadStore = useDownloadStore();
+	const audio = useAudio();
+	const audioNav = useAudioNavStore();
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
 	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
 	const nav = useNavigation();
+	const marker = useSelectionMarker();
 
+	const stack = nav.depthStack;
 	const depth = nav.currentDepth;
 	const focus = (d: number = depth()) => nav.depthFocus(d);
 
@@ -54,14 +76,37 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 		podcasts().length === 0 ? 0 : Math.min(focus(1), podcasts().length - 1);
 	const focusedPodcast = createMemo(() => podcasts()[focusedPodIdx()]);
 
+	// depth-2 frame ctx = the drilled podcast id (episode preview, no
+	// subscription). Episodes come from the discover store's session cache.
+	const drilledPodcastId = (): string => stack()[2]?.ctx ?? "";
+	const drilledPodcast = (): Podcast | undefined =>
+		podcasts().find((p) => p.id === drilledPodcastId());
+	const episodes = createMemo<Episode[]>(() => {
+		if (depth() < 2) return [];
+		return discoverStore.episodesForPodcast(drilledPodcastId());
+	});
+	const episodesLoading = () =>
+		depth() >= 2 && discoverStore.isLoadingEpisodesFor(drilledPodcastId());
+	const episodesError = () =>
+		depth() >= 2 ? discoverStore.previewError(drilledPodcastId()) : undefined;
+	const focusedEpIdx = () =>
+		episodes().length === 0 ? 0 : Math.min(focus(2), episodes().length - 1);
+	const focusedEpisode = () => episodes()[focusedEpIdx()];
+
 	const curLen = () =>
-		depth() === 0 ? categories().length : podcasts().length;
+		depth() === 0
+			? categories().length
+			: depth() === 1
+				? podcasts().length
+				: episodes().length;
 
 	const ensureFocus = () => {
 		if (categories().length > 0 && focus(0) >= categories().length)
 			nav.setDepthFocus(categories().length - 1, 0);
 		if (podcasts().length > 0 && focus(1) >= podcasts().length)
 			nav.setDepthFocus(podcasts().length - 1, 1);
+		if (episodes().length > 0 && focus(2) >= episodes().length)
+			nav.setDepthFocus(episodes().length - 1, 2);
 	};
 	onMount(ensureFocus);
 
@@ -74,13 +119,56 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 	onMount(() => {
 		nav.registerResolver(`${nav.activeTab()}:${DEPTH_CENTER_PANE}`, (i) => {
 			if (depth() === 0) return categories()[i]?.id;
-			return podcasts()[i]?.id;
+			if (depth() === 1) return podcasts()[i]?.id;
+			return episodes()[i]?.id;
 		});
 	});
 
 	// ── helpers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	const formatDate = (d: Date) => format(d, "MMM d, yyyy");
 
+	/** The subscribed feed backing a podcast, if any (matched by directory id
+	 *  or feed URL — a Discover show may already be subscribed). */
+	const feedForPodcast = (p: Podcast) =>
+		feedStore.feeds().find(
+			(f) =>
+				f.podcast.id === p.id ||
+				(!!p.feedUrl && f.podcast.feedUrl === p.feedUrl),
+		);
+
+	const downloadLabel = (id: string) => {
+		switch (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id)) {
+			case DownloadStatus.QUEUED:
+				return "[Q]";
+			case DownloadStatus.DOWNLOADING:
+				return `[${downloadStore.getDownloadProgress(id)}%]`;
+			case DownloadStatus.COMPLETED:
+				return "[DL]";
+			case DownloadStatus.FAILED:
+				return "[ERR]";
+			default:
+				return "";
+		}
+	};
+	const downloadColor = (id: string) => {
+		switch (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id)) {
+			case DownloadStatus.QUEUED:
+				return theme.warning;
+			case DownloadStatus.DOWNLOADING:
+				return theme.primary;
+			case DownloadStatus.COMPLETED:
+				return theme.success;
+			case DownloadStatus.FAILED:
+				return theme.error;
+			default:
+				return muted();
+		}
+	};
+	const playEpisode = (ep: Episode) => {
+		audio.play(ep).catch(() => {});
+		audioNav.setSource(AudioSource.SEARCH, drilledPodcast()?.id);
+	};
+
 	// ── drill / open ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	function open() {
 		if (depth() === 0) {
@@ -91,9 +179,19 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 			nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
 			return;
 		}
-		if (depth() >= 1) {
+		if (depth() === 1) {
 			const pod = focusedPodcast();
-			if (pod) discoverStore.toggleSubscription(pod.id);
+			if (!pod) return;
+			// Drill into the show's episode list WITHOUT subscribing — `l`,
+			// right, and Enter open the episodes; `a` is the subscribe key.
+			discoverStore.openEpisodes(pod).catch(() => {});
+			nav.pushDepth({ kind: "episodes", ctx: pod.id, focus: 0 } as DepthFrame);
+			nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
+			return;
+		}
+		if (depth() >= 2) {
+			const ep = focusedEpisode();
+			if (ep) playEpisode(ep);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -109,12 +207,59 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 		"goto-bottom": () => nav.gotoIndex(curLen() - 1, curLen()),
 		open: () => open(),
 		"toggle-select": () => {
-			if (depth() >= 1) {
+			if (depth() === 1) {
 				const pod = focusedPodcast();
 				if (pod) nav.toggleSelected(pod.id);
 			}
+			if (depth() >= 2) {
+				const ep = focusedEpisode();
+				if (ep) nav.toggleSelected(ep.id);
+			}
+		},
+		download: () => {
+			if (depth() !== 2) return;
+			const pod = drilledPodcast();
+			const ep = focusedEpisode();
+			if (!pod || !ep) return;
+			// Under its subscribed feed when already subscribed, otherwise as
+			// an "unsubscribed show" download (mirrors Search).
+			const feed = feedForPodcast(pod);
+			if (feed) downloadStore.startDownload(ep, feed.id);
+			else downloadStore.startUnsubscribedDownload(ep, pod);
+		},
+		"delete-download": () => {
+			if (depth() !== 2) return;
+			const ep = focusedEpisode();
+			if (!ep) return;
+			const id = ep.id;
+			if (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id) === DownloadStatus.NONE) return;
+			downloadStore.cancelDownload(id);
+			downloadStore.removeDownload(id).catch(() => {});
+		},
+		// `a`/`x` — the dedicated subscribe/unsubscribe keys (enter/l now open
+		// the episode list, so subscribing moved off open).
+		subscribe: () => {
+			if (depth() === 1) {
+				const pod = focusedPodcast();
+				if (pod && !pod.isSubscribed) discoverStore.subscribe(pod.id);
+				return;
+			}
+			if (depth() >= 2) {
+				const pod = drilledPodcast();
+				if (pod && !pod.isSubscribed) discoverStore.subscribe(pod.id);
+			}
+		},
+		unsubscribe: () => {
+			if (depth() !== 1) return;
+			const pod = focusedPodcast();
+			if (pod?.isSubscribed) discoverStore.unsubscribe(pod.id);
 		},
 		refresh: () => {
+			if (depth() >= 2) {
+				const pod = drilledPodcast();
+				if (pod) discoverStore.refreshEpisodes(pod).catch(() => {});
+				return;
+			}
 			discoverStore.refresh().catch(() => {});
 		},
 	};
@@ -155,37 +300,78 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 	const currentLabel = () =>
 		depth() === 0
 			? "Categories"
-			: `${focusedCategory()?.name ?? "Discover"} · ${podcasts().length}`;
+			: depth() === 1
+				? `${focusedCategory()?.name ?? "Discover"} · ${podcasts().length}`
+				: `${drilledPodcast()?.title ?? "Episodes"} · ${episodes().length}`;
 
 	// ── parent pane: previous-depth list (muted/blank at depth 0) ─────────────
-	// Stable <Show> gate (not a ternary root swap) so the parent list
-	// mounts/unmounts cleanly on depth change.
+	// Sibling <Show> blocks per depth (the known-good opentui disposal
+	// pattern, mirrors Settings): a STABLE fragment root whose inner <Show>
+	// children toggle on depth change, so the old subtree is disposed instead
+	// of left orphaned next to the new one (single <Show with fallback> and
+	// ternary root swaps both leak the previous root).
 	const parentContent = () => (
-		<Show when={depth() >= 1} fallback={<TabListPane muted />}>
-			<For each={categories()}>
-				{(cat, index) => {
-					const lf = () => nav.depthFocus(0);
-					const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === lf());
-					return (
-						<box
-							ref={ref}
-							flexDirection="row"
-							gap={1}
-							paddingLeft={1}
-							paddingRight={1}
-							backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), false)}
-						>
-							<text fg={focusFg(index(), nav.depthFocus(0), false)}>
-								{index() === nav.depthFocus(0) ? "❯" : " "}
-							</text>
-							<text fg={focusFg(index(), nav.depthFocus(0), false)}>
-								{cat.name}
-							</text>
-						</box>
-					);
-				}}
-			</For>
-		</Show>
+		<>
+			<Show when={depth() === 0}>
+				<TabListPane muted />
+			</Show>
+			<Show when={depth() === 1}>
+				<For each={categories()}>
+					{(cat, index) => {
+						const lf = () => nav.depthFocus(0);
+						const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === lf());
+						return (
+							<box
+								ref={ref}
+								flexDirection="row"
+								gap={1}
+								paddingRight={1}
+								backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), false)}
+							>
+								<text fg={focusFg(index(), nav.depthFocus(0), false)}>
+									{index() === nav.depthFocus(0) ? marker() : " "}
+								</text>
+								{nerd && (
+									<text fg={focusFg(index(), nav.depthFocus(0), false)}>
+										{cat.icon}
+									</text>
+								)}
+								<text fg={focusFg(index(), nav.depthFocus(0), false)}>
+									{cat.name}
+								</text>
+							</box>
+						);
+					}}
+				</For>
+			</Show>
+			<Show when={depth() >= 2}>
+				<For each={podcasts()}>
+					{(podcast, index) => {
+						const lf = () => nav.depthFocus(1);
+						const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === lf());
+						return (
+							<box
+								ref={ref}
+								flexDirection="row"
+								gap={1}
+								paddingRight={1}
+								backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), false)}
+							>
+								<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), false)}>
+									{index() === lf() ? marker() : " "}
+								</text>
+								<text wrapMode="none" truncate fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), false)}>
+									{podcast.title}
+								</text>
+								<Show when={podcast.isSubscribed}>
+									<text flexShrink={0} fg={muted()}>[+]</text>
+								</Show>
+							</box>
+						);
+					}}
+				</For>
+			</Show>
+		</>
 	);
 
 	// ── current pane ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -202,7 +388,6 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 								ref={ref}
 								flexDirection="row"
 								gap={1}
-								paddingLeft={1}
 								paddingRight={1}
 								backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), isActive())}
 								onMouseDown={() => {
@@ -212,8 +397,13 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 								}}
 							>
 								<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
-									{index() === lf() ? "❯" : " "}
+									{index() === lf() ? marker() : " "}
 								</text>
+								{nerd && (
+									<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
+										{cat.icon}
+									</text>
+								)}
 								<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>{cat.name}</text>
 							</box>
 						);
@@ -221,12 +411,19 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 				</For>
 			</Show>
 			{/* depth ≥1: results */}
-			<Show when={depth() >= 1}>
+			<Show when={depth() === 1}>
 				<Show
 					when={podcasts().length > 0}
 					fallback={
 						<box padding={1}>
-							<text fg={muted()}>No podcasts found. :refresh</text>
+							<Show
+								when={discoverStore.isLoading()}
+								fallback={
+									<text fg={muted()}>No podcasts found. :refresh</text>
+								}
+							>
+								<LoadingIndicator label="Discovering…" />
+							</Show>
 						</box>
 					}
 				>
@@ -239,7 +436,6 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 									ref={ref}
 									flexDirection="column"
 									gap={0}
-									paddingLeft={1}
 									paddingRight={1}
 									backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), isActive())}
 									onMouseDown={() => {
@@ -249,7 +445,7 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 								>
 									<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
 										<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
-											{index() === lf() ? "❯" : " "}
+											{index() === lf() ? marker() : " "}
 										</text>
 										<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
 											{podcast.title}
@@ -274,6 +470,59 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 							);
 						}}
 					</For>
+					<Show when={discoverStore.isLoading()}>
+						<box paddingLeft={2} paddingTop={1}>
+							<LoadingIndicator />
+						</box>
+					</Show>
+				</Show>
+			</Show>
+			{/* depth ≥2: episodes of the drilled show (preview, no subscription) */}
+			<Show when={depth() >= 2}>
+				<Show when={episodesLoading()}>
+					<box padding={1}>
+						<LoadingIndicator label="Loading episodes…" />
+					</box>
+				</Show>
+				<Show when={episodesError() && !episodesLoading()}>
+					<box padding={1}>
+						<text fg={theme.error}>{episodesError()}</text>
+						<box height={1} />
+						<text fg={muted()}>r: retry · h: back</text>
+					</box>
+				</Show>
+				<Show
+					when={
+						!episodesLoading() && !episodesError() && episodes().length === 0
+					}
+				>
+					<box padding={1}>
+						<text fg={muted()}>No episodes found. :refresh</text>
+					</box>
+				</Show>
+				<Show
+					when={
+						!episodesLoading() && !episodesError() && episodes().length > 0
+					}
+				>
+					<For each={episodes()}>
+						{(ep, index) => (
+							<EpisodeRow
+								episode={ep}
+								index={index}
+								focused={focusedEpIdx}
+								active={isActive}
+								selected={() => nav.isSelected(ep.id)}
+								downloadLabel={() => downloadLabel(ep.id)}
+								downloadColor={() => downloadColor(ep.id)}
+								marker={marker}
+								onMouseDown={() => {
+									nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
+									nav.setDepthFocus(index(), 2);
+								}}
+							/>
+						)}
+					</For>
 				</Show>
 			</Show>
 		</>
@@ -324,8 +573,8 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 					</box>
 				)}
 			</Show>
-		) : (
-			// depth ≥1 preview: hovered podcast + subscribe
+		) : depth() === 1 ? (
+			// depth 1 preview: hovered podcast + episode-list hint
 			<Show
 				when={focusedPodcast()}
 				fallback={
@@ -343,10 +592,10 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 							<text fg={muted()}>by {pod().author}</text>
 						</Show>
 						<Show when={pod().isSubscribed}>
-							<text fg={theme.success}>✓ Subscribed</text>
+							<text fg={theme.success}>✓ Subscribed · x: unsubscribe</text>
 						</Show>
 						<Show when={!pod().isSubscribed}>
-							<text fg={theme.primary}>[+] Subscribe (enter)</text>
+							<text fg={theme.primary}>a: subscribe</text>
 						</Show>
 						<box height={1} />
 						<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
@@ -365,10 +614,67 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 						</Show>
 						<text fg={muted()}>Updated: {formatDate(pod().lastUpdated)}</text>
 						<box height={1} />
-						<text fg={muted()}>enter: subscribe · h: back · r: refresh</text>
+						<text fg={muted()}>enter/l: episodes · h: back · r: refresh</text>
 					</box>
 				)}
 			</Show>
+		) : (
+			// depth ≥2 preview: hovered episode (or loading/error/empty)
+			<>
+				<Show when={episodesLoading()}>
+					<box padding={1}>
+						<LoadingIndicator label="Loading episodes…" />
+					</box>
+				</Show>
+				<Show when={episodesError() && !episodesLoading()}>
+					<box padding={1}>
+						<text fg={theme.error}>{episodesError()}</text>
+						<box height={1} />
+						<text fg={muted()}>r: retry · h: back</text>
+					</box>
+				</Show>
+				<Show
+					when={
+						!episodesLoading() && !episodesError() && episodes().length === 0
+					}
+				>
+					<box padding={1}>
+						<text fg={muted()}>No episodes found.</text>
+					</box>
+				</Show>
+				<Show
+					when={
+						!episodesLoading() &&
+						!episodesError() &&
+						episodes().length > 0 &&
+						focusedEpisode()
+					}
+					fallback={
+						<box padding={1}>
+							<text fg={muted()}>No episode focused</text>
+						</box>
+					}
+				>
+					{(ep) => (
+						<EpisodePreview
+							episode={() => ep()}
+							author={() => drilledPodcast()?.author}
+							downloadLabel={() => downloadLabel(ep().id)}
+							downloadColor={() => downloadColor(ep().id)}
+							hint={() =>
+								`enter: play · d: download${
+									downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(ep().id) !==
+									DownloadStatus.NONE
+										? " · D: delete"
+										: ""
+								}${
+									drilledPodcast()?.isSubscribed ? "" : " · a: subscribe"
+								} · h: back`
+							}
+						/>
+					)}
+				</Show>
+			</>
 		);
 
 	return (
@@ -376,9 +682,7 @@ function DiscoverPage() {
 			parent={parentContent}
 			current={currentContent}
 			preview={previewContent}
-			parentLabel={() => (depth() >= 1 ? "Categories" : "Up")}
 			currentLabel={currentLabel}
-			previewLabel="Detail"
 			focused={isActive}
 		/>
 	);

src/pages/Feed/FeedPage.tsx

@@ -16,11 +16,12 @@
  * everything over `nav.action`; this page only handles list/preview data.
  */
 
-import { createMemo, For, Show, onMount, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
+import { createMemo, createEffect, For, Show, onMount, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
 import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
 import { useDownloadStore } from "@/stores/download";
+import { useAppStore } from "@/stores/app";
+import { prefetchCoverArt } from "@/utils/cover-art";
 import { DownloadStatus } from "@/types/episode";
-import { format } from "date-fns";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import { useAudioNavStore, AudioSource } from "@/stores/audio-nav";
 import {
@@ -31,19 +32,28 @@ import {
 } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
 import { useAudio } from "@/hooks/useAudio";
 import { on, off } from "@/utils/event-bus";
+import { supportsNerdFonts } from "@/utils/nerd-fonts";
 import type { KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
 import type { Episode } from "@/types/episode";
 import type { Feed } from "@/types/feed";
+import {
+	EpisodeRow,
+	FetchMoreRow,
+	EpisodePreview,
+	FetchMorePreview,
+} from "@/components/EpisodeList";
 import { LoadingIndicator } from "@/components/LoadingIndicator";
 import { PaneRow } from "@/components/PaneRow";
 import { TabListPane } from "@/components/TabPanel";
-import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
 
 export const FeedPaneCount = 1;
 
 type EpItem = { episode: Episode; feed: Feed };
 
 function FeedPage() {
+	// Static: detection never changes mid-session.
+	const nerd = supportsNerdFonts();
 	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
 	const downloadStore = useDownloadStore();
 	const audioNav = useAudioNavStore();
@@ -51,23 +61,92 @@ function FeedPage() {
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
 	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
 	const nav = useNavigation();
+	const marker = useSelectionMarker();
 
 	// ── flat episode list (depth 0 — the only depth Feed has) ────────────────
 	const episodes = createMemo<EpItem[]>(
 		() => feedStore.getAllEpisodesChronological() as EpItem[],
 	);
+
+	// ── Cover warm-up ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	// Prefetch covers for episodes around the focus (plus the top of the
+	// list) so plays land on a warm cache: cover-art-files only applies at
+	// file load, and there is no working runtime fallback. Single-flight +
+	// cache short-circuit keep repeat runs cheap (hits resolve immediately).
+	createEffect(() => {
+		const list = episodes();
+		const focusIdx = focusedEpIdx();
+		const start = Math.max(0, focusIdx - 10);
+		const end = Math.min(list.length, focusIdx + 11);
+		for (let i = start; i < end; i++) {
+			const item = list[i];
+			if (item?.feed.podcast.coverUrl) prefetchCoverArt(item.feed.podcast.coverUrl);
+		}
+	});
+
+	// ── Fetch More ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	// A "[Fetch More]" row at the bottom of the list advances every feed's
+	// loaded window by 50 episodes. manual mode: Enter on the row. auto mode:
+	// reaching the bottom row fetches automatically (see the effect below).
+	const app = useAppStore();
+	const fetchMoreMode = () => app.state().preferences.fetchMoreMode ?? "auto";
+	const showFetchMore = () => feedStore.hasMoreAcrossAll();
+	const rowCount = () => episodes().length + (showFetchMore() ? 1 : 0);
 	const focus = () => nav.depthFocus(0);
+	const focusedRow = () =>
+		rowCount() === 0 ? 0 : Math.min(focus(), rowCount() - 1);
+	const focusedOnMore = () =>
+		showFetchMore() && focusedRow() === episodes().length;
+	// -1 while the Fetch More row is focused so no episode row renders the
+	// cursor/highlight (the button is the focused row, not the last episode).
 	const focusedEpIdx = () =>
-		episodes().length === 0 ? 0 : Math.min(focus(), episodes().length - 1);
-	const focusedItem = (): EpItem | undefined => episodes()[focusedEpIdx()];
-	const curLen = () => episodes().length;
+		focusedOnMore()
+			? -1
+			: Math.min(focusedRow(), Math.max(episodes().length - 1, 0));
+	const focusedItem = (): EpItem | undefined =>
+		focusedOnMore() ? undefined : episodes()[focusedEpIdx()];
+	const curLen = () => rowCount();
+
+	// ── Render window ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	// The union grows to thousands of episodes after repeated fetch-more
+	// presses; rendering every row per frame froze the UI. Render only a
+	// bounded slice around the focus (real indexes preserved) — the scrollbox
+	// still keeps the focused row in view. Spacers above/below the window
+	// restore the full content height so the scrollbar tracks the real list.
+	// Each EpisodeRow is 3 lines tall (title, subtitle, date).
+	const LIST_WINDOW = 30;
+	const ROW_HEIGHT = 3;
+	const listWindow = createMemo<[number, number]>(() => {
+		const len = episodes().length;
+		// Focusing the Fetch More button keeps the window anchored at the
+		// last episode — no jump when the focus crosses onto the button.
+		const f = focusedOnMore() ? len - 1 : focusedEpIdx();
+		return [
+			Math.max(0, f - LIST_WINDOW),
+			Math.min(len, f + LIST_WINDOW + 1),
+		];
+	});
+	const visibleEpisodes = createMemo(() => {
+		const [start, end] = listWindow();
+		return episodes().slice(start, end);
+	});
 
 	const ensureFocus = () => {
-		if (episodes().length > 0 && focus() >= episodes().length)
-			nav.setDepthFocus(episodes().length - 1, 0);
+		if (rowCount() > 0 && focus() >= rowCount())
+			nav.setDepthFocus(rowCount() - 1, 0);
 	};
 	onMount(ensureFocus);
 
+	// Auto mode: reaching the bottom row loads the next batch. Guarded by
+	// isLoadingMore so concurrent loads never stack.
+	createEffect(() => {
+		if (fetchMoreMode() !== "auto") return;
+		if (!showFetchMore()) return;
+		if (feedStore.isLoadingMore()) return;
+		if (focusedRow() < rowCount() - 1) return;
+		feedStore.loadMoreAllFeeds().catch(() => {});
+	});
+
 	onMount(() => {
 		nav.registerResolver(
 			`${nav.activeTab()}:${DEPTH_CENTER_PANE}`,
@@ -76,12 +155,6 @@ function FeedPage() {
 	});
 
 	// ── helpers ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-	const formatDate = (d: Date) => format(d, "MMM d, yyyy");
-	const formatDuration = (s: number) => {
-		const mins = Math.floor(s / 60);
-		const hrs = Math.floor(mins / 60);
-		return hrs > 0 ? `${hrs}h ${mins % 60}m` : `${mins}m`;
-	};
 	const downloadLabel = (id: string) => {
 		switch (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id)) {
 			case DownloadStatus.QUEUED:
@@ -118,6 +191,10 @@ function FeedPage() {
 
 	// ── open ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	function open() {
+		if (focusedOnMore()) {
+			feedStore.loadMoreAllFeeds().catch(() => {});
+			return;
+		}
 		playEpisode(focusedItem());
 	}
 
@@ -136,6 +213,18 @@ function FeedPage() {
 			const item = focusedItem();
 			if (item) nav.toggleSelected(item.episode.id);
 		},
+		download: () => {
+			const item = focusedItem();
+			if (item) downloadStore.startDownload(item.episode, item.feed.id);
+		},
+		"delete-download": () => {
+			const item = focusedItem();
+			if (!item) return;
+			const id = item.episode.id;
+			if (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id) === DownloadStatus.NONE) return;
+			downloadStore.cancelDownload(id);
+			downloadStore.removeDownload(id).catch(() => {});
+		},
 		refresh: () => {
 			feedStore.refreshAllFeeds().catch(() => {});
 		},
@@ -160,19 +249,6 @@ function FeedPage() {
 
 	// ── render ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	const isActive = () => nav.activePane() === DEPTH_CENTER_PANE;
-	// Row highlight within the list. `active=true` only for the current pane.
-	const focusBg = (i: number, listFocus: number, active: boolean) =>
-		i === listFocus && active
-			? theme.primary
-			: i === listFocus
-				? theme.border
-				: undefined;
-	const focusFg = (i: number, listFocus: number, active: boolean) =>
-		i === listFocus && active
-			? theme.surface
-			: i === listFocus
-				? theme.selectedListItemText ?? theme.text
-				: theme.text;
 
 	const currentLabel = () => `Feed · ${episodes().length}`;
 
@@ -184,116 +260,113 @@ function FeedPage() {
 		<Show
 			when={episodes().length > 0}
 			fallback={
-				<box padding={1}>
-					<text fg={muted()}>No feeds. Subscribe from Discover/Search.</text>
+				<box padding={1} alignItems="center">
+					<Show
+						when={feedStore.isLoadingFeeds()}
+						fallback={
+							<text fg={muted()}>
+								No feeds. Subscribe from Discover/Search.
+							</text>
+						}
+					>
+						<LoadingIndicator />
+					</Show>
 				</box>
 			}
 		>
-			<For each={episodes()}>
-				{(item, index) => {
-					const fi = () => focusedEpIdx();
-					const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === fi());
-					return (
-						<box
-							ref={ref}
-							flexDirection="column"
-							gap={0}
-							paddingLeft={1}
-							paddingRight={1}
-							backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), fi(), isActive())}
-							onMouseDown={() => {
-								nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
-								nav.setDepthFocus(index(), 0);
-							}}
-						>
-							<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
-								<text fg={focusFg(index(), fi(), isActive())}>
-									{index() === fi() ? "❯" : " "}
-								</text>
-								<text fg={focusFg(index(), fi(), isActive())}>
-									{item.episode.episodeNumber
-										? `#${item.episode.episodeNumber} `
-										: ""}
-									{item.episode.title}
-								</text>
-							</box>
-							<box flexDirection="row" gap={2} paddingLeft={2}>
-								<text fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : theme.info}>
-									{formatDate(item.episode.pubDate)}
-								</text>
-								<text fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : muted()}>
-									{formatDuration(item.episode.duration)}
-								</text>
-								<text fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : muted()}>
-									{item.feed.customName || item.feed.podcast.title}
-								</text>
-								<Show when={nav.isSelected(item.episode.id)}>
-									<text fg={theme.warning}>●</text>
-								</Show>
-								<Show when={downloadLabel(item.episode.id)}>
-									<text fg={downloadColor(item.episode.id)}>
-										{downloadLabel(item.episode.id)}
-									</text>
-								</Show>
-							</box>
-						</box>
-					);
-				}}
+			{/* Spacers keep the scrollbox content at the FULL list height so
+			    the scrollbar reflects the real list, not the render window. */}
+			<Show when={listWindow()[0] > 0}>
+				<box height={listWindow()[0] * ROW_HEIGHT} />
+			</Show>
+			<For each={visibleEpisodes()}>
+				{(item, index) => (
+					<EpisodeRow
+						episode={item.episode}
+						subtitle={() => item.feed.customName || item.feed.podcast.title}
+						index={() => listWindow()[0] + index()}
+						focused={focusedEpIdx}
+						active={isActive}
+						selected={() => nav.isSelected(item.episode.id)}
+						downloadLabel={() => downloadLabel(item.episode.id)}
+						downloadColor={() => downloadColor(item.episode.id)}
+						marker={marker}
+						onMouseDown={() => {
+							nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
+							nav.setDepthFocus(listWindow()[0] + index(), 0);
+						}}
+					/>
+				)}
 			</For>
+			<Show when={episodes().length - listWindow()[1] > 0}>
+				<box height={(episodes().length - listWindow()[1]) * ROW_HEIGHT} />
+			</Show>
+			<Show when={showFetchMore()}>
+				<FetchMoreRow
+					index={() => episodes().length}
+					focused={focusedRow}
+					onMore={focusedOnMore}
+					active={isActive}
+					isLoadingMore={() => feedStore.isLoadingMore()}
+					nerd={nerd}
+					marker={marker}
+					onMouseDown={() => {
+						nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
+						nav.setDepthFocus(episodes().length, 0);
+					}}
+				/>
+			</Show>
 			<Show when={feedStore.isLoadingFeeds()}>
-				<box paddingLeft={2} paddingTop={1}>
+				<box alignItems="center" paddingTop={1}>
 					<LoadingIndicator />
 				</box>
 			</Show>
 		</Show>
 	);
 
-	// ── preview pane: hovered-episode detail ───────────────────────────────────
+	// ── preview pane: hovered-episode detail (or the Fetch More row) ──────────
+	const episodeHint = (item: EpItem) =>
+		`enter: play · d: download${
+			downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(item.episode.id) !== DownloadStatus.NONE
+				? " · D: delete"
+				: ""
+		} · space: select · h back`;
+
 	const previewContent = () => (
-		<Show
-			when={focusedItem()}
-			fallback={
-				<box padding={1}>
-					<text fg={muted()}>No episode focused</text>
-				</box>
-			}
-		>
-			{(item) => (
-				<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
-					<text fg={theme.textPrimary ?? theme.text}>
-						<strong>
-							{item().episode.episodeNumber
-								? `#${item().episode.episodeNumber} `
-								: ""}
-							{item().episode.title}
-						</strong>
-					</text>
-					<box flexDirection="row" gap={2}>
-						<text fg={theme.info}>{formatDate(item().episode.pubDate)}</text>
-						<text fg={muted()}>{formatDuration(item().episode.duration)}</text>
-						<Show when={downloadLabel(item().episode.id)}>
-							<text fg={downloadColor(item().episode.id)}>
-								{downloadLabel(item().episode.id)}
-							</text>
-						</Show>
-					</box>
-					<text fg={muted()}>
-						{item().feed.customName || item().feed.podcast.title}
-					</text>
-					<Show when={item().feed.podcast.author}>
-						<text fg={muted()}>by {item().feed.podcast.author}</text>
-					</Show>
-					<box height={1} />
-					<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
-						{item().episode.description?.slice(0, 400) ??
-							"No description available."}
-						{(item().episode.description?.length ?? 0) > 400 ? "…" : ""}
-					</text>
-					<box height={1} />
-					<text fg={muted()}>enter: play · space: select · h back</text>
-				</box>
-			)}
-		</Show>
+		<>
+			<Show when={focusedOnMore()}>
+				<FetchMorePreview
+					isLoadingMore={() => feedStore.isLoadingMore()}
+					fetchMoreMode={fetchMoreMode}
+					manualText={() =>
+						"Load the next batch of older episodes across all feeds (Enter)."
+					}
+				/>
+			</Show>
+			<Show when={!focusedOnMore()}>
+				<Show
+					when={focusedItem()}
+					fallback={
+						<box padding={1}>
+							<text fg={muted()}>No episode focused</text>
+						</box>
+					}
+				>
+					{(item) => (
+						<EpisodePreview
+							episode={() => item().episode}
+							subtitle={() =>
+								item().feed.customName || item().feed.podcast.title
+							}
+							author={() => item().feed.podcast.author}
+							downloadLabel={() => downloadLabel(item().episode.id)}
+							downloadColor={() => downloadColor(item().episode.id)}
+							hint={() => episodeHint(item())}
+						/>
+					)}
+				</Show>
+			</Show>
+		</>
 	);
 
 	return (
@@ -301,9 +374,7 @@ function FeedPage() {
 			parent={parentContent}
 			current={currentContent}
 			preview={previewContent}
-			parentLabel="Up"
 			currentLabel={currentLabel}
-			previewLabel="Detail"
 			focused={isActive}
 		/>
 	);

src/pages/MyShows/MyShowsPage.tsx

@@ -6,16 +6,20 @@
  *   depth 1 (current) — episodes of the drilled show. Parent pane = shows.
  *   preview            — detail of the hovered item in the current column.
  *
+ * Depth 1 ends with a "[Fetch More]" row (same preference-driven behavior
+ * as the Feed tab) that loads the next batch of episodes for that show.
+ *
  * Renders entirely through `<PaneRow>`; no bespoke 3-column flexbox JSX
  * remains. `l`/Enter drills in (show → episodes); `h` pops a depth (noop at
  * 0). j/k move only within the current column.
  */
 
-import { createMemo, For, Show, onMount, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
+import { createMemo, createEffect, For, Show, onMount, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
+import type { RGBA } from "@opentui/core";
 import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
 import { useDownloadStore } from "@/stores/download";
+import { useAppStore } from "@/stores/app";
 import { DownloadStatus } from "@/types/episode";
-import { format } from "date-fns";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import { useAudioNavStore, AudioSource } from "@/stores/audio-nav";
 import {
@@ -27,24 +31,232 @@ import {
 } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
 import { useAudio } from "@/hooks/useAudio";
 import { on, off } from "@/utils/event-bus";
+import { supportsNerdFonts } from "@/utils/nerd-fonts";
 import type { KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
-import type { Episode } from "@/types/episode";
+import type { Episode, DownloadedEpisode } from "@/types/episode";
 import type { Feed } from "@/types/feed";
-import { LoadingIndicator } from "@/components/LoadingIndicator";
+import {
+	EpisodeRow,
+	FetchMoreRow,
+	EpisodePreview,
+	FetchMorePreview,
+	formatDate,
+} from "@/components/EpisodeList";
 import { PaneRow } from "@/components/PaneRow";
 import { TabListPane } from "@/components/TabPanel";
 import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
+
+// ── render components ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Depth-0 rows (subscribed shows, unsubscribed-show downloads) and their
+// preview panes are My Shows-specific; episode rows/previews are shared with
+// the Feed page (see EpisodeList.tsx).
+
+/** A subscribed-show row (depth 0). */
+function ShowRow(props: {
+	feed: Feed;
+	title: string;
+	index: () => number;
+	focused: () => number;
+	active: () => boolean;
+	marker: () => string;
+	wlScope: () => boolean;
+	wlInList: () => boolean;
+	onMouseDown: () => void;
+}) {
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
+	const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => props.index() === props.focused());
+	const isFocused = () => props.index() === props.focused();
+	const bg = () =>
+		isFocused() && props.active()
+			? theme.primary
+			: isFocused()
+				? theme.border
+				: undefined;
+	const fg = () =>
+		isFocused() && props.active()
+			? theme.surface
+			: isFocused()
+				? theme.selectedListItemText ?? theme.text
+				: theme.text;
+	return (
+		<box
+			ref={ref}
+			flexDirection="row"
+			gap={1}
+			paddingRight={1}
+			backgroundColor={bg()}
+			onMouseDown={props.onMouseDown}
+		>
+			<text flexShrink={0} fg={fg()}>
+				{isFocused() ? props.marker() : " "}
+			</text>
+			{/* Long titles truncate with middle-ellipsis instead of wrapping —
+			    a wrapped title grows the row to 2+ lines and shifts every row
+			    below (see EpisodeList for the same guard). The episode-count
+			    and watchlist cells are flexShrink=0 so they never shrink or
+			    wrap; the flexible title takes the remaining width. */}
+			<text wrapMode="none" truncate fg={fg()}>
+				{props.title}
+			</text>
+			<text flexShrink={0} fg={isFocused() ? theme.surface : muted()}>
+				({props.feed.episodes.length})
+			</text>
+			<Show when={props.wlScope()}>
+				<text
+					flexShrink={0}
+					fg={
+						isFocused()
+							? theme.surface
+							: props.wlInList()
+								? theme.warning
+								: muted()
+					}
+				>
+					{props.wlInList() ? "●" : "○"}
+				</text>
+			</Show>
+		</box>
+	);
+}
+
+/** An unsubscribed-show download row (depth 0, below the shows list). */
+function UnsubscribedRow(props: {
+	d: DownloadedEpisode;
+	index: () => number;
+	focused: () => number;
+	active: () => boolean;
+	marker: () => string;
+	downloadLabel: () => string;
+	downloadColor: () => RGBA;
+	onMouseDown: () => void;
+}) {
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => props.index() === props.focused());
+	const isFocused = () => props.index() === props.focused();
+	const bg = () =>
+		isFocused() && props.active()
+			? theme.primary
+			: isFocused()
+				? theme.border
+				: undefined;
+	const fg = () =>
+		isFocused() && props.active()
+			? theme.surface
+			: isFocused()
+				? theme.selectedListItemText ?? theme.text
+				: theme.text;
+	return (
+		<box
+			ref={ref}
+			flexDirection="column"
+			gap={0}
+			paddingRight={1}
+			backgroundColor={bg()}
+			onMouseDown={props.onMouseDown}
+		>
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
+				<text flexShrink={0} fg={fg()}>
+					{isFocused() ? props.marker() : " "}
+				</text>
+				<text wrapMode="none" truncate fg={fg()}>
+					{props.d.episodeTitle ?? props.d.episodeId}
+				</text>
+				<Show when={props.downloadLabel()}>
+					<text flexShrink={0} fg={props.downloadColor()}>
+						{props.downloadLabel()}
+					</text>
+				</Show>
+			</box>
+			<box paddingLeft={2}>
+				<text
+					wrapMode="none"
+					truncate
+					fg={isFocused() ? theme.surface : theme.textSecondary}
+				>
+					{props.d.podcastTitle ?? props.d.feedId}
+				</text>
+			</box>
+		</box>
+	);
+}
+
+/** Depth-0 preview: the hovered subscribed show. */
+function ShowPreview(props: {
+	show: () => Feed;
+	title: () => string;
+	hint: () => string;
+}) {
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
+	const show = props.show;
+	return (
+		<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
+			<text fg={theme.textPrimary ?? theme.text}>
+				<strong>{props.title()}</strong>
+			</text>
+			<Show when={show().podcast.author}>
+				<text fg={muted()}>by {show().podcast.author}</text>
+			</Show>
+			<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>{show().episodes.length} episodes</text>
+			<text fg={muted()}>
+				{show().podcast.description?.slice(0, 400) ?? "No description."}
+			</text>
+			<box height={1} />
+			<text fg={muted()}>{props.hint()}</text>
+		</box>
+	);
+}
+
+/** Depth-0 preview: the hovered unsubscribed-show download. */
+function UnsubscribedPreview(props: {
+	d: () => DownloadedEpisode;
+	downloadLabel: () => string;
+	downloadColor: () => RGBA;
+}) {
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
+	const d = props.d;
+	return (
+		<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
+			<text fg={theme.textPrimary ?? theme.text}>
+				<strong>{d().episodeTitle ?? d().episodeId}</strong>
+			</text>
+			<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>{d().podcastTitle ?? d().feedId}</text>
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={2}>
+				<Show when={d().pubDate}>
+					<text fg={theme.info}>{formatDate(new Date(d().pubDate!))}</text>
+				</Show>
+				<Show when={props.downloadLabel()}>
+					<text fg={props.downloadColor()}>
+						{props.downloadLabel()}
+					</text>
+				</Show>
+			</box>
+			<text fg={muted()}>
+				Downloaded from episode search — the show is not subscribed.
+			</text>
+			<box height={1} />
+			<text fg={muted()}>enter: play · D: delete download · h: back</text>
+		</box>
+	);
+}
 
 export const MyShowsPaneCount = 1;
 
 export function MyShowsPage() {
+	// Static: detection never changes mid-session.
+	const nerd = supportsNerdFonts();
 	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
 	const downloadStore = useDownloadStore();
+	const app = useAppStore();
 	const audioNav = useAudioNavStore();
 	const audio = useAudio();
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
 	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
 	const nav = useNavigation();
+	const marker = useSelectionMarker();
 
 	const stack = nav.depthStack;
 	const depth = nav.currentDepth;
@@ -52,9 +264,27 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 
 	const shows = () => feedStore.getFilteredFeeds();
 
+	// Downloads of shows that are NOT subscribed (made from episode search) —
+	// listed as their own section under the shows list. Reads feeds() so an
+	// entry drops out the moment the user subscribes to its show.
+	const unsubs = () => downloadStore.getUnsubscribedDownloads();
+
+	const depth0Count = () => shows().length + unsubs().length;
+
 	const focusedShowIdx = () =>
 		shows().length === 0 ? 0 : Math.min(focus(0), shows().length - 1);
-	const selectedShow = (): Feed | undefined => shows()[focusedShowIdx()];
+	/** True when the depth-0 cursor sits on an unsubscribed-show download
+	 *  row (past the shows list). */
+	const focusedOnUnsub = () =>
+		depth() === 0 && focus(0) >= shows().length && unsubs().length > 0;
+	const focusedUnsub = (): DownloadedEpisode | undefined => {
+		if (!focusedOnUnsub()) return undefined;
+		return unsubs()[Math.min(focus(0) - shows().length, unsubs().length - 1)];
+	};
+	const selectedShow = (): Feed | undefined => {
+		if (focusedOnUnsub()) return undefined;
+		return shows()[focusedShowIdx()];
+	};
 
 	// depth-1 frame ctx = the drilled feed id
 	const drilledShowId = (): string => stack()[1]?.ctx ?? "";
@@ -67,34 +297,87 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 			(a, b) => b.pubDate.getTime() - a.pubDate.getTime(),
 		);
 	});
+	// ── Fetch More ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	// A "[Fetch More]" row at the bottom of a drilled show's episode list
+	// advances that show's loaded window by 50 episodes — the per-show
+	// counterpart to the Feed page's row (which loads every feed). manual
+	// mode: Enter on the row. auto mode: reaching the bottom row fetches
+	// automatically (see the effect below).
+	const fetchMoreMode = () => app.state().preferences.fetchMoreMode ?? "auto";
+	const showFetchMore = () =>
+		depth() >= 1 &&
+		!!drilledShowId() &&
+		feedStore.hasMoreEpisodes(drilledShowId());
+	const rowCount = () => episodes().length + (showFetchMore() ? 1 : 0);
+	const focusedRow = () =>
+		rowCount() === 0 ? 0 : Math.min(focus(1), rowCount() - 1);
+	const focusedOnMore = () =>
+		showFetchMore() && focusedRow() === episodes().length;
+	// -1 while the Fetch More row is focused so no episode row renders the
+	// cursor/highlight (the button is the focused row, not the last episode).
 	const focusedEpIdx = () =>
-		episodes().length === 0 ? 0 : Math.min(focus(1), episodes().length - 1);
-	const focusedEpisode = () => episodes()[focusedEpIdx()];
+		focusedOnMore()
+			? -1
+			: Math.min(focusedRow(), Math.max(episodes().length - 1, 0));
+	const focusedEpisode = () =>
+		focusedOnMore() ? undefined : episodes()[focusedEpIdx()];
 
-	const curLen = () => (depth() === 0 ? shows().length : episodes().length);
+	// ── Render window ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	// The drilled show's list grows deep after repeated fetch-more presses;
+	// rendering every row per frame froze the UI. Render only a bounded slice
+	// around the focus (real indexes preserved) — the scrollbox still keeps
+	// the focused row in view. Spacers above/below the window restore the
+	// full content height so the scrollbar tracks the real list.
+	// Each episode row is 2 lines tall (title, date) — no subtitle here.
+	const LIST_WINDOW = 30;
+	const ROW_HEIGHT = 2;
+	const listWindow = createMemo<[number, number]>(() => {
+		const len = episodes().length;
+		// Focusing the Fetch More button keeps the window anchored at the
+		// last episode — no jump when the focus crosses onto the button.
+		const f = focusedOnMore() ? len - 1 : focusedEpIdx();
+		return [
+			Math.max(0, f - LIST_WINDOW),
+			Math.min(len, f + LIST_WINDOW + 1),
+		];
+	});
+	const visibleEpisodes = createMemo(() => {
+		const [start, end] = listWindow();
+		return episodes().slice(start, end);
+	});
+
+	const curLen = () => (depth() === 0 ? depth0Count() : rowCount());
 
 	const ensureFocus = () => {
-		if (shows().length > 0 && focus(0) >= shows().length)
-			nav.setDepthFocus(shows().length - 1, 0);
-		if (depth() >= 1 && episodes().length > 0 && focus(1) >= episodes().length)
-			nav.setDepthFocus(episodes().length - 1, 1);
+		if (depth() === 0 && depth0Count() > 0 && focus(0) >= depth0Count())
+			nav.setDepthFocus(depth0Count() - 1, 0);
+		if (depth() >= 1 && rowCount() > 0 && focus(1) >= rowCount())
+			nav.setDepthFocus(rowCount() - 1, 1);
 	};
 	onMount(ensureFocus);
 
 	onMount(() => {
 		nav.registerResolver(`${nav.activeTab()}:${DEPTH_CENTER_PANE}`, (i) => {
-			if (depth() === 0) return shows()[i]?.id;
+			if (depth() === 0) {
+				if (i < shows().length) return shows()[i]?.id;
+				return unsubs()[i - shows().length]?.episodeId;
+			}
 			return episodes()[i]?.id;
 		});
 	});
 
+	// Auto mode: reaching the bottom of a drilled show's list loads its next
+	// batch. Guarded by isLoadingMore so concurrent loads never stack.
+	createEffect(() => {
+		if (depth() < 1) return;
+		if (fetchMoreMode() !== "auto") return;
+		if (!showFetchMore()) return;
+		if (feedStore.isLoadingMore()) return;
+		if (focusedRow() < rowCount() - 1) return;
+		feedStore.loadMoreEpisodes(drilledShowId()).catch(() => {});
+	});
+
 	// ── helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-	const formatDate = (d: Date) => format(d, "MMM d, yyyy");
-	const formatDuration = (s: number) => {
-		const mins = Math.floor(s / 60);
-		const hrs = Math.floor(mins / 60);
-		return hrs > 0 ? `${hrs}h ${mins % 60}m` : `${mins}m`;
-	};
 	const downloadLabel = (id: string) => {
 		switch (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id)) {
 			case DownloadStatus.QUEUED:
@@ -128,9 +411,31 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 		audioNav.setSource(AudioSource.MY_SHOWS, selectedShow()?.podcast.id);
 	};
 
+	/** Stream an unsubscribed-show download. The record carries only what was
+	 *  persisted at download time, so a minimal Episode is reconstructed. */
+	const playUnsubscribedDownload = (d: DownloadedEpisode) => {
+		audio
+			.play({
+				id: d.episodeId,
+				podcastId: d.feedId,
+				title: d.episodeTitle ?? d.episodeId,
+				description: "",
+				audioUrl: d.audioUrl ?? "",
+				duration: 0,
+				pubDate: d.pubDate ? new Date(d.pubDate) : new Date(),
+			})
+			.catch(() => {});
+		audioNav.setSource(AudioSource.SEARCH, d.feedId);
+	};
+
 	// ── drill / open ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	function open() {
 		if (depth() === 0) {
+			const d = focusedUnsub();
+			if (d) {
+				playUnsubscribedDownload(d);
+				return;
+			}
 			const show = selectedShow();
 			if (!show) return;
 			nav.pushDepth({ kind: "episodes", ctx: show.id, focus: 0 } as DepthFrame);
@@ -139,6 +444,10 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 			return;
 		}
 		if (depth() >= 1) {
+			if (focusedOnMore()) {
+				feedStore.loadMoreEpisodes(drilledShowId()).catch(() => {});
+				return;
+			}
 			const ep = focusedEpisode();
 			if (ep) playEpisode(ep);
 		}
@@ -161,6 +470,41 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 				if (ep) nav.toggleSelected(ep.id);
 			}
 		},
+		download: () => {
+			if (depth() < 1) return;
+			const ep = focusedEpisode();
+			if (ep) downloadStore.startDownload(ep, drilledShowId());
+		},
+		"delete-download": () => {
+			if (depth() === 0) {
+				const d = focusedUnsub();
+				if (d) {
+					downloadStore.cancelDownload(d.episodeId);
+					downloadStore.removeDownload(d.episodeId).catch(() => {});
+				}
+				return;
+			}
+			if (depth() < 1) return;
+			const ep = focusedEpisode();
+			if (!ep) return;
+			const id = ep.id;
+			if (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id) === DownloadStatus.NONE) return;
+			downloadStore.cancelDownload(id);
+			downloadStore.removeDownload(id).catch(() => {});
+		},
+		"whitelist-toggle": () => {
+			const prefs = app.state().preferences;
+			if (prefs.autoDownloadScope !== "whitelist") return;
+			// depth 0: the focused show; depth ≥1: the drilled show.
+			const id = depth() >= 1 ? drilledShowId() : selectedShow()?.id;
+			if (!id) return;
+			const cur = prefs.autoDownloadWhitelist ?? [];
+			const next = cur.includes(id)
+				? cur.filter((x) => x !== id)
+				: [...cur, id];
+			app.updatePreferences({ autoDownloadWhitelist: next });
+			feedStore.runAutoDownload();
+		},
 		refresh: () => {
 			const show = selectedShow();
 			if (show) feedStore.refreshFeed(show.id).catch(() => {});
@@ -196,19 +540,13 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 
 	// ── render ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	const isActive = () => nav.activePane() === DEPTH_CENTER_PANE;
-	const focusBg = (i: number, lf: number, active: boolean) =>
-		i === lf && active ? theme.primary : i === lf ? theme.border : undefined;
-	const focusFg = (i: number, lf: number, active: boolean) =>
-		i === lf && active
-			? theme.surface
-			: i === lf
-				? theme.selectedListItemText ?? theme.text
-				: theme.text;
 	const showTitle = (f: Feed) => f.customName || f.podcast.title;
 
 	const currentLabel = () =>
 		depth() === 0
-			? `Shows (${shows().length})`
+			? `Shows (${shows().length})${
+					unsubs().length > 0 ? ` · Unsub DL (${unsubs().length})` : ""
+				}`
 			: `${selectedShow() ? showTitle(selectedShow()!) : "Episodes"} · ${episodes().length}`;
 
 	// ── parent pane: previous-depth list (muted/blank at depth 0) ─────────────
@@ -220,20 +558,30 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 				{(feed, index) => {
 					const lf = () => nav.depthFocus(0);
 					const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === lf());
+					const focused = () => index() === lf();
+					const fg = () =>
+						focused()
+							? theme.selectedListItemText ?? theme.text
+							: theme.text;
 					return (
 						<box
 							ref={ref}
 							flexDirection="row"
 							gap={1}
-							paddingLeft={1}
 							paddingRight={1}
-							backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), false)}
+							backgroundColor={focused() ? theme.border : undefined}
 						>
-							<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), false)}>
-								{index() === lf() ? "❯" : " "}
+							<text flexShrink={0} fg={fg()}>
+								{focused() ? marker() : " "}
+							</text>
+							{/* 20%-wide parent pane truncates hard — same
+							    middle-ellipsis guard as the depth-0 rows. */}
+							<text wrapMode="none" truncate fg={fg()}>
+								{showTitle(feed)}
+							</text>
+							<text flexShrink={0} fg={muted()}>
+								({feed.episodes.length})
 							</text>
-							<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), false)}>{showTitle(feed)}</text>
-							<text fg={muted()}>({feed.episodes.length})</text>
 						</box>
 					);
 				}}
@@ -247,7 +595,7 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 			{/* depth 0: shows — stable sibling <Show> so the swap disposes cleanly */}
 			<Show when={depth() === 0}>
 				<Show
-					when={shows().length > 0}
+					when={depth0Count() > 0}
 					fallback={
 						<box padding={1}>
 							<text fg={muted()}>
@@ -257,35 +605,53 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 					}
 				>
 					<For each={shows()}>
-						{(feed, index) => {
-							const lf = () => focusedShowIdx();
-							const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === lf());
-							return (
-								<box
-									ref={ref}
-									flexDirection="row"
-									gap={1}
-									paddingLeft={1}
-									paddingRight={1}
-									backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), isActive())}
+						{(feed, index) => (
+							<ShowRow
+								feed={feed}
+								title={showTitle(feed)}
+								index={index}
+								focused={focusedShowIdx}
+								active={isActive}
+								marker={marker}
+								wlScope={() =>
+									app.state().preferences.autoDownloadScope === "whitelist"
+								}
+								wlInList={() =>
+									(app.state().preferences.autoDownloadWhitelist ?? []).includes(
+										feed.id,
+									)
+								}
+								onMouseDown={() => {
+									nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
+									nav.setDepthFocus(index(), 0);
+								}}
+							/>
+						)}
+					</For>
+					<Show when={unsubs().length > 0}>
+						<box paddingLeft={1} paddingTop={1}>
+							<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
+								Unsubscribed Show Downloads
+							</text>
+						</box>
+						<For each={unsubs()}>
+							{(d, index) => (
+								<UnsubscribedRow
+									d={d}
+									index={() => shows().length + index()}
+									focused={() => nav.depthFocus(0)}
+									active={isActive}
+									marker={marker}
+									downloadLabel={() => downloadLabel(d.episodeId)}
+									downloadColor={() => downloadColor(d.episodeId)}
 									onMouseDown={() => {
 										nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
-										nav.setDepthFocus(index(), 0);
+										nav.setDepthFocus(shows().length + index(), 0);
 									}}
-								>
-									<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
-										{index() === lf() ? "❯" : " "}
-									</text>
-									<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
-										{showTitle(feed)}
-									</text>
-									<text fg={index() === lf() ? theme.surface : muted()}>
-										({feed.episodes.length})
-									</text>
-								</box>
-							);
-						}}
-					</For>
+								/>
+							)}
+						</For>
+					</Show>
 				</Show>
 			</Show>
 			{/* depth ≥1: episodes */}
@@ -298,56 +664,47 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 						</box>
 					}
 				>
-					<For each={episodes()}>
-						{(ep, index) => {
-							const lf = () => focusedEpIdx();
-							const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === lf());
-							return (
-								<box
-									ref={ref}
-									flexDirection="column"
-									gap={0}
-									paddingLeft={1}
-									paddingRight={1}
-									backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), isActive())}
-									onMouseDown={() => {
-										nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
-										nav.setDepthFocus(index(), 1);
-									}}
-								>
-									<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
-										<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
-											{index() === lf() ? "❯" : " "}
-										</text>
-										<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
-											{ep.episodeNumber ? `#${ep.episodeNumber} ` : ""}
-											{ep.title}
-										</text>
-									</box>
-									<box flexDirection="row" gap={2} paddingLeft={2}>
-										<text fg={index() === lf() ? theme.surface : theme.info}>
-											{formatDate(ep.pubDate)}
-										</text>
-										<text fg={index() === lf() ? theme.surface : muted()}>
-											{formatDuration(ep.duration)}
-										</text>
-										<Show when={nav.isSelected(ep.id)}>
-											<text fg={theme.warning}>●</text>
-										</Show>
-										<Show when={downloadLabel(ep.id)}>
-											<text fg={downloadColor(ep.id)}>
-												{downloadLabel(ep.id)}
-											</text>
-										</Show>
-									</box>
-								</box>
-							);
-						}}
+					{/* Spacers keep the scrollbox content at the FULL list
+					    height so the scrollbar reflects the real list, not the
+					    render window. */}
+					<Show when={listWindow()[0] > 0}>
+						<box height={listWindow()[0] * ROW_HEIGHT} />
+					</Show>
+					<For each={visibleEpisodes()}>
+						{(ep, index) => (
+							<EpisodeRow
+								episode={ep}
+								index={() => listWindow()[0] + index()}
+								focused={focusedEpIdx}
+								active={isActive}
+								selected={() => nav.isSelected(ep.id)}
+								downloadLabel={() => downloadLabel(ep.id)}
+								downloadColor={() => downloadColor(ep.id)}
+								marker={marker}
+								onMouseDown={() => {
+									nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
+									nav.setDepthFocus(listWindow()[0] + index(), 1);
+								}}
+							/>
+						)}
 					</For>
-					<Show when={feedStore.isLoadingMore()}>
-						<box paddingLeft={2} paddingTop={1}>
-							<LoadingIndicator />
-						</box>
+					<Show when={episodes().length - listWindow()[1] > 0}>
+						<box height={(episodes().length - listWindow()[1]) * ROW_HEIGHT} />
+					</Show>
+					<Show when={showFetchMore()}>
+						<FetchMoreRow
+							index={() => episodes().length}
+							focused={focusedRow}
+							onMore={focusedOnMore}
+							active={isActive}
+							isLoadingMore={() => feedStore.isLoadingMore()}
+							nerd={nerd}
+							marker={marker}
+							onMouseDown={() => {
+								nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
+								nav.setDepthFocus(episodes().length, 1);
+							}}
+						/>
 					</Show>
 				</Show>
 			</Show>
@@ -355,76 +712,96 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 	);
 
 	// ── preview pane ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+	const episodeHint = (epId: string) =>
+		`enter: play · d: download${
+			downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(epId) !== DownloadStatus.NONE
+				? " · D: delete"
+				: ""
+		}${
+			app.state().preferences.autoDownloadScope === "whitelist"
+				? (app.state().preferences.autoDownloadWhitelist ?? []).includes(
+						drilledShowId(),
+					)
+					? " · w: un-whitelist"
+					: " · w: whitelist"
+				: ""
+		} · space: select · h: back`;
+
+	const showHint = (show: Feed) =>
+		`enter/l: open · h: back · x: unsubscribe${
+			app.state().preferences.autoDownloadScope === "whitelist"
+				? (app.state().preferences.autoDownloadWhitelist ?? []).includes(show.id)
+					? " · w: un-whitelist"
+					: " · w: whitelist"
+				: ""
+		}`;
+
 	const previewContent = () =>
 		depth() === 0 ? (
-			// depth 0 preview: hovered show
+			// depth 0 preview: hovered unsubscribed-show download, else the
+			// hovered show.
 			<Show
-				when={selectedShow()}
+				when={focusedUnsub()}
 				fallback={
-					<box padding={1}>
-						<text fg={muted()}>No show focused</text>
-					</box>
+					<Show
+						when={selectedShow()}
+						fallback={
+							<box padding={1}>
+								<text fg={muted()}>No show focused</text>
+							</box>
+						}
+					>
+						{(show) => (
+							<ShowPreview
+								show={() => show()}
+								title={() => showTitle(show())}
+								hint={() => showHint(show())}
+							/>
+						)}
+					</Show>
 				}
 			>
-				{(show) => (
-					<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
-						<text fg={theme.textPrimary ?? theme.text}>
-							<strong>{showTitle(show())}</strong>
-						</text>
-						<Show when={show().podcast.author}>
-							<text fg={muted()}>by {show().podcast.author}</text>
-						</Show>
-						<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
-							{show().episodes.length} episodes
-						</text>
-						<text fg={muted()}>
-							{show().podcast.description?.slice(0, 400) ?? "No description."}
-						</text>
-						<box height={1} />
-						<text fg={muted()}>enter/l: open · h: back · x: unsubscribe</text>
-					</box>
+				{(d) => (
+					<UnsubscribedPreview
+						d={() => d()}
+						downloadLabel={() => downloadLabel(d().episodeId)}
+						downloadColor={() => downloadColor(d().episodeId)}
+					/>
 				)}
 			</Show>
 		) : (
-			// depth ≥1 preview: hovered episode
-			<Show
-				when={focusedEpisode()}
-				fallback={
-					<box padding={1}>
-						<text fg={muted()}>No episode focused</text>
-					</box>
-				}
-			>
-				{(ep) => (
-					<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
-						<text fg={theme.textPrimary ?? theme.text}>
-							<strong>
-								{ep().episodeNumber ? `#${ep().episodeNumber} ` : ""}
-								{ep().title}
-							</strong>
-						</text>
-						<box flexDirection="row" gap={2}>
-							<text fg={theme.info}>{formatDate(ep().pubDate)}</text>
-							<text fg={muted()}>{formatDuration(ep().duration)}</text>
-							<Show when={downloadLabel(ep().id)}>
-								<text fg={downloadColor(ep().id)}>
-									{downloadLabel(ep().id)}
-								</text>
-							</Show>
-						</box>
-						<Show when={selectedShow()?.podcast.author}>
-							<text fg={muted()}>by {selectedShow()!.podcast.author}</text>
-						</Show>
-						<box height={1} />
-						<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
-							{ep().description?.slice(0, 400) ?? "No description available."}
-							{(ep().description?.length ?? 0) > 400 ? "…" : ""}
-						</text>
-						<box height={1} />
-						<text fg={muted()}>enter: play · space: select · h: back</text>
-					</box>
-				)}
-			</Show>
+			// depth ≥1 preview: hovered episode (or the Fetch More row)
+			<>
+				<Show when={focusedOnMore()}>
+					<FetchMorePreview
+						isLoadingMore={() => feedStore.isLoadingMore()}
+						fetchMoreMode={fetchMoreMode}
+						manualText={() =>
+							"Load the next batch of older episodes for this show (Enter)."
+						}
+					/>
+				</Show>
+				<Show when={!focusedOnMore()}>
+					<Show
+						when={focusedEpisode()}
+						fallback={
+							<box padding={1}>
+								<text fg={muted()}>No episode focused</text>
+							</box>
+						}
+					>
+						{(ep) => (
+							<EpisodePreview
+								episode={() => ep()}
+								author={() => selectedShow()?.podcast.author}
+								downloadLabel={() => downloadLabel(ep().id)}
+								downloadColor={() => downloadColor(ep().id)}
+								hint={() => episodeHint(ep().id)}
+							/>
+						)}
+					</Show>
+				</Show>
+			</>
 		);
 
 	return (
@@ -432,9 +809,7 @@ export function MyShowsPage() {
 			parent={parentContent}
 			current={currentContent}
 			preview={previewContent}
-			parentLabel={() => (depth() >= 1 ? "Shows" : "Up")}
 			currentLabel={currentLabel}
-			previewLabel="Detail"
 			focused={isActive}
 		/>
 	);

src/pages/Player/PlaybackControls.tsx

@@ -14,70 +14,81 @@ type PlaybackControlsProps = {
 	onSpeedChange: (value: number) => void;
 };
 
-const BACKEND_LABELS: Record<BackendName, string> = {
-	mpv: "mpv",
-	none: "none",
-};
-
 export function PlaybackControls(props: PlaybackControlsProps) {
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
 	return (
 		<box
 			flexDirection="row"
+			flexWrap="wrap"
 			gap={1}
 			alignItems="center"
+			justifyContent="center"
 			border
 			padding={1}
 			borderColor={theme.border}
 		>
-			<box
-				border
-				padding={0}
-				onMouseDown={props.onPrev}
-				borderColor={theme.border}
-			>
-				<text fg={theme.primary}>[Prev]</text>
+			{/* transport buttons — wrap as a unit, centered on their own line */}
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} alignItems="center" flexShrink={0}>
+				<box
+					border
+					padding={0}
+					onMouseDown={props.onPrev}
+					borderColor={theme.border}
+				>
+					<text fg={theme.primary} wrapMode="none">[Prev]</text>
+				</box>
+				<box
+					border
+					padding={0}
+					onMouseDown={props.onToggle}
+					borderColor={theme.border}
+				>
+					<text fg={theme.primary} wrapMode="none">{props.isPlaying ? "[Pause]" : "[Play]"}</text>
+				</box>
+				<box
+					border
+					padding={0}
+					onMouseDown={props.onNext}
+					borderColor={theme.border}
+				>
+					<text fg={theme.primary} wrapMode="none">[Next]</text>
+				</box>
 			</box>
+			{/* status group — always follows the buttons; wrap point is here */}
 			<box
-				border
-				padding={0}
-				onMouseDown={props.onToggle}
-				borderColor={theme.border}
+				flexDirection="row"
+				gap={1}
+				alignItems="center"
+				marginLeft={2}
+				flexShrink={0}
 			>
-				<text fg={theme.primary}>{props.isPlaying ? "[Pause]" : "[Play]"}</text>
-			</box>
-			<box
-				border
-				padding={0}
-				onMouseDown={props.onNext}
-				borderColor={theme.border}
-			>
-				<text fg={theme.primary}>[Next]</text>
-			</box>
-			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} marginLeft={2}>
 				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>Vol</text>
 				<text fg={theme.text}>{Math.round(props.volume * 100)}%</text>
 				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>↑↓</text>
-			</box>
-			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} marginLeft={2}>
-				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>Speed</text>
-				<text fg={theme.text}>{props.speed}x</text>
-				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>s</text>
-			</box>
-			{props.backendName && props.backendName !== "none" && (
 				<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} marginLeft={2}>
-					<text fg={theme.textMuted}>via</text>
-					<text fg={theme.primary}>{BACKEND_LABELS[props.backendName]}</text>
+					<text fg={theme.textMuted}>Speed</text>
+					<text fg={theme.text}>{props.speed}x</text>
+					<text fg={theme.textMuted}>S</text>
 				</box>
-			)}
-			{props.backendName === "none" && (
-				<box marginLeft={2}>
-					<text fg={theme.warning}>No audio player found</text>
-				</box>
-			)}
-			{props.hasAudioUrl === false && (
-				<box marginLeft={2}>
-					<text fg={theme.warning}>No audio URL</text>
+			</box>
+			{/* audio warnings — wrap to their own (3rd) line when the row is tight */}
+			{(props.backendName === "none" || props.hasAudioUrl === false) && (
+				<box
+					flexDirection="row"
+					gap={1}
+					alignItems="center"
+					flexShrink={0}
+				>
+					{props.backendName === "none" && (
+						<box marginLeft={2}>
+							<text fg={theme.warning}>No audio player found</text>
+						</box>
+					)}
+					{props.hasAudioUrl === false && (
+						<box marginLeft={2}>
+							<text fg={theme.warning}>No audio URL</text>
+						</box>
+					)}
 				</box>
 			)}
 		</box>

src/pages/Player/PlayerPage.tsx

@@ -10,10 +10,12 @@
  * tab root.
  */
 
-import { Show } from "solid-js";
+import { Show, onMount, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
 import { PlaybackControls } from "./PlaybackControls";
+import { ProgressBar } from "./ProgressBar";
 import { RealtimeWaveform } from "./RealtimeWaveform";
 import { useAudio } from "@/hooks/useAudio";
+import { useVisualizer } from "@/stores/visualizer";
 import { useAppStore } from "@/stores/app";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import { useNavigation, DEPTH_CENTER_PANE } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
@@ -26,7 +28,19 @@ export function PlayerPage() {
 	const audio = useAudio();
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
 	const nav = useNavigation();
+	const viz = useVisualizer();
+	const app = useAppStore();
 	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
+	// Settings master switch: off hides the waveform entirely (the store
+	// also stops the decode+FFT pipeline, see stores/visualizer.ts).
+	const vizEnabled = () => app.state().settings.visualizer.enabled;
+
+	// The page is mounted exactly while the Player tab is in focus (Shell
+	// renders only the active tab), so mount ⇔ focused. Report it to the
+	// visualizer store: losing focus starts the unload grace timer instead
+	// of killing the pipeline with the page; regaining focus restarts it.
+	onMount(() => viz.setFocused(true));
+	onCleanup(() => viz.setFocused(false));
 
 	const isActive = () => nav.activePane() === DEPTH_CENTER_PANE;
 
@@ -79,18 +93,11 @@ export function PlayerPage() {
 							{ep().description?.slice(0, 500) ?? "No description available."}
 						</text>
 
-						<RealtimeWaveform
-							visualizerConfig={(() => {
-								const viz = useAppStore().state().settings.visualizer;
-								// bars is width-derived in RealtimeWaveform; pass only the
-								// audio-processing params here.
-								return {
-									noiseReduction: viz.noiseReduction,
-									lowCutOff: viz.lowCutOff,
-									highCutOff: viz.highCutOff,
-								};
-							})()}
-						/>
+						<ProgressBar />
+
+						<Show when={vizEnabled()}>
+							<RealtimeWaveform />
+						</Show>
 					</box>
 				)}
 			</Show>
@@ -109,9 +116,13 @@ export function PlayerPage() {
 			/>
 
 			<box height={1} />
-			<text fg={muted()}>
-				{"P play/pause  N next  B prev  ◀▶ seek  h back"}
-			</text>
+			{/* content prop (not a text child): the babel-preset-solid JSX
+			 *  transform HTML-escapes static string children (`<` → `&lt;`),
+			 *  which opentui renders verbatim; content bypasses that. */}
+			<text
+				fg={muted()}
+				content={"P play/pause  N next  B prev  < > seek  h back"}
+			/>
 		</box>
 	);
 
@@ -119,10 +130,10 @@ export function PlayerPage() {
 		<PaneRow
 			parent={parentContent}
 			current={currentContent}
-			parentLabel="Up"
 			currentLabel="Player"
 			panes={2}
 			focused={isActive}
+			currentBorder={["left"]}
 		/>
 	);
 }

src/pages/Player/ProgressBar.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+/**
+ * ProgressBar — one-row, click-to-seek playback progress bar for the
+ * player pane. Played portion renders as full blocks (█) in the theme's
+ * primary color, the remainder as light shade blocks (░) in the muted
+ * color. The header time/percent text lives in PlayerPage — this is only
+ * the bar itself.
+ */
+
+import { useTerminalDimensions } from "@opentui/solid";
+import type { Renderable } from "@opentui/core";
+import { useAudio } from "@/hooks/useAudio";
+import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
+
+// ── Component ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export function ProgressBar() {
+	const audio = useAudio();
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const dimensions = useTerminalDimensions();
+
+	// The bar's renderable, captured for its absolute left edge: MouseEvent.x
+	// is terminal-absolute (not bar-relative), so local x needs the offset
+	// of the bar inside the 2-pane row (parent pane ≈ 20% of the width).
+	let bar: Renderable | undefined;
+
+	// Full content width of the player pane: the player is a 2-pane row
+	// (parent 1/5 + current 4/5 of the terminal width). Subtract ~8 chars
+	// of border/padding chrome (same math as RealtimeWaveform's numBars).
+	const width = () => Math.max(8, Math.floor((dimensions().width * 4) / 5) - 8);
+
+	const clamp01 = (value: number) => Math.max(0, Math.min(1, value));
+
+	const playedChars = () => {
+		const duration = audio.duration();
+		if (duration <= 0) return 0;
+		return Math.round(clamp01(audio.position() / duration) * width());
+	};
+
+	const remainingColor = theme.muted || theme.text;
+
+	return (
+		<box
+			border
+			borderColor={theme.border}
+			padding={0}
+			flexDirection="row"
+			gap={0}
+			// The bar's block-char texts are non-selectable below: a drag
+			// over the bar is a seek gesture, not a text selection — otherwise
+			// mouse-up would copy █/░ to the clipboard via the global
+			// selection handler.
+			ref={(el) => {
+				bar = el;
+			}}
+			onMouseDown={(e: { x: number }) => {
+				const duration = audio.duration();
+				if (duration <= 0 || !bar) return;
+				// localX = 0 is the box border; content starts at localX = 1.
+				const localX = e.x - bar.x;
+				const ratio = Math.max(0, Math.min(1, (localX - 1) / width()));
+				void audio.seek(ratio * duration);
+			}}
+		>
+			{playedChars() > 0 && (
+				<text fg={theme.primary} selectable={false}>
+					{"\u2588".repeat(playedChars())}
+				</text>
+			)}
+			<text fg={remainingColor} selectable={false}>
+				{"\u2591".repeat(width() - playedChars())}
+			</text>
+		</box>
+	);
+}

src/pages/Player/RealtimeWaveform.tsx

@@ -1,62 +1,30 @@
 /**
- * RealtimeWaveform — live audio frequency visualization using cavacore.
+ * RealtimeWaveform — renders the shared visualizer pipeline state.
  *
- * Spawns an independent ffmpeg
- * process to decode the audio stream, feeds PCM samples through cavacore
- * for FFT analysis, and renders frequency bars as colored terminal
- * characters at ~30fps.
+ * The pipeline (ffmpeg decode + cavacore FFT) lives in the module-level
+ * visualizer store (`@/stores/visualizer`), not in this component, so it
+ * survives PlayerPage unmounts: leaving the Player tab keeps the waveform
+ * warm for VISUALIZER_UNLOAD_DELAY_MS, then the store tears it down.
+ *
+ * This component only subscribes to store state, reports the width-derived
+ * bar count (terminal resize re-inits the running pipeline), and renders:
+ * a braille spinner while the pipeline is loading its first frames, the
+ * frequency bars once frames arrive, and a dotted placeholder when idle.
  */
 
-import { createSignal, createEffect, onCleanup, on, untrack } from "solid-js";
+import { createEffect, on } from "solid-js";
 import { useTerminalDimensions } from "@opentui/solid";
-import {
-	loadCavaCore,
-	type CavaCore,
-	type CavaCoreConfig,
-} from "@/utils/cavacore";
-import { AudioStreamReader } from "@/utils/audio-stream-reader";
-import { useAudio } from "@/hooks/useAudio";
+import { useVisualizer } from "@/stores/visualizer";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
+import { LoadingIndicator } from "@/components/LoadingIndicator";
+import { BAR_LEVELS, barChars } from "@/utils/bar-mapping";
 import { PANE_RATIO } from "@/utils/navigation";
 
-// ── Types ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
-export type RealtimeWaveformProps = {
-	visualizerConfig?: Partial<CavaCoreConfig>;
-};
-
-/** Unicode lower block elements: space (silence) through full block (max) */
-const BARS = [
-	" ",
-	"\u2581",
-	"\u2582",
-	"\u2583",
-	"\u2584",
-	"\u2585",
-	"\u2586",
-	"\u2587",
-	"\u2588",
-];
-
-/** Target frame interval in ms (~30 fps) */
-const FRAME_INTERVAL = 33;
-
-/** Number of PCM samples to read per frame (512 is a good FFT window) */
-const SAMPLES_PER_FRAME = 512;
-
 // ── Component ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-export function RealtimeWaveform(props: RealtimeWaveformProps) {
+export function RealtimeWaveform() {
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
-	const audio = useAudio();
-
-	// Frequency bar values (0.0–1.0 per bar)
-	const [barData, setBarData] = createSignal<number[]>([]);
-
-	let cava: CavaCore | null = null;
-	let reader: AudioStreamReader | null = null;
-	let frameTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
-	let sampleBuffer: Float64Array | null = null;
+	const viz = useVisualizer();
 
 	// Bar count scales with terminal width so the waveform fills its pane.
 	// The player is a 2-pane row: current column = (current+preview) of
@@ -75,197 +43,49 @@ export function RealtimeWaveform(props: RealtimeWaveformProps) {
 		);
 	};
 
-	// ── Lifecycle: init cavacore once ──────────────────────────────────
-
-	const initCava = () => {
-		if (cava) return true;
-
-		cava = loadCavaCore();
-		if (!cava) {
-			return false;
-		}
-
-		return true;
-	};
-
-	// ── Start/stop the visualization pipeline ──────────────────────────
-
-	const startVisualization = (url: string, position: number, speed: number) => {
-		stopVisualization();
-
-		if (!url || !initCava() || !cava) return;
-
-		// Initialize cavacore with current resolution + any overrides.
-		// bars is width-derived (see numBars); visualizerConfig supplies the
-		// audio-processing params (noise reduction, cutoffs, etc.).
-		const config: CavaCoreConfig = {
-			bars: numBars(),
-			sampleRate: 44100,
-			channels: 1,
-			...props.visualizerConfig,
-		};
-		cava.init(config);
-
-		// Pre-allocate sample read buffer
-		sampleBuffer = new Float64Array(SAMPLES_PER_FRAME);
-
-		// Start ffmpeg decode stream (reuse reader if same URL, else create new)
-		if (!reader || reader.url !== url) {
-			if (reader) reader.stop();
-			reader = new AudioStreamReader({ url });
-		}
-		reader.start(position, speed);
-
-		frameTimer = setInterval(renderFrame, FRAME_INTERVAL);
-	};
-
-	const stopVisualization = () => {
-		if (frameTimer) {
-			clearInterval(frameTimer);
-			frameTimer = null;
-		}
-		if (reader) {
-			reader.stop();
-			// Don't null reader — we reuse it across start/stop cycles
-		}
-		if (cava?.isReady) {
-			cava.destroy();
-		}
-		sampleBuffer = null;
-	};
-
-	// ── Render loop (called at ~30fps) ─────────────────────────────────
-
-	const renderFrame = () => {
-		if (!cava?.isReady || !reader?.running || !sampleBuffer) return;
-
-		const count = reader.read(sampleBuffer);
-		if (count === 0) return;
-
-		const input =
-			count < sampleBuffer.length
-				? sampleBuffer.subarray(0, count)
-				: sampleBuffer;
-		const output = cava.execute(input);
-
-		// Copy bar values to a new array for the signal
-		setBarData(Array.from(output as Float64Array));
-	};
-
-	createEffect(
-		on(
-			[
-				audio.isPlaying,
-				() => audio.currentEpisode()?.audioUrl ?? "",
-				audio.speed,
-				numBars,
-			],
-			([playing, url, speed]) => {
-				if (playing && url) {
-					const pos = untrack(audio.position);
-					startVisualization(url, pos, speed);
-				} else {
-					stopVisualization();
-				}
-			},
-		),
-	);
-
-	// ── Seek detection: lightweight effect for position jumps ──────────
-	//
-	// Watches position and restarts the reader (not the whole pipeline)
-	// only on significant jumps (>2s), which indicate a user seek.
-	// This is intentionally a separate effect — it should NOT trigger a
-	// full pipeline restart, just restart the ffmpeg stream at the new pos.
-
-	let lastSyncPosition = 0;
-	createEffect(
-		on(audio.position, (pos) => {
-			if (!audio.isPlaying || !reader?.running) {
-				lastSyncPosition = pos;
-				return;
-			}
-
-			const delta = Math.abs(pos - lastSyncPosition);
-			lastSyncPosition = pos;
-
-			if (delta > 2) {
-				reader.restart(pos, audio.speed() ?? 1);
-			}
-		}),
-	);
-
-	onCleanup(() => {
-		stopVisualization();
-		if (reader) {
-			reader.stop();
-			reader = null;
-		}
-		// Don't null cava itself — it can be reused. But do destroy its plan.
-		if (cava?.isReady) {
-			cava.destroy();
-		}
-	});
+	// Keep the store's bar count in sync with the terminal width; the store
+	// re-inits the running pipeline when it changes (terminal resize).
+	createEffect(on(numBars, (n) => viz.setBarCount(n)));
 
 	// ── Rendering ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-	const playedRatio = () =>
-		audio.duration() <= 0
-			? 0
-			: Math.min(1, audio.position() / audio.duration());
-
 	const renderLine = () => {
-		const bars = barData();
+		const bars = viz.barData();
 		const count = numBars();
 
+		// Loading state: the braille spinner shows while the pipeline warms
+		// up — but only when there are no bars to render yet (first play /
+		// after an unload). On resume/seek the last bars stay on screen
+		// until fresh frames arrive, so the waveform never blanks out for
+		// the (multi-second, network-bound) cold start.
+		if (bars.length === 0 && viz.isLoading()) {
+			return <LoadingIndicator />;
+		}
+
 		if (bars.length === 0) {
 			const placeholder = ".".repeat(count);
 			return (
-				<box flexDirection="row" gap={0}>
-					<text fg="#3b4252">{placeholder}</text>
+				<box flexDirection="column" gap={0}>
+					<text fg={theme.primary}>{placeholder}</text>
+					<text fg={theme.primary}>{placeholder}</text>
 				</box>
 			);
 		}
 
-		const played = Math.floor(count * playedRatio());
-		const playedColor = audio.isPlaying() ? "#6fa8ff" : "#7d8590";
-		const futureColor = "#3b4252";
-
-		const playedChars = bars
-			.slice(0, played)
-			.map((v) => BARS[Math.min(BARS.length - 1, Math.floor(v * BARS.length))])
-			.join("");
-
-		const futureChars = bars
-			.slice(played)
-			.map((v) => BARS[Math.min(BARS.length - 1, Math.floor(v * BARS.length))])
-			.join("");
+		const pairs = bars.map((v) => barChars(Math.floor(v * BAR_LEVELS)));
+		const top = pairs.map((pair) => pair.top).join("");
+		const bottom = pairs.map((pair) => pair.bottom).join("");
 
 		return (
-			<box flexDirection="row" gap={0}>
-				<text fg={playedColor}>{playedChars || " "}</text>
-				<text fg={futureColor}>{futureChars || " "}</text>
+			<box flexDirection="column" gap={0}>
+				<text fg={theme.primary}>{top}</text>
+				<text fg={theme.primary}>{bottom}</text>
 			</box>
 		);
 	};
 
-	const handleClick = (event: { x: number }) => {
-		const count = numBars();
-		const ratio = event.x / count;
-		const next = Math.max(
-			0,
-			Math.min(audio.duration(), Math.round(audio.duration() * ratio)),
-		);
-		audio.seek(next);
-	};
-
 	return (
-		<box
-			border
-			borderColor={theme.border}
-			padding={1}
-			onMouseDown={handleClick}
-		>
+		<box border borderColor={theme.border} padding={1}>
 			{renderLine()}
 		</box>
 	);

src/pages/Search/SearchPage.tsx

@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@
  *                       query (muted, read-only); preview shows the detail of
  *                       the focused result.
  *
+ * Search scope: `tab` (search-scope-toggle) flips between shows and episodes
+ * (clickable pills on the query depth too); toggling while viewing results
+ * re-runs the current query in the new scope.
+ *
  * Typed input owns its keys while `nav.inputFocused()` is true (the Shell
  * router yields). Escape defocuses the input (handled in Shell) so j/k/h
  * navigation resumes; `s` (the `search` action) refocuses it. Enter on the
@@ -26,6 +30,11 @@ import {
 } from "solid-js";
 import { useSearchStore } from "@/stores/search";
 import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
+import { useDownloadStore } from "@/stores/download";
+import { useAudio } from "@/hooks/useAudio";
+import { useAudioNavStore, AudioSource } from "@/stores/audio-nav";
+import { DownloadStatus } from "@/types/episode";
+import { useToast } from "@/ui/toast";
 import { format } from "date-fns";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import {
@@ -37,20 +46,28 @@ import {
 } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
 import { on, off } from "@/utils/event-bus";
 import type { KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
-import type { SearchResult } from "@/types/source";
+import type { SearchResult, SearchScope } from "@/types/source";
 import { PaneRow } from "@/components/PaneRow";
 import { TabListPane } from "@/components/TabPanel";
+import { LoadingIndicator } from "@/components/LoadingIndicator";
 import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
+import { useInputFocusNav } from "@/hooks/useInputFocusNav";
 
 export const SearchPaneCount = 1;
 
 function SearchPage() {
 	const searchStore = useSearchStore();
 	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+	const downloadStore = useDownloadStore();
+	const audio = useAudio();
+	const audioNav = useAudioNavStore();
+	const toast = useToast();
 	const [inputValue, setInputValue] = createSignal("");
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
 	const muted = () => theme.muted || theme.text;
 	const nav = useNavigation();
+	const marker = useSelectionMarker();
 
 	const stack = nav.depthStack;
 	const depth = nav.currentDepth;
@@ -60,25 +77,21 @@ function SearchPage() {
 	const submittedQuery = (): string => stack()[1]?.ctx ?? searchStore.query();
 
 	// ── input focusing ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-	// `inputFocused` is true while the query input is being typed in. The Shell
-	// router yields keys to the <input> while this is true; Escape (in Shell)
-	// sets it false so navigation resumes; `s` (search action) sets it true.
-	//
-	// Typing is the default only on the query depth (0); the results depth
-	// (1) is always list-navigation. Drive `inputFocused` straight off
-	// `depth()` rather than seeding it `true` on mount and patching on change:
-	// the depth stack persists across tab switches, so re-mounting this page
-	// at depth 1 (e.g. after searching, leaving, and returning to the tab)
-	// must NOT leave `inputFocused` stuck on — otherwise the Shell swallows
-	// j/k (yielding to a non-existent input) and only the scrollbox's native
-	// scroll responds.
-	//
-	// The effect only re-runs on a depth transition, so Escape (defocus) and
-	// `s` (refocus) at the same depth are not clobbered.
+	// `inputFocused` tells the Shell router to yield keys to the query input.
+	// The input's REAL focus is the source of truth: useInputFocusNav flips
+	// the flag from the input's FOCUSED/BLURRED events, so clicking off the
+	// input drops it and the router resumes j/k/h — no stuck "typing" state.
+	// The depth stack only SEEDS it on transitions (re-entering depth 0
+	// focuses the input; mounting at depth 1 stays list-nav), gated on the
+	// depth VALUE via a memo because setDepthFocus also writes the stack
+	// signal — without the memo every j/k at query depth re-focuses the input
+	// and strands the recents list.
 	onMount(() => nav.setInputFocused(depth() === 0));
 	onCleanup(() => nav.setInputFocused(false));
+	const focusNavRef = useInputFocusNav();
+	const isQueryDepth = createMemo(() => depth() === 0);
 	createEffect(() => {
-		nav.setInputFocused(depth() === 0);
+		nav.setInputFocused(isQueryDepth());
 	});
 
 	// ── results (depth 1) ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -104,12 +117,44 @@ function SearchPage() {
 	// Register a visual-mode resolver for the results list (depth 1).
 	onMount(() => {
 		const key = `${nav.activeTab()}:${DEPTH_CENTER_PANE}`;
-		nav.registerResolver(key, (i) => results()[i]?.podcast.id);
+		nav.registerResolver(key, (i) => {
+			const r = results()[i];
+			return r?.kind === "episode" ? r.episode.id : r?.podcast.id;
+		});
 	});
 
 	// ── helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	const formatDate = (d: Date) => format(d, "MMM d, yyyy");
 
+	const downloadLabel = (id: string) => {
+		switch (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id)) {
+			case DownloadStatus.QUEUED:
+				return "[Q]";
+			case DownloadStatus.DOWNLOADING:
+				return `[${downloadStore.getDownloadProgress(id)}%]`;
+			case DownloadStatus.COMPLETED:
+				return "[DL]";
+			case DownloadStatus.FAILED:
+				return "[ERR]";
+			default:
+				return "";
+		}
+	};
+	const downloadColor = (id: string) => {
+		switch (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id)) {
+			case DownloadStatus.QUEUED:
+				return theme.warning;
+			case DownloadStatus.DOWNLOADING:
+				return theme.primary;
+			case DownloadStatus.COMPLETED:
+				return theme.success;
+			case DownloadStatus.FAILED:
+				return theme.error;
+			default:
+				return muted();
+		}
+	};
+
 	const runSearch = (query: string) => {
 		const q = query.trim();
 		if (!q) return;
@@ -129,10 +174,89 @@ function SearchPage() {
 		runSearch(query);
 	};
 
-	const handleSubscribe = (result: SearchResult) => {
-		// Actually add the feed to the feed store, then mark the result subscribed
-		feedStore.addFeed(result.podcast, result.sourceId).catch(() => {});
-		searchStore.markSubscribed(result.podcast.id);
+	/** Set show/episode scope; when viewing results, re-run the current query
+	 *  so the list switches immediately (the toggle is otherwise invisible on
+	 *  a list of results). */
+	const applyScope = (next: SearchScope) => {
+		searchStore.setScope(next);
+		if (depth() >= 1) {
+			const q = submittedQuery() || inputValue().trim();
+			if (q) searchStore.search(q).catch(() => {});
+		}
+	};
+	const toggleScope = () =>
+		applyScope(searchStore.scope() === "podcast" ? "episode" : "podcast");
+
+	const handleSubscribe = async (result: SearchResult) => {
+		// Actually add the feed to the feed store, then mark the result
+		// subscribed. addFeed returns null when a feedless directory stub
+		// (delisted show) can't be resolved — tell the user why.
+		const feed = await feedStore
+			.addFeed(result.podcast, result.sourceId)
+			.catch(() => null);
+		if (!feed && !result.podcast.feedUrl) {
+			toast.show({
+				title: "Can't subscribe",
+				message:
+					"No RSS feed is listed for this show and the feed couldn't be resolved. Try adding it by feed URL.",
+				variant: "error",
+			});
+			return;
+		}
+		if (feed) searchStore.markSubscribed(result.podcast.id);
+	};
+
+	/** The subscribed feed backing a search result, if any (matched by
+	 *  directory id or feed URL). */
+	const feedForResult = (r: SearchResult) =>
+		feedStore.feeds().find(
+			(f) =>
+				f.podcast.id === r.podcast.id ||
+				(!!r.podcast.feedUrl && f.podcast.feedUrl === r.podcast.feedUrl),
+		);
+
+	/** Download the focused episode: under its subscribed feed when the show
+	 *  is subscribed, otherwise as an "unsubscribed show" download (listed
+	 *  under Unsubscribed Show Downloads in My Shows / the download manager). */
+	const downloadFocusedEpisode = () => {
+		if (depth() !== 1) return;
+		const r = focusedResult();
+		if (!r || r.kind !== "episode") return;
+		const feed = feedForResult(r);
+		if (feed) downloadStore.startDownload(r.episode, feed.id);
+		else downloadStore.startUnsubscribedDownload(r.episode, r.podcast);
+	};
+
+	const playFocusedEpisode = () => {
+		if (depth() !== 1) return;
+		const r = focusedResult();
+		if (!r || r.kind !== "episode") return;
+		audio.play(r.episode).catch(() => {});
+		audioNav.setSource(AudioSource.SEARCH, r.podcast.id);
+	};
+
+	const unsubscribeFocused = () => {
+		if (depth() !== 1) return;
+		const r = focusedResult();
+		if (!r || !r.podcast.isSubscribed) return;
+		const feed = feedForResult(r);
+		if (feed) {
+			feedStore.removeFeed(feed.id);
+			downloadStore
+				.removeDownloadsForFeed(feed.id, feed.podcast.feedUrl || undefined)
+				.catch(() => {});
+			searchStore.markUnsubscribed(r.podcast.id, r.podcast.feedUrl);
+		}
+	};
+
+	/** Subscribe the focused result's show in place (episode or podcast
+	 *  result). `enter` plays episodes regardless of subscription, so an
+	 *  unsubscribed show's episode needs this explicit path. */
+	const subscribeFocused = () => {
+		if (depth() !== 1) return;
+		const r = focusedResult();
+		if (!r || r.podcast.isSubscribed) return;
+		handleSubscribe(r);
 	};
 
 	// ── nav.action handler ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -149,13 +273,29 @@ function SearchPage() {
 		"toggle-select": () => {
 			if (depth() === 1) {
 				const r = focusedResult();
-				if (r) nav.toggleSelected(r.podcast.id);
+				if (r)
+					nav.toggleSelected(
+						r.kind === "episode" ? r.episode.id : r.podcast.id,
+					);
 			}
 		},
+		download: () => downloadFocusedEpisode(),
+		"delete-download": () => {
+			if (depth() !== 1) return;
+			const r = focusedResult();
+			if (!r || r.kind !== "episode") return;
+			const id = r.episode.id;
+			if (downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(id) === DownloadStatus.NONE) return;
+			downloadStore.cancelDownload(id);
+			downloadStore.removeDownload(id).catch(() => {});
+		},
+		unsubscribe: () => unsubscribeFocused(),
+		subscribe: () => subscribeFocused(),
 		search: () => {
 			// `s` refocuses the query input (typing mode) when on the query depth.
 			if (depth() === 0) nav.setInputFocused(true);
 		},
+		"search-scope-toggle": () => toggleScope(),
 		refresh: () => {
 			const q = submittedQuery() || inputValue().trim();
 			if (q) searchStore.search(q).catch(() => {});
@@ -176,7 +316,15 @@ function SearchPage() {
 		}
 		if (depth() === 1) {
 			const r = focusedResult();
-			if (r) handleSubscribe(r);
+			if (!r) return;
+			if (r.kind === "episode") {
+				// Any episode result streams directly — subscribed or not
+				// (matches Feed/My Shows). `a` subscribes an unsubscribed
+				// show's episode in place.
+				playFocusedEpisode();
+				return;
+			}
+			handleSubscribe(r);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -212,15 +360,28 @@ function SearchPage() {
 				: theme.text;
 
 	// ── parent pane: previous-depth content (tab list at depth 0) ──────────────
+	// Sibling <Show> blocks per depth (the known-good opentui disposal
+	// pattern, mirrors Settings): a STABLE fragment root whose inner <Show>
+	// children toggle on depth change, so the old subtree is disposed instead
+	// of left orphaned next to the new one (single <Show with fallback> and
+	// ternary root swaps both leak the previous root).
 	const parentContent = () => (
-		<Show when={depth() >= 1} fallback={<TabListPane muted />}>
-			<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
-				<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>Query</text>
-				<text fg={muted()}>{submittedQuery() || "(empty)"}</text>
-				<box height={1} />
-				<text fg={muted()}>h: back to query</text>
-			</box>
-		</Show>
+		<>
+			<Show when={depth() === 0}>
+				<TabListPane muted />
+			</Show>
+			<Show when={depth() >= 1}>
+				<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
+					<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>Query</text>
+					<text fg={muted()}>{submittedQuery() || "(empty)"}</text>
+					<box height={1} />
+					<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
+						Scope · {searchStore.scope() === "episode" ? "episodes" : "shows"}
+					</text>
+					<text fg={muted()}>h: back to query</text>
+				</box>
+			</Show>
+		</>
 	);
 
 	// ── current pane ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -232,16 +393,80 @@ function SearchPage() {
 					<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} alignItems="center">
 						<text fg={muted()}>Query:</text>
 						<input
+							ref={focusNavRef}
 							value={inputValue()}
 							onInput={setInputValue}
 							onSubmit={() => handleSubmit()}
-							placeholder="Enter podcast name..."
+							onMouseDown={(evt) => {
+								// Clicking the input must focus it (typing mode).
+								// preventDefault stops opentui's click auto-focus from
+								// grabbing the pane scrollbox instead; setting the flag
+								// drives the `focused` prop → renderable focus → the
+								// useInputFocusNav FOCUSED handler.
+								evt.preventDefault();
+								nav.setInputFocused(true);
+							}}
+							onKeyDown={(evt) => {
+								// While the input owns keys the Shell router never sees
+								// Tab, so the scope toggle must be handled here (the
+								// pills and the tab keybind cover the defocused cases).
+								if (evt.name === "tab") {
+									evt.preventDefault();
+									toggleScope();
+								}
+							}}
+							placeholder={
+								searchStore.scope() === "episode"
+									? "Enter episode, guest, topic..."
+									: "Enter podcast name..."
+							}
 							focused={inputActive()}
 							width={28}
+							textColor={theme.text}
+							focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+							cursorColor={theme.accent}
 						/>
 					</box>
+					<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} alignItems="center">
+						<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>Scope:</text>
+						<box
+							backgroundColor={
+								searchStore.scope() === "podcast" ? theme.primary : undefined
+							}
+							onMouseDown={() => applyScope("podcast")}
+						>
+							<text
+								fg={
+									searchStore.scope() === "podcast"
+										? theme.surface
+										: muted()
+								}
+							>
+								{" "}
+								Shows{" "}
+							</text>
+						</box>
+						<box
+							backgroundColor={
+								searchStore.scope() === "episode" ? theme.primary : undefined
+							}
+							onMouseDown={() => applyScope("episode")}
+						>
+							<text
+								fg={
+									searchStore.scope() === "episode"
+										? theme.surface
+										: muted()
+								}
+							>
+								{" "}
+								Episodes{" "}
+							</text>
+						</box>
+						<text fg={muted()}>tab to toggle</text>
+					</box>
 					<Show when={searchStore.isSearching()}>
-						<text fg={theme.warning}>Searching...</text>
+						<LoadingIndicator label="Searching…" />
 					</Show>
 					<Show when={searchStore.error()}>
 						<text fg={theme.error}>{searchStore.error()}</text>
@@ -262,23 +487,47 @@ function SearchPage() {
 							{(query, index) => {
 								const lf = () => focus(0);
 								const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === lf());
+								// While the input is focused (typing), the list is not
+								// in focus: no bg, no accent fg, no `❯` on any entry.
+								const typing = () => inputActive();
 								return (
 									<box
 										ref={ref}
 										flexDirection="row"
 										gap={1}
-										paddingLeft={1}
 										paddingRight={1}
-										backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), lf(), isActive())}
+										backgroundColor={
+											typing()
+												? undefined
+												: focusBg(index(), lf(), isActive())
+										}
 										onMouseDown={() => {
 											nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
 											nav.setDepthFocus(index(), 0);
+											// A recent is an action, not an item: clicking
+											// it re-runs that search (focus-only would be
+											// invisible — the input still owns the keys).
+											selectRecent(query);
 										}}
 									>
-										<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>
-											{index() === lf() ? "❯" : " "}
+										<text
+											fg={
+												typing()
+													? theme.text
+													: focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())
+											}
+										>
+											{index() === lf() && !typing() ? marker() : " "}
+										</text>
+										<text
+											fg={
+												typing()
+													? theme.text
+													: focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())
+											}
+										>
+											{query}
 										</text>
-										<text fg={focusFg(index(), lf(), isActive())}>{query}</text>
 									</box>
 								);
 							}}
@@ -288,7 +537,7 @@ function SearchPage() {
 					<text fg={muted()}>
 						{inputActive()
 							? "Enter to search · Esc to defocus"
-							: "j/k recents · s to type · h back"}
+							: "j/k recents · s to type · tab scope · h back"}
 					</text>
 				</box>
 			</Show>
@@ -298,11 +547,20 @@ function SearchPage() {
 					when={results().length > 0}
 					fallback={
 						<box padding={1}>
-							<text fg={muted()}>
-								{searchStore.query()
-									? "No results found"
-									: "Enter a search term to find podcasts"}
-							</text>
+							<Show
+								when={searchStore.isSearching()}
+								fallback={
+									<text fg={muted()}>
+										{searchStore.query()
+											? "No results found"
+											: searchStore.scope() === "episode"
+												? "Enter a search term to find episodes"
+												: "Enter a search term to find podcasts"}
+									</text>
+								}
+							>
+								<LoadingIndicator label="Searching…" />
+							</Show>
 						</box>
 					}
 				>
@@ -310,12 +568,18 @@ function SearchPage() {
 						{(result, index) => {
 							const fi = () => focusedResultIdx();
 							const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => index() === fi());
+							// Episode download status badge ("" when absent).
+							const dlLabel = () =>
+								result.kind === "episode"
+									? downloadLabel(result.episode.id)
+									: "";
+							const dlEpId = () =>
+								result.kind === "episode" ? result.episode.id : "";
 							return (
 								<box
 									ref={ref}
 									flexDirection="column"
 									gap={0}
-									paddingLeft={1}
 									paddingRight={1}
 									backgroundColor={focusBg(index(), fi(), isActive())}
 									onMouseDown={() => {
@@ -325,11 +589,18 @@ function SearchPage() {
 								>
 									<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
 										<text fg={focusFg(index(), fi(), isActive())}>
-											{index() === fi() ? "❯" : " "}
+											{index() === fi() ? marker() : " "}
 										</text>
 										<text fg={focusFg(index(), fi(), isActive())}>
-											{result.podcast.title}
+											{result.kind === "episode"
+												? result.episode.title
+												: result.podcast.title}
 										</text>
+										<Show when={dlLabel()}>
+											<text fg={downloadColor(dlEpId())}>
+												{dlLabel()}
+											</text>
+										</Show>
 										<Show when={result.podcast.isSubscribed}>
 											<text
 												fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : theme.success}
@@ -338,14 +609,24 @@ function SearchPage() {
 											</text>
 										</Show>
 									</box>
-									<Show when={result.podcast.author}>
+									{result.kind === "episode" ? (
 										<text
 											fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : muted()}
 											paddingLeft={2}
 										>
-											by {result.podcast.author}
+											{result.podcast.title} ·{" "}
+											{formatDate(result.episode.pubDate)}
 										</text>
-									</Show>
+									) : (
+										<Show when={result.podcast.author}>
+											<text
+												fg={index() === fi() ? theme.surface : muted()}
+												paddingLeft={2}
+											>
+												by {result.podcast.author}
+											</text>
+										</Show>
+									)}
 								</box>
 							);
 						}}
@@ -363,6 +644,10 @@ function SearchPage() {
 					<strong>Search</strong>
 				</text>
 				<text fg={muted()}>Type a query, press Enter to search.</text>
+				<text fg={muted()}>
+					Tab toggles Shows ↔ Episodes (episode search finds guests
+					and topics).
+				</text>
 				<text fg={muted()}>Esc defocuses the input; h goes back.</text>
 				<box height={1} />
 				<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>Recent · {recents().length}</text>
@@ -379,61 +664,138 @@ function SearchPage() {
 					</box>
 				}
 			>
-				{(result) => (
-					<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
-						<text fg={theme.text}>
-							<strong>{result().podcast.title}</strong>
-						</text>
-						<Show when={result().podcast.author}>
-							<text fg={muted()}>by {result().podcast.author}</text>
-						</Show>
-						<Show when={result().podcast.description}>
-							<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
-								{result().podcast.description!.slice(0, 400)}
-								{(result().podcast.description?.length ?? 0) > 400 ? "…" : ""}
-							</text>
-						</Show>
-						<Show when={(result().podcast.categories ?? []).length > 0}>
-							<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
-								<For each={(result().podcast.categories ?? []).slice(0, 4)}>
-									{(cat) => <text fg={theme.warning}>[{cat}]</text>}
-								</For>
+				{(result) => {
+					const r = result();
+					if (r.kind === "episode") {
+						return (
+							<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
+								<text fg={theme.text}>
+									<strong>{r.episode.title}</strong>
+								</text>
+								<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>{r.podcast.title}</text>
+								<Show when={r.podcast.author}>
+									<text fg={muted()}>by {r.podcast.author}</text>
+								</Show>
+								<Show when={r.episode.description}>
+									<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
+										{r.episode.description!.slice(0, 400)}
+										{(r.episode.description?.length ?? 0) > 400 ? "…" : ""}
+									</text>
+								</Show>
+								<box flexDirection="row" gap={2}>
+									<text fg={muted()}>
+										Published: {formatDate(r.episode.pubDate)}
+									</text>
+									<Show when={downloadLabel(r.episode.id)}>
+										<text fg={downloadColor(r.episode.id)}>
+											{downloadLabel(r.episode.id)}
+										</text>
+									</Show>
+								</box>
+								<Show when={(r.podcast.categories ?? []).length > 0}>
+									<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
+										<For each={(r.podcast.categories ?? []).slice(0, 4)}>
+											{(cat) => <text fg={theme.warning}>[{cat}]</text>}
+										</For>
+									</box>
+								</Show>
+								<Show when={r.sourceName}>
+									<text fg={muted()}>Source: {r.sourceName}</text>
+								</Show>
+								<box height={1} />
+								<Show when={!r.podcast.isSubscribed}>
+									<text fg={theme.primary}>[+] Subscribe (a)</text>
+								</Show>
+								<Show when={r.podcast.isSubscribed}>
+									<text fg={theme.success}>
+										Subscribed · x: unsubscribe
+									</text>
+								</Show>
+								<box height={1} />
+								<Show
+									when={r.podcast.isSubscribed}
+									fallback={
+										<text fg={muted()}>
+											enter: play · a: subscribe · d: download · h: back to query
+										</text>
+									}
+								>
+									<text fg={muted()}>
+										enter: play · d: download · x: unsubscribe
+										{downloadStore.getDownloadStatus(r.episode.id) !==
+										DownloadStatus.NONE
+											? " · D: delete"
+											: ""}{" "}
+										· h: back to query
+									</text>
+								</Show>
 							</box>
-						</Show>
-						<text fg={muted()}>Feed: {result().podcast.feedUrl}</text>
-						<text fg={muted()}>
-							Updated: {formatDate(result().podcast.lastUpdated)}
-						</text>
-						<Show when={result().sourceName}>
-							<text fg={muted()}>Source: {result().sourceName}</text>
-						</Show>
-						<box height={1} />
-						<Show when={!result().podcast.isSubscribed}>
-							<text fg={theme.primary}>[+] Subscribe (enter)</text>
-						</Show>
-						<Show when={result().podcast.isSubscribed}>
-							<text fg={theme.success}>Already subscribed</text>
-						</Show>
-						<box height={1} />
-						<text fg={muted()}>enter: subscribe · h: back to query</text>
-					</box>
-				)}
+						);
+					}
+					return (
+						<box flexDirection="column" gap={1} padding={1}>
+							<text fg={theme.text}>
+								<strong>{r.podcast.title}</strong>
+							</text>
+							<Show when={r.podcast.author}>
+								<text fg={muted()}>by {r.podcast.author}</text>
+							</Show>
+							<Show when={r.podcast.description}>
+								<text fg={theme.textSecondary}>
+									{r.podcast.description!.slice(0, 400)}
+									{(r.podcast.description?.length ?? 0) > 400 ? "…" : ""}
+								</text>
+							</Show>
+							<Show when={(r.podcast.categories ?? []).length > 0}>
+								<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
+									<For each={(r.podcast.categories ?? []).slice(0, 4)}>
+										{(cat) => <text fg={theme.warning}>[{cat}]</text>}
+									</For>
+								</box>
+							</Show>
+							<text fg={muted()}>
+								Feed:{" "}
+								{r.podcast.feedUrl ||
+									"not listed by source — resolves on subscribe"}
+							</text>
+							<text fg={muted()}>
+								Updated: {formatDate(r.podcast.lastUpdated)}
+							</text>
+							<Show when={r.sourceName}>
+								<text fg={muted()}>Source: {r.sourceName}</text>
+							</Show>
+							<box height={1} />
+							<Show when={!r.podcast.isSubscribed}>
+								<text fg={theme.primary}>[+] Subscribe (enter)</text>
+							</Show>
+							<Show when={r.podcast.isSubscribed}>
+								<text fg={theme.success}>
+									Subscribed · x: unsubscribe
+								</text>
+							</Show>
+							<box height={1} />
+							<text fg={muted()}>
+								enter: subscribe
+								{r.podcast.isSubscribed ? " · x: unsubscribe" : ""}{" "}
+								· h: back to query
+							</text>
+						</box>
+					);
+				}}
 			</Show>
 		);
 
 	const currentLabel = () =>
 		depth() === 0
 			? `Search · ${recents().length} recent`
-			: `Results · ${results().length}`;
+			: `Results (${searchStore.scope() === "episode" ? "episodes" : "shows"}) · ${results().length}`;
 
 	return (
 		<PaneRow
 			parent={parentContent}
 			current={currentContent}
 			preview={previewContent}
-			parentLabel={() => (depth() >= 1 ? "Query" : "Up")}
 			currentLabel={currentLabel}
-			previewLabel="Detail"
 			focused={isActive}
 		/>
 	);

src/pages/Settings/DownloadManager.tsx

@@ -1,14 +1,19 @@
 /**
  * DownloadManager — exposes downloads as SettingItems for the depth-stack.
  *
- *   • "Delete All Downloads"   — action item; Enter wipes every download.
- *   • one item per show        — action item; Enter deletes all that show's
- *                               downloads (file + metadata, aborts in-flight).
- *   • one item per episode     — action item; Enter deletes a single download.
+ *   • "Delete All Downloads"      — action item; Enter wipes every download.
+ *   • one item per subscribed show — action item; Enter deletes all that
+ *                                   show's downloads (file + metadata, aborts
+ *                                   in-flight).
+ *   • "Unsubscribed Show Downloads" — downloads made from episode search for
+ *                                   shows that aren't subscribed, grouped
+ *                                   under their own header.
+ *   • one item per episode        — action item; Enter deletes a single download.
  *
  * Titles resolve from the feed store at render time (reactive), falling back
- * to the episode id when the feed is no longer loaded. Movement flows through
- * nav.action — no own useKeyboard (matches the other panels).
+ * to the persisted episode/show titles for unsubscribed-show downloads.
+ * Movement flows through nav.action — no own useKeyboard (matches the other
+ * panels).
  */
 
 import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
@@ -40,23 +45,26 @@ function statusLabel(s: DownloadStatus): string {
 	}
 }
 
-/** Episode title for a download, resolved from the feed store (reactive). */
+/** Episode title for a download, resolved from the feed store (reactive);
+ *  falls back to the persisted title (kept for unsubscribed-show downloads). */
 function episodeTitle(
 	feedStore: ReturnType<typeof useFeedStore>,
 	d: DownloadedEpisode,
 ): string {
 	const feed = feedStore.getFeed(d.feedId);
 	const ep = feed?.episodes.find((e) => e.id === d.episodeId);
-	return ep?.title ?? d.episodeId;
+	return ep?.title ?? d.episodeTitle ?? d.episodeId;
 }
 
-/** Show title for a download's feed id. */
+/** Show title for a download's feed id; falls back to the persisted show
+ *  title (unsubscribed-show downloads have no feed to resolve from). */
 function feedTitle(
 	feedStore: ReturnType<typeof useFeedStore>,
-	feedId: string,
+	d: DownloadedEpisode,
 ): string {
-	const feed = feedStore.getFeed(feedId);
-	return feed ? feed.customName || feed.podcast.title : feedId;
+	const feed = feedStore.getFeed(d.feedId);
+	if (feed) return feed.customName || feed.podcast.title;
+	return d.podcastTitle ?? d.feedId;
 }
 
 export function useDownloadItems(): SettingItem[] {
@@ -82,9 +90,15 @@ export function useDownloadItems(): SettingItem[] {
 		},
 	];
 
-	// Group downloads by feed so each show gets a delete-by-show item.
+	// Group downloads by feed so each subscribed show gets a delete-by-show
+	// item. Unsubscribed-show downloads (search downloads, synthetic feed
+	// ids) are kept out of these groups and listed under their own section
+	// below.
+	const unsubscribed = downloadStore.getUnsubscribedDownloads();
+	const unsubscribedIds = new Set(unsubscribed.map((d) => d.episodeId));
 	const byFeed = new Map<string, DownloadedEpisode[]>();
 	for (const d of downloads()) {
+		if (unsubscribedIds.has(d.episodeId)) continue;
 		const arr = byFeed.get(d.feedId) ?? [];
 		arr.push(d);
 		byFeed.set(d.feedId, arr);
@@ -93,25 +107,54 @@ export function useDownloadItems(): SettingItem[] {
 		const size = eps.reduce((s, e) => s + e.fileSize, 0);
 		items.push({
 			id: `feed:${feedId}`,
-			label: `Show: ${feedTitle(feedStore, feedId)}`,
+			label: `Show: ${feedTitle(feedStore, eps[0])}`,
 			kind: "action",
 			display: () => `${eps.length} · ${fmtBytes(size)}`,
 			help: () =>
 				`Delete all ${eps.length} downloads for this show (files + metadata,\naborts any in-flight transfers). Enter to run.`,
 			run: () => {
-				downloadStore.removeDownloadsForFeed(feedId).catch(() => {});
+				downloadStore
+					.removeDownloadsForFeed(feedId, eps[0].podcastFeedUrl)
+					.catch(() => {});
 			},
 		});
 	}
 
-	// One item per individual episode download.
+	// Unsubscribed-show downloads: a section header + one item per episode.
+	if (unsubscribed.length > 0) {
+		items.push({
+			id: "unsubscribed-header",
+			label: "Unsubscribed Show Downloads",
+			kind: "info",
+			display: () => `${unsubscribed.length} files`,
+			help: () =>
+				`Downloads made from episode search for shows that are not\nsubscribed. Subscribe to a show and these move into its group.`,
+		});
+	}
+	for (const d of unsubscribed) {
+		items.push({
+			id: `unsub:${d.episodeId}`,
+			label: episodeTitle(feedStore, d),
+			kind: "action",
+			display: () =>
+				`${feedTitle(feedStore, d)} · ${statusLabel(d.status)} · ${fmtBytes(d.fileSize)}`,
+			help: () =>
+				`Delete this single download (file + metadata). Enter to run.`,
+			run: () => {
+				downloadStore.removeDownload(d.episodeId).catch(() => {});
+			},
+		});
+	}
+
+	// One item per individual (subscribed-show) episode download.
 	for (const d of downloads()) {
+		if (unsubscribedIds.has(d.episodeId)) continue;
 		items.push({
 			id: `ep:${d.episodeId}`,
 			label: episodeTitle(feedStore, d),
 			kind: "action",
 			display: () =>
-				`${feedTitle(feedStore, d.feedId)} · ${statusLabel(d.status)} · ${fmtBytes(d.fileSize)}`,
+				`${feedTitle(feedStore, d)} · ${statusLabel(d.status)} · ${fmtBytes(d.fileSize)}`,
 			help: () =>
 				`Delete this single download (file + metadata). Enter to run.`,
 			run: () => {

src/pages/Settings/ExportDialog.tsx

@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ export function ExportDialog() {
 					value={filename[0]()}
 					onInput={filename[1]}
 					style={{ width: 30 }}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+					cursorColor={theme.accent}
 				/>
 			</box>
 			<box style={{ flexDirection: "row", gap: 1 }}>

src/pages/Settings/FilePicker.tsx

@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ export function FilePicker(props: FilePickerProps) {
 				onInput={props.onChange}
 				placeholder="/path/to/sync-file.json"
 				style={{ width: 40 }}
+				textColor={theme.text}
+				focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+				cursorColor={theme.accent}
 			/>
 			<text fg={theme.text}>Format: {format}</text>
 		</box>

src/pages/Settings/PreferencesPanel.tsx

@@ -2,10 +2,38 @@
  * PreferencesPanel — exposes theme/font/speed/explicit/auto-download as
  * SettingItems for the yazi depth-stack. No own useKeyboard; all movement is
  * driven by the Shell router via nav.action.
+ *
+ * Auto-download (global setting, see stores/feed.ts runAutoDownload):
+ *   • Auto Download Whitelist — shown only when scope is "whitelist": search
+ *                            field over subscribed shows; suggestions toggle
+ *                            in/out with Space (j/k to move, Esc to browse).
+ *   • Episode Cache Mode   — date or count bound for the episode list
+ *                            (default: date)
+ *   • Episode Cache Count  — N most recent episodes when mode is count
+ *                            (default: 25)
+ *   • Episode Cache Days   — rolling N-day window when mode is date
+ *                            (default: 60)
  */
 
+import { createSignal, Show, For, onMount, onCleanup } from "solid-js";
+import { RenderableEvents, type InputRenderable } from "@opentui/core";
 import { useAppStore } from "@/stores/app";
-import type { ThemeName } from "@/types/settings";
+import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
+import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
+import { useInputFocusNav } from "@/hooks/useInputFocusNav";
+import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
+import {
+	NavMode,
+	useNavigation,
+	DEPTH_CENTER_PANE,
+	type PaneId,
+} from "@/context/NavigationContext";
+import { on } from "@/utils/event-bus";
+import type { KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
+import { TABS } from "@/utils/navigation";
+import type { AutoDownloadScope, EpisodeCacheMode, ThemeName } from "@/types/settings";
+import type { Feed } from "@/types/feed";
 import type { SettingItem } from "./types";
 
 const THEME_LABELS: Array<{ value: ThemeName; label: string }> = [
@@ -17,13 +45,32 @@ const THEME_LABELS: Array<{ value: ThemeName; label: string }> = [
 	{ value: "custom", label: "Custom" },
 ];
 
+const SCOPE_LABELS: Array<{ value: AutoDownloadScope; label: string }> = [
+	{ value: "all", label: "All" },
+	{ value: "none", label: "None" },
+	{ value: "whitelist", label: "Whitelist" },
+];
+const CACHE_MODE_LABELS: Array<{ value: EpisodeCacheMode; label: string }> = [
+	{ value: "date", label: "Date" },
+	{ value: "count", label: "Count" },
+];
+
+function cacheModeLabel(mode: EpisodeCacheMode): string {
+	return CACHE_MODE_LABELS.find((s) => s.value === mode)?.label ?? mode;
+}
+
+function scopeLabel(scope: AutoDownloadScope): string {
+	return SCOPE_LABELS.find((s) => s.value === scope)?.label ?? scope;
+}
+
 export function usePreferencesItems(): SettingItem[] {
 	const app = useAppStore();
+	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
 
 	const settings = () => app.state().settings;
 	const prefs = () => app.state().preferences;
 
-	return [
+	const items: SettingItem[] = [
 		{
 			id: "theme",
 			label: "Theme",
@@ -52,6 +99,18 @@ export function usePreferencesItems(): SettingItem[] {
 					transparentBackground: !settings().transparentBackground,
 				}),
 		},
+		{
+			id: "showSelectionMarker",
+			label: "Selection Marker",
+			kind: "toggle",
+			display: () => (settings().showSelectionMarker ? "On" : "Off"),
+			help: () =>
+				`Show the ❯ marker on the focused row of every list (tabs, shows, episodes, results).\nType: toggle\nDefault: off\nCurrent: ${settings().showSelectionMarker ? "On" : "Off"}\nSpace/Enter to toggle.`,
+			toggle: () =>
+				app.updateSettings({
+					showSelectionMarker: !settings().showSelectionMarker,
+				}),
+		},
 		{
 			id: "fontSize",
 			label: "Font Size",
@@ -97,11 +156,52 @@ export function usePreferencesItems(): SettingItem[] {
 			kind: "toggle",
 			display: () => (prefs().autoDownload ? "On" : "Off"),
 			help: () =>
-				`Download new episodes automatically.\nType: toggle\nDefault: false\nCurrent: ${prefs().autoDownload}\nSpace/Enter to toggle.`,
-			toggle: () =>
-				app.updatePreferences({
-					autoDownload: !prefs().autoDownload,
-				}),
+				`Download the ${prefs().autoDownloadCount} most recent episodes of your shows automatically (see Count/Scope below).\nType: toggle\nDefault: false\nCurrent: ${prefs().autoDownload ? "On" : "Off"}\nSpace/Enter to toggle.`,
+			toggle: () => {
+				app.updatePreferences({ autoDownload: !prefs().autoDownload });
+				feedStore.runAutoDownload();
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			id: "autoDownloadCount",
+			label: "Auto Download Count",
+			kind: "number",
+			display: () => `${prefs().autoDownloadCount} per show`,
+			help: () =>
+				`How many of the most recent episodes to auto-download per in-scope show.\nType: number (any positive integer)\nDefault: 2\nCurrent: ${prefs().autoDownloadCount}\nj/k to −/+1 · Enter to type a value.`,
+			cycle: (dir) => {
+				const next = Math.max(1, prefs().autoDownloadCount + dir);
+				app.updatePreferences({ autoDownloadCount: next });
+				feedStore.runAutoDownload();
+			},
+			renderEditor: () => (
+				<NumberInputEditor
+					label="Auto Download Count"
+					value={() => prefs().autoDownloadCount}
+					commit={(n) => {
+						app.updatePreferences({ autoDownloadCount: n });
+						feedStore.runAutoDownload();
+					}}
+				/>
+			),
+		},
+		{
+			id: "autoDownloadScope",
+			label: "Auto Download Scope",
+			kind: "select",
+			display: () => scopeLabel(prefs().autoDownloadScope),
+			help: () =>
+				`Which shows auto-download applies to.\nAll: every subscribed show.\nNone: nothing.\nWhitelist: only the shows you add (in My Shows press ${"w"} on the focused show; or open the Whitelist item below).\nType: select\nDefault: all\nCurrent: ${scopeLabel(prefs().autoDownloadScope)}\nCycle with j/k; Enter to apply.`,
+			cycle: (dir) => {
+				const idx = SCOPE_LABELS.findIndex(
+					(s) => s.value === prefs().autoDownloadScope,
+				);
+				const next =
+					SCOPE_LABELS[(idx + dir + SCOPE_LABELS.length) % SCOPE_LABELS.length]
+						.value;
+				app.updatePreferences({ autoDownloadScope: next });
+				feedStore.runAutoDownload();
+			},
 		},
 		{
 			id: "autoJumpToPlayer",
@@ -115,5 +215,371 @@ export function usePreferencesItems(): SettingItem[] {
 					autoJumpToPlayer: !prefs().autoJumpToPlayer,
 				}),
 		},
+		{
+			id: "episodeCacheMode",
+			label: "Episode Cache Mode",
+			kind: "select",
+			display: () => cacheModeLabel(prefs().episodeCacheMode),
+			help: () =>
+				`How the Feed and My Shows episode lists are bounded.\nDate: keep episodes from the last N days (see Cache Days below); Fetch More reveals the next 2 weeks per press.\nCount: the Feed list is the N most-recent episodes across ALL shows (not N per show); Fetch More reveals N more of the newest episodes each press — deep history only appears once you page to it.\nFetch More always pages beyond this bound — these episodes are volatile and don't persist.\nType: select\nDefault: date\nCurrent: ${cacheModeLabel(prefs().episodeCacheMode)}\nCycle with j/k; Enter to apply.`,
+			cycle: (dir) => {
+				const idx = CACHE_MODE_LABELS.findIndex(
+					(s) => s.value === prefs().episodeCacheMode,
+				);
+				const next =
+					CACHE_MODE_LABELS[
+						(idx + dir + CACHE_MODE_LABELS.length) % CACHE_MODE_LABELS.length
+					].value;
+				app.updatePreferences({ episodeCacheMode: next });
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			id: "episodeCacheCount",
+			label: "Episode Cache Count",
+			kind: "number",
+			display: () =>
+				prefs().episodeCacheMode === "count"
+					? `${prefs().episodeCacheCount} eps`
+					: "(date mode)",
+			help: () =>
+				`Number of most-recent episodes to keep in the Feed/My Shows lists when mode is Count.\nType: number (any positive integer)\nDefault: 25\nCurrent: ${prefs().episodeCacheCount}\nj/k to −/+1 · Enter to type a value.`,
+			cycle: (dir) => {
+				const next = Math.max(1, prefs().episodeCacheCount + dir);
+				app.updatePreferences({ episodeCacheCount: next });
+			},
+			renderEditor: () => (
+				<NumberInputEditor
+					label="Episode Cache Count"
+					value={() => prefs().episodeCacheCount}
+					commit={(n) => {
+						app.updatePreferences({
+							episodeCacheCount: Math.max(1, n),
+						});
+					}}
+				/>
+			),
+		},
+		{
+			id: "episodeCacheDays",
+			label: "Episode Cache Days",
+			kind: "number",
+			display: () =>
+				prefs().episodeCacheMode === "date"
+					? `${prefs().episodeCacheDays} days`
+					: "(count mode)",
+			help: () =>
+				`Rolling window in days for the Feed/My Shows episode lists when mode is Date.\nType: number (1–365)\nDefault: 60\nCurrent: ${prefs().episodeCacheDays} days\nj/k to −/+5 · Enter to type a value.`,
+			cycle: (dir) => {
+				const next = Math.min(
+					365,
+					Math.max(1, prefs().episodeCacheDays + dir * 5),
+				);
+				app.updatePreferences({ episodeCacheDays: next });
+			},
+			renderEditor: () => (
+				<NumberInputEditor
+					label="Episode Cache Days"
+					value={() => prefs().episodeCacheDays}
+					commit={(n) => {
+						app.updatePreferences({
+							episodeCacheDays: Math.min(365, Math.max(1, n)),
+						});
+					}}
+				/>
+			),
+		},
+		{
+			id: "fetchMore",
+			label: "Fetch More",
+			kind: "select",
+			display: () => (prefs().fetchMoreMode === "auto" ? "Auto" : "Manual"),
+			help: () =>
+				`How the Feed and per-show episode lists load older episodes.\nManual: a "[Fetch More]" button at the bottom of the list.\nAuto: fetches automatically when reaching the bottom.\nType: select\nDefault: auto\nCurrent: ${prefs().fetchMoreMode === "auto" ? "Auto" : "Manual"}\nCycle with j/k; Enter to apply.`,
+			cycle: (dir) => {
+				const modes: Array<"manual" | "auto"> = ["manual", "auto"];
+				const idx = modes.indexOf(prefs().fetchMoreMode ?? "auto");
+				const next = modes[(idx + dir + modes.length) % modes.length];
+				app.updatePreferences({ fetchMoreMode: next });
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			id: "refreshInterval",
+			label: "Feed Refresh Interval",
+			kind: "number",
+			display: () => `${prefs().refreshIntervalMinutes} min`,
+			help: () =>
+				`How often subscribed feeds are re-fetched in the background, so new episodes appear without a restart or manual refresh (r).\nType: number (1–120 minutes)\nDefault: 30\nCurrent: ${prefs().refreshIntervalMinutes} min\nj/k to −/+5 · Enter to type a value.`,
+			cycle: (dir) => {
+				const next = Math.min(
+					120,
+					Math.max(1, prefs().refreshIntervalMinutes + dir * 5),
+				);
+				app.updatePreferences({ refreshIntervalMinutes: next });
+			},
+			renderEditor: () => (
+				<NumberInputEditor
+					label="Feed Refresh Interval (minutes)"
+					value={() => prefs().refreshIntervalMinutes}
+					commit={(n) => {
+						app.updatePreferences({
+							refreshIntervalMinutes: Math.min(120, n),
+						});
+					}}
+				/>
+			),
+		},
 	];
+
+	// Whitelist management only appears while scope is set to "whitelist".
+	if (prefs().autoDownloadScope === "whitelist") {
+		items.push({
+			id: "autoDownloadWhitelist",
+			label: "Auto Download Whitelist",
+			kind: "editor",
+			display: () => `${prefs().autoDownloadWhitelist.length} shows`,
+			help: () =>
+				`Shows included in auto-download (scope: whitelist).\nSearch your subscribed shows; suggestions toggle in/out with Space.\nType: editor\nCurrent: ${prefs().autoDownloadWhitelist.length} shows`,
+			renderEditor: () => <WhitelistEditor />,
+		});
+	}
+
+	return items;
+}
+
+// ── Number editor ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Lets the user type any positive integer (Enter commits; Esc defocuses and
+// j/k ±1 cycling takes over — SettingsPage's depth-2 step handler).
+
+function NumberInputEditor(props: {
+	label: string;
+	value: () => number;
+	commit: (n: number) => void;
+}) {
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const ref = useInputFocusNav();
+	const [draft, setDraft] = createSignal(String(props.value()));
+	const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
+
+	const submit = () => {
+		const n = Number(draft().trim());
+		if (!Number.isInteger(n) || n < 1) {
+			setError("Enter a whole number ≥ 1");
+			return;
+		}
+		props.commit(n);
+		setError(null);
+	};
+
+	return (
+		<box flexDirection="column" padding={1} gap={1}>
+			<text fg={theme.text}>
+				<strong>{props.label}</strong>
+			</text>
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} alignItems="center">
+				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>Episodes per show:</text>
+				<input
+					ref={ref}
+					value={draft()}
+					onInput={(v) => {
+						setDraft(v);
+						setError(null);
+					}}
+					onSubmit={submit}
+					focused
+					width={8}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+				/>
+			</box>
+			<Show when={error()}>
+				<text fg={theme.error}>{error()}</text>
+			</Show>
+			<text fg={theme.muted ?? theme.textMuted}>
+				Type a number, Enter to apply · Esc to browse (j/k ±1) · h back
+			</text>
+		</box>
+	);
+}
+
+// ── Whitelist editor ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Search field over subscribed shows + a navigable suggestion list. Space
+// (toggle-select) toggles the focused show in/out of the whitelist; Enter
+// does the same. While the input is focused, keys type; Esc (handled in the
+// Shell) defocuses so j/k move the list.
+//
+// Transient UI state lives at module level so preference updates (which
+// rebuild the item list) never reset the search or yank focus back into the
+// input mid-browse.
+//
+// The nav.action listener is registered ONCE at module level, not per
+// component instance: toggling a show updates preferences, which remounts
+// the editor (SettingsPage re-resolves the item's renderEditor), and
+// re-registering the listener via onMount/onCleanup during a bus emit
+// mutates the handler set mid-iteration — the event bus then re-delivers to
+// the fresh listener forever. A single stable listener guarded by an active
+// flag sidesteps that entirely.
+
+const [wlQuery, setWlQuery] = createSignal("");
+const [wlCursor, setWlCursor] = createSignal(0);
+const [wlTyping, setWlTyping] = createSignal(true);
+let wlEditorActive = false;
+// Indirection for refocusing the search input from the module-level nav.action
+// listener (which cannot call useNavigation — that needs the provider).
+let wlFocusInput: (() => void) | null = null;
+
+function wlSuggestions(): Feed[] {
+	const q = wlQuery().trim().toLowerCase();
+	const all = useFeedStore().getFilteredFeeds();
+	if (!q) return all;
+	return all.filter((f) =>
+		(f.customName || f.podcast.title).toLowerCase().includes(q),
+	);
+}
+
+/** Keep the cursor inside the (possibly shrinking) suggestion list. */
+function wlCursorClamped(): number {
+	return Math.min(wlCursor(), Math.max(wlSuggestions().length - 1, 0));
+}
+
+function wlToggle(feedId: string): void {
+	const app = useAppStore();
+	const cur = app.state().preferences.autoDownloadWhitelist ?? [];
+	const next = cur.includes(feedId)
+		? cur.filter((id) => id !== feedId)
+		: [...cur, feedId];
+	app.updatePreferences({ autoDownloadWhitelist: next });
+	useFeedStore().runAutoDownload();
+}
+
+const wlOnAction = (data: {
+	action: KeybindActionName;
+	tab: TABS;
+	pane: PaneId;
+	mode: NavMode;
+}) => {
+	// Fire at most once per dispatch: the editor is only ever open inside the
+	// Settings tab's depth-2 pane, so scope on tab + pane and gate on the
+	// mount flag (which flips during remounts without re-registering).
+	if (!wlEditorActive) return;
+	if (data.tab !== TABS.SETTINGS) return;
+	if (data.pane !== DEPTH_CENTER_PANE) return;
+	const list = wlSuggestions();
+	if (list.length === 0) return;
+	switch (data.action) {
+		case "move-down":
+			setWlCursor((c) => Math.min(c + 1, list.length - 1));
+			break;
+		case "move-up":
+			setWlCursor((c) => Math.max(c - 1, 0));
+			break;
+		case "toggle-select":
+		case "open":
+			wlToggle(list[wlCursorClamped()].id);
+			break;
+		case "search":
+			// `s` while browsing re-enters typing mode (mirrors SearchPage).
+			wlFocusInput?.();
+			break;
+	}
+};
+on("nav.action", wlOnAction);
+
+function WhitelistEditor() {
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const nav = useNavigation();
+	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+	const app = useAppStore();
+
+	const whitelist = () => app.state().preferences.autoDownloadWhitelist ?? [];
+	const inList = (feedId: string) => whitelist().includes(feedId);
+
+	onMount(() => {
+		wlEditorActive = true;
+		// Restore the last typing/browsing mode across the remounts that
+		// preference updates trigger. nav.inputFocused() drives the input's
+		// focused prop (deterministic Esc-to-blur, same as SearchPage), so
+		// keep the store in sync with the persisted module mode.
+		nav.setInputFocused(wlTyping());
+		wlFocusInput = () => nav.setInputFocused(true);
+		onCleanup(() => {
+			wlEditorActive = false;
+			nav.setInputFocused(false);
+			wlFocusInput = null;
+		});
+	});
+
+	const focusNavRef = useInputFocusNav();
+	const inputRef = (el: InputRenderable | null | undefined) => {
+		focusNavRef(el);
+		if (el) {
+			// Sync the persisted mode with real focus changes so remounts
+			// (e.g. after a toggle) restore the right state.
+			el.on(RenderableEvents.FOCUSED, () => setWlTyping(true));
+			el.on(RenderableEvents.BLURRED, () => setWlTyping(false));
+		}
+	};
+
+	return (
+		<box flexDirection="column" padding={1} gap={1}>
+			<text fg={theme.text}>
+				<strong>Auto Download Whitelist</strong>
+			</text>
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1} alignItems="center">
+				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>Search:</text>
+				<input
+					ref={inputRef}
+					value={wlQuery()}
+					onInput={setWlQuery}
+					focused={nav.inputFocused()}
+					placeholder="Type to filter shows…"
+					width={30}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+				/>
+			</box>
+			<Show when={wlSuggestions().length === 0}>
+				<text fg={theme.muted ?? theme.textMuted}>
+					No subscribed shows match.
+				</text>
+			</Show>
+			<For each={wlSuggestions()}>
+				{(feed, index) => {
+					// While the input is focused (typing), no row shows the
+					// accent highlight or `❯` — only the input is "in focus".
+					const focused = () =>
+						!nav.inputFocused() && index() === wlCursorClamped();
+					const ref = useScrollIntoView(focused);
+					const marker = useSelectionMarker();
+					const bg = () => (focused() ? theme.primary : undefined);
+					const fg = () => (focused() ? theme.surface : theme.text);
+					return (
+						<box
+							ref={ref}
+							flexDirection="row"
+							gap={1}
+							paddingRight={1}
+							backgroundColor={bg()}
+							onMouseDown={() => {
+								nav.setActivePane(DEPTH_CENTER_PANE);
+								setWlCursor(index());
+								// Click toggles membership directly (works even
+								// while typing, where Space is input text).
+								wlToggle(feed.id);
+							}}
+						>
+							<text fg={fg()}>{focused() ? marker() : " "}</text>
+							<text fg={fg()}>{inList(feed.id) ? "●" : "○"}</text>
+							<text fg={fg()}>
+								{feed.customName || feed.podcast.title}
+							</text>
+						</box>
+					);
+				}}
+			</For>
+			<text fg={theme.muted ?? theme.textMuted}>
+				Type to search · Esc to browse · j/k move · Space toggles · s to
+				type · h back
+			</text>
+		</box>
+	);
 }

src/pages/Settings/SettingsPage.tsx

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
 	type PaneId,
 } from "@/context/NavigationContext";
 import { on, off } from "@/utils/event-bus";
+import { NF_ICONS, supportsNerdFonts } from "@/utils/nerd-fonts";
 import type { KeybindActionName } from "@/context/KeybindContext";
 import type { SettingItem, SettingsSectionDef } from "./types";
 import { usePreferencesItems } from "./PreferencesPanel";
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ import { useDownloadItems } from "./DownloadManager";
 import { PaneRow } from "@/components/PaneRow";
 import { TabListPane } from "@/components/TabPanel";
 import { useScrollIntoView } from "@/hooks/useScrollIntoView";
+import { useSelectionMarker } from "@/hooks/useSelectionMarker";
 
 export const SettingsPaneCount = 1;
 
@@ -45,29 +47,38 @@ const SECTIONS: SettingsSectionDef[] = [
 		id: 0,
 		label: "Sync",
 		description: "Import/export subscriptions and sync status.",
+		icon: NF_ICONS.sync,
 	},
 	{
 		id: 1,
 		label: "Sources",
 		description: "Podcast search/RSS sources — add, enable, remove.",
+		icon: NF_ICONS.sources,
 	},
 	{
 		id: 2,
 		label: "Preferences",
 		description: "Theme, font, playback speed, explicit/auto-download.",
+		icon: NF_ICONS.preferences,
 	},
 	{
 		id: 3,
 		label: "Visualizer",
-		description: "Audio visualizer: bars, sensitivity, cutoffs.",
+		description: "Audio visualizer: on/off, bars, sensitivity, cutoffs.",
+		icon: NF_ICONS.visualizer,
 	},
 	{
 		id: 4,
 		label: "Downloads",
 		description: "Manage downloaded episodes — delete by show or individually.",
+		icon: NF_ICONS.downloads,
 	},
 ];
 
+// Static: detection never changes mid-session. Module-level because the Row
+// component below (a sibling module function) needs it too.
+const nerd = supportsNerdFonts();
+
 /** Resolve the items for a section id at render time. */
 function sectionItems(sectionId: number): SettingItem[] {
 	switch (sectionId) {
@@ -129,7 +140,6 @@ export function SettingsPage() {
 	function open() {
 		const d = depth();
 		if (d === 0) {
-			// drill into the focused section's items
 			const id = focusedSection().id;
 			nav.pushDepth({
 				kind: `settings:${id}`,
@@ -195,7 +205,6 @@ export function SettingsPage() {
 	function step(delta: number) {
 		const d = depth();
 		if (d === 2) {
-			// editor: j/k nudges the value
 			const it = editorItem();
 			if (it?.kind === "number" || it?.kind === "select")
 				it.cycle?.(delta as -1 | 1);
@@ -209,7 +218,6 @@ export function SettingsPage() {
 		pane: PaneId;
 		mode: NavMode;
 	}) => {
-		// ignore actions meant for non-center panes
 		if (data.pane !== DEPTH_CENTER_PANE) return;
 		if (nav.activePane() !== DEPTH_CENTER_PANE) return;
 		const handler = PAGE_ACTIONS[data.action];
@@ -267,12 +275,6 @@ export function SettingsPage() {
 		if (d === 1) return sectionForDepth1()?.label ?? "Items";
 		return editorItem()?.label ?? "Editor";
 	};
-	const parentLabel = () => {
-		const d = depth();
-		if (d === 1) return "Sections";
-		if (d === 2) return sectionForDepth1()?.label ?? "";
-		return "Up";
-	};
 
 	// ── parent pane: previous-depth list (blank at depth 0) ────────────────
 	// Sibling <Show> blocks per depth (mirrors the preview pane) so Solid
@@ -292,6 +294,7 @@ export function SettingsPage() {
 					{(section, index) => (
 						<Row
 							label={section.label}
+							icon={section.icon}
 							focused={index() === focusedSectionIdx()}
 							active={false}
 						/>
@@ -321,6 +324,7 @@ export function SettingsPage() {
 					{(section, index) => (
 						<Row
 							label={section.label}
+							icon={section.icon}
 							focused={index() === focusedSectionIdx()}
 							active={isActive()}
 							onMouseDown={() => {
@@ -384,9 +388,7 @@ export function SettingsPage() {
 			parent={parentContent}
 			current={currentContent}
 			preview={previewContent}
-			parentLabel={parentLabel}
 			currentLabel={currentLabel}
-			previewLabel="Detail"
 			focused={isActive}
 		/>
 	);
@@ -415,6 +417,7 @@ function Row(props: {
 	focused: boolean;
 	active: boolean;
 	hint?: string;
+	icon?: string;
 	onMouseDown?: () => void;
 }) {
 	const { theme } = useTheme();
@@ -431,17 +434,18 @@ function Row(props: {
 				? theme.selectedListItemText ?? theme.text
 				: theme.text;
 	const ref = useScrollIntoView(() => props.focused);
+	const marker = useSelectionMarker();
 	return (
 		<box
 			ref={ref}
 			flexDirection="row"
 			gap={1}
-			paddingLeft={1}
 			paddingRight={1}
 			backgroundColor={bg()}
 			onMouseDown={props.onMouseDown}
 		>
-			<text fg={fg()}>{props.focused ? "❯" : " "}</text>
+			<text fg={fg()}>{props.focused ? marker() : " "}</text>
+			{props.icon && nerd && <text fg={fg()}>{props.icon}</text>}
 			<text fg={fg()}>{props.label}</text>
 			<Show when={props.value}>
 				<box flexGrow={1} />

src/pages/Settings/SourceManager.tsx

@@ -11,16 +11,24 @@
  * right-pane key conflicts).
  */
 
-import { createSignal, For, Show } from "solid-js";
+import { createSignal, For, Show, onMount } from "solid-js";
+import { Renderable } from "@opentui/core";
 import { useFeedStore } from "@/stores/feed";
 import { useTheme } from "@/context/ThemeContext";
 import { useInputFocusNav } from "@/hooks/useInputFocusNav";
+import { useDialog } from "@/ui/dialog";
+import { useToast } from "@/ui/toast";
+import {
+  resolveSourceCredentials,
+  savePodcastIndexCredentials,
+} from "@/utils/source-credentials";
 import { SourceType } from "@/types/source";
 import type { PodcastSource } from "@/types/source";
 import type { SettingItem } from "./types";
 
 export function useSourceItems(): SettingItem[] {
 	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+	const dialog = useDialog();
 
 	const typeBadge = (s: PodcastSource) =>
 		s.type === SourceType.API
@@ -48,8 +56,20 @@ export function useSourceItems(): SettingItem[] {
 			kind: "toggle",
 			display: () => `${typeBadge(s)} ${s.enabled ? "on" : "off"}`,
 			help: () =>
-				`Source: ${s.name}\nType: ${s.type}\nEnabled: ${s.enabled}\nURL: ${s.baseUrl ?? "(none)"}\nSpace/Enter to toggle.`,
-			toggle: () => feedStore.toggleSource(s.id),
+				s.id === "podcastindex"
+					? `Source: ${s.name} (open podcast directory)\nEnabled: ${s.enabled}\nSpace to ${s.enabled ? "disable" : "enable"}: enabling asks for API keys.\nKeys are masked in the UI and stored in the macOS keychain\n(encrypted at rest), falling back to config.json when the\nkeychain is unavailable; they are kept when disabled.`
+					: `Source: ${s.name}\nType: ${s.type}\nEnabled: ${s.enabled}\nURL: ${s.baseUrl ?? "(none)"}\nSpace/Enter to toggle.`,
+			toggle: () => {
+				// Enabling Podcast Index requires credentials: ask first
+				// (prefilled with the stored key, masked) instead of flipping
+				// the source into a key-less "on" state. Disabling never
+				// clears the stored credentials.
+				if (s.id === "podcastindex" && !s.enabled) {
+					dialog.push(() => <PodcastIndexCredentialsDialog />);
+					return;
+				}
+				feedStore.toggleSource(s.id);
+			},
 		});
 	}
 
@@ -103,6 +123,9 @@ function AddSourceForm() {
 					onInput={setName}
 					placeholder="My Custom Feed"
 					width={25}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+					cursorColor={theme.accent}
 				/>
 			</box>
 			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
@@ -116,6 +139,9 @@ function AddSourceForm() {
 					}}
 					placeholder="https://example.com/feed.rss"
 					width={35}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+					cursorColor={theme.accent}
 				/>
 			</box>
 			<box
@@ -145,3 +171,152 @@ function AddSourceForm() {
 		</box>
 	);
 }
+
+/** Mask a stored credential for prefill: first 3 chars then "...". */
+const maskCredential = (value: string): string => `${value.slice(0, 3)}...`;
+
+/** Credentials popup shown when enabling the Podcast Index source. Prefilled
+ *  (masked) with stored credentials so re-enabling just needs Enter; leaving
+ *  a masked field untouched keeps the stored value. Credentials are saved to
+ *  the macOS keychain (encrypted at rest) with a plaintext config.json
+ *  fallback when the keychain is unavailable. */
+function PodcastIndexCredentialsDialog() {
+	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+	const { theme } = useTheme();
+	const dialog = useDialog();
+	const toast = useToast();
+	const source = feedStore.sources().find((s) => s.id === "podcastindex");
+	const [key, setKey] = createSignal("");
+	const [secret, setSecret] = createSignal("");
+	const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
+	const [saving, setSaving] = createSignal(false);
+	// Yield navigation keybinds to the Shell router while an input is focused.
+	const keyRef = useInputFocusNav();
+	const secretRef = useInputFocusNav();
+	let keyEl: Renderable | null | undefined;
+	let secretEl: Renderable | null | undefined;
+
+	onMount(() => {
+		// Prefill stored credentials (masked) when re-enabling after a
+		// disable — toggling off never clears them. Masked either way, so a
+		// plaintext-stored key never appears in full in the UI.
+		if (source) {
+			resolveSourceCredentials(source)
+				.then((stored) => {
+					if (stored?.apiKey) setKey(maskCredential(stored.apiKey));
+					if (stored?.apiSecret) setSecret(maskCredential(stored.apiSecret));
+				})
+				.catch(() => {});
+		}
+		setTimeout(() => keyEl?.focus(), 1);
+	});
+
+	const save = async () => {
+		if (saving()) return;
+		const stored = source
+			? await resolveSourceCredentials(source).catch(() => null)
+			: null;
+		const keyValue = key().trim();
+		const secretValue = secret().trim();
+		// A field still showing its masked prefill means "keep what's stored".
+		const apiKey =
+			stored?.apiKey && keyValue === maskCredential(stored.apiKey)
+				? stored.apiKey
+				: keyValue;
+		const apiSecret =
+			stored?.apiSecret && secretValue === maskCredential(stored.apiSecret)
+				? stored.apiSecret
+				: secretValue;
+		if (!apiKey || !apiSecret) {
+			setError(
+				"Both API key and secret are required (free at podcastindex.org)",
+			);
+			return;
+		}
+		setSaving(true);
+		const ok = await savePodcastIndexCredentials(apiKey, apiSecret).catch(
+			() => false,
+		);
+		setSaving(false);
+		if (!ok) {
+			// Keychain unavailable (non-macOS, locked, sandboxed): plaintext
+			// fallback on the source so the fallback search still works.
+			feedStore.updateSource("podcastindex", {
+				hasCredentials: true,
+				credentialStorage: "plaintext",
+				apiKey,
+				apiSecret,
+				enabled: true,
+			});
+			toast.show({
+				title: "Credentials stored in config.json",
+				message: "macOS keychain unavailable — API keys saved unencrypted.",
+				variant: "warning",
+			});
+			dialog.pop();
+			return;
+		}
+		feedStore.updateSource("podcastindex", {
+			hasCredentials: true,
+			credentialStorage: "keychain",
+			enabled: true,
+		});
+		dialog.pop();
+	};
+
+	return (
+		<box
+			border
+			title="Podcast Index API Keys"
+			padding={1}
+			flexDirection="column"
+			gap={1}
+		>
+			<text fg={theme.textMuted}>
+				Free key + secret from https://podcastindex.org/. Used as a
+				fallback when other sources return fewer than 3 results.
+			</text>
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
+				<text fg={theme.text}>API Key:</text>
+				<input
+					ref={(el: Renderable | null | undefined) => {
+						keyRef(el);
+						keyEl = el;
+					}}
+					value={key()}
+					onInput={setKey}
+					onSubmit={() => secretEl?.focus()}
+					placeholder="e.g. UXKCGDSYGUUEVQJSYDZH"
+					width={30}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+					cursorColor={theme.accent}
+				/>
+			</box>
+			<box flexDirection="row" gap={1}>
+				<text fg={theme.text}>API Secret:</text>
+				<input
+					ref={(el: Renderable | null | undefined) => {
+						secretRef(el);
+						secretEl = el;
+					}}
+					value={secret()}
+					onInput={setSecret}
+					onSubmit={() => save()}
+					placeholder="e.g. yzJe2eE7XV-3eY576dyRZ6wXyAbndh6LUrCZ8KN|"
+					width={40}
+					textColor={theme.text}
+					focusedTextColor={theme.accent}
+					cursorColor={theme.accent}
+				/>
+			</box>
+			<Show when={error()}>{(e) => <text fg={theme.error}>{e()}</text>}</Show>
+			<Show when={saving()}>
+				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>Storing credentials...</text>
+			</Show>
+			<text fg={theme.textMuted}>
+				[Enter] save · [Esc] cancel — keys stay stored when disabled.
+			</text>
+		</box>
+	);
+}

src/pages/Settings/VisualizerSettings.tsx

@@ -11,6 +11,15 @@ export function useVisualizerItems(): SettingItem[] {
 	const viz = () => app.state().settings.visualizer;
 
 	return [
+		{
+			id: "enabled",
+			label: "Waveform",
+			kind: "toggle",
+			display: () => (viz().enabled ? "On" : "Off"),
+			help: () =>
+				`Realtime waveform visualizer in the player.\nType: toggle\nDefault: on\nCurrent: ${viz().enabled ? "on" : "off"}\nSpace/Enter to toggle.`,
+			toggle: () => app.updateVisualizer({ enabled: !viz().enabled }),
+		},
 		{
 			id: "bars",
 			label: "Bars",

src/pages/Settings/types.ts

@@ -41,5 +41,7 @@ export interface SettingsSectionDef {
 	id: number;
 	label: string;
 	description: string;
+	/** Nerd Font glyph for the section row (rendered only when supported). */
+	icon: string;
 	items?: () => SettingItem[];
 }

src/stores/activity.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+/**
+ * Activity store for PodTUI
+ *
+ * Shared leak-proof activity counter: any store can surface "something is
+ * loading/downloading" to the global top-right indicator. beginActivity
+ * returns an end token that removes exactly THAT instance, so concurrent
+ * overlapping activities compose correctly; prefer track() so callers
+ * cannot strand the counter.
+ */
+
+import { createSignal } from "solid-js";
+
+function createActivityStore() {
+	const [count, setCount] = createSignal(0);
+	const [labels, setLabels] = createSignal<string[]>([]);
+
+	/** Begin a tracked activity and return its end function. Every begin
+	 *  MUST be paired with exactly one call of the returned end (via the
+	 *  token); prefer track() so the pairing is automatic. Duplicate labels
+	 *  are allowed — each end removes exactly one instance (found by
+	 *  indexOf). */
+	const beginActivity = (label: string): (() => void) => {
+		setLabels((prev) => [...prev, label]);
+		setCount((c) => c + 1);
+		let ended = false;
+		return () => {
+			if (ended) return;
+			ended = true;
+			setLabels((prev) => {
+				const idx = prev.indexOf(label);
+				if (idx === -1) return prev;
+				const next = [...prev];
+				next.splice(idx, 1);
+				return next;
+			});
+			setCount((c) => Math.max(0, c - 1));
+		};
+	};
+
+	/** Track a promise: begin an activity, auto-end when it settles, and
+	 *  re-throw on rejection so the caller's error handling is untouched. */
+	const track = async <T,>(p: Promise<T>, label: string): Promise<T> => {
+		const end = beginActivity(label);
+		try {
+			return await p;
+		} finally {
+			end();
+		}
+	};
+
+	/** True while at least one activity is in flight */
+	const isActive = (): boolean => count() > 0;
+
+	return {
+		// State
+		count,
+		labels,
+		// Actions
+		beginActivity,
+		track,
+		// Getters
+		isActive,
+	};
+}
+
+let activityStoreInstance: ReturnType<typeof createActivityStore> | null = null;
+
+export function useActivityStore() {
+	if (!activityStoreInstance) {
+		activityStoreInstance = createActivityStore();
+	}
+	return activityStoreInstance;
+}

src/stores/app.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
 } from "../utils/app-persistence";
 
 const defaultVisualizerSettings: VisualizerSettings = {
+	enabled: true,
 	bars: 64,
 	sensitivity: 1,
 	noiseReduction: 0.77,
@@ -28,15 +29,25 @@ const defaultSettings: AppSettings = {
 	theme: "system",
 	fontSize: 14,
 	playbackSpeed: 1,
+	volume: 1,
 	downloadPath: "",
 	transparentBackground: false,
+	showSelectionMarker: false,
 	visualizer: defaultVisualizerSettings,
 };
 
 const defaultPreferences: UserPreferences = {
 	showExplicit: false,
 	autoDownload: false,
+	autoDownloadCount: 2,
+	autoDownloadScope: "all",
+	autoDownloadWhitelist: [],
 	autoJumpToPlayer: true,
+	fetchMoreMode: "auto",
+	refreshIntervalMinutes: 30,
+	episodeCacheMode: "date",
+	episodeCacheCount: 25,
+	episodeCacheDays: 60,
 };
 
 const defaultState: AppState = {
@@ -49,12 +60,14 @@ function createAppStore() {
 	// Start with defaults; async load will update once ready
 	const [state, setState] = createSignal<AppState>(defaultState);
 
-	// Fire-and-forget async initialisation
+	// Fire-and-forget async initialisation; the promise is exposed via
+	// whenReady() so boot-time consumers (audio-level restore) can await
+	// the config read before reading settings.
 	const init = async () => {
 		const loaded = await loadAppStateFromFile();
 		setState(loaded);
 	};
-	init();
+	const appInit = init();
 
 	const saveState = (next: AppState) => {
 		saveAppStateToFile(next);
@@ -113,6 +126,8 @@ function createAppStore() {
 
 	return {
 		state,
+		/** Resolves once persisted settings are loaded from disk. */
+		whenReady: () => appInit,
 		updateSettings,
 		updatePreferences,
 		updateCustomTheme,

src/stores/audio-nav.ts

@@ -9,14 +9,12 @@ import {
 	saveAudioNavToFile,
 } from "../utils/app-persistence";
 
-/** Source type for audio navigation */
 export enum AudioSource {
 	FEED = "feed",
 	MY_SHOWS = "my_shows",
 	SEARCH = "search",
 }
 
-/** Audio navigation state */
 export interface AudioNavState {
 	/** Current source type */
 	source: AudioSource;
@@ -28,14 +26,12 @@ export interface AudioNavState {
 	lastUpdated: Date;
 }
 
-/** Default navigation state */
 const defaultNavState: AudioNavState = {
 	source: AudioSource.FEED,
 	currentIndex: 0,
 	lastUpdated: new Date(),
 };
 
-/** Create audio navigation store */
 function createAudioNavStore() {
 	const [navState, setNavState] = createSignal<AudioNavState>(defaultNavState);
 
@@ -56,12 +52,10 @@ function createAudioNavStore() {
 	init();
 
 	return {
-		/** Get current navigation state */
 		get state(): AudioNavState {
 			return navState();
 		},
 
-		/** Update source type */
 		setSource: (source: AudioSource, podcastId?: string) => {
 			setNavState((prev) => ({
 				...prev,
@@ -72,7 +66,6 @@ function createAudioNavStore() {
 			persist();
 		},
 
-		/** Move to next episode */
 		next: (currentIndex: number) => {
 			setNavState((prev) => ({
 				...prev,
@@ -82,7 +75,6 @@ function createAudioNavStore() {
 			persist();
 		},
 
-		/** Move to previous episode */
 		prev: (currentIndex: number) => {
 			setNavState((prev) => ({
 				...prev,
@@ -92,23 +84,19 @@ function createAudioNavStore() {
 			persist();
 		},
 
-		/** Reset to default state */
 		reset: () => {
 			setNavState(defaultNavState);
 			persist();
 		},
 
-		/** Get current index */
 		getCurrentIndex: (): number => {
 			return navState().currentIndex;
 		},
 
-		/** Get current source */
 		getSource: (): AudioSource => {
 			return navState().source;
 		},
 
-		/** Get current podcast ID */
 		getPodcastId: (): string | undefined => {
 			return navState().podcastId;
 		},

src/stores/discover.ts

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 import { createSignal } from "solid-js";
 import type { Podcast } from "../types/podcast";
+import type { Episode } from "../types/episode";
 import { useFeedStore } from "./feed";
 
 export interface DiscoverCategory {
@@ -20,17 +21,17 @@ export interface DiscoverCategory {
 }
 
 export const DISCOVER_CATEGORIES: DiscoverCategory[] = [
-	{ id: "all", name: "All", icon: "*" },
-	{ id: "technology", name: "Technology", icon: ">" },
-	{ id: "science", name: "Science", icon: "~" },
-	{ id: "comedy", name: "Comedy", icon: ")" },
-	{ id: "news", name: "News", icon: "!" },
-	{ id: "business", name: "Business", icon: "$" },
-	{ id: "health", name: "Health", icon: "+" },
-	{ id: "education", name: "Education", icon: "?" },
-	{ id: "sports", name: "Sports", icon: "#" },
-	{ id: "true-crime", name: "True Crime", icon: "%" },
-	{ id: "arts", name: "Arts", icon: "@" },
+	{ id: "all", name: "All", icon: "\uF0CA" },
+	{ id: "technology", name: "Technology", icon: "\uF2DB" },
+	{ id: "science", name: "Science", icon: "\uF0C3" },
+	{ id: "comedy", name: "Comedy", icon: "\uF118" },
+	{ id: "news", name: "News", icon: "\uF1EA" },
+	{ id: "business", name: "Business", icon: "\uF0B1" },
+	{ id: "health", name: "Health", icon: "\uF21E" },
+	{ id: "education", name: "Education", icon: "\uF19D" },
+	{ id: "sports", name: "Sports", icon: "\uF1E3" },
+	{ id: "true-crime", name: "True Crime", icon: "\uF00E" },
+	{ id: "arts", name: "Arts", icon: "\uF1FC" },
 ];
 
 // ── Remote featured-shows manifest ───────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -42,6 +43,10 @@ const FEATURED_JSON_URL =
 /** Cache window for the remote featured list (24 hours) */
 const FEATURED_CACHE_TTL_MS = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
 
+/** Max episodes to load when previewing an unsubscribed show's episode list
+ *  from Discover (drill-in, no subscription). Mirrors the refresh window. */
+const PREVIEW_EPISODE_LIMIT = 50;
+
 /** Shape of a single entry in the remote JSON */
 interface FeaturedEntry {
 	id: string;
@@ -85,12 +90,24 @@ function syncSubscriptionState(
 	}));
 }
 
-/** Create discover store */
 export function createDiscoverStore() {
 	const [selectedCategory, setSelectedCategory] = createSignal<string>("all");
 	const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = createSignal(false);
 	const [podcasts, setPodcasts] = createSignal<Podcast[]>([]);
 
+	// Episodes fetched for an unsubscribed show's preview list (drill-in from
+	// a podcast result, no subscription). Cached per podcast id for the
+	// session; keyed by id so switching shows never clobbers another's list.
+	const [previewEpisodes, setPreviewEpisodes] = createSignal<
+		Record<string, Episode[]>
+	>({});
+	const [previewLoading, setPreviewLoading] = createSignal<Set<string>>(
+		new Set(),
+	);
+	const [previewErrors, setPreviewErrors] = createSignal<
+		Record<string, string>
+	>({});
+
 	// In-memory cache timestamp for the remote manifest (within 24h, skip refetch)
 	let cachedAt = 0;
 
@@ -107,7 +124,6 @@ export function createDiscoverStore() {
 	const refresh = async () => {
 		setIsLoading(true);
 		try {
-			// Skip if cache is still fresh
 			const now = Date.now();
 			if (now - cachedAt < FEATURED_CACHE_TTL_MS) {
 				syncSubscriptions();
@@ -131,7 +147,6 @@ export function createDiscoverStore() {
 			cachedAt = now;
 			setPodcasts(fetched);
 
-			// Reflect current feed-store subscriptions
 			syncSubscriptions();
 		} catch {
 			// Network failure — keep whatever we have (stale or empty)
@@ -140,7 +155,6 @@ export function createDiscoverStore() {
 		}
 	};
 
-	/** Get filtered podcasts by category */
 	const filteredPodcasts = () => {
 		const category = selectedCategory();
 		if (category === "all") {
@@ -155,7 +169,6 @@ export function createDiscoverStore() {
 		});
 	};
 
-	/** Subscribe to a podcast */
 	const subscribe = (podcastId: string) => {
 		const podcast = podcasts().find((p) => p.id === podcastId);
 		if (podcast) {
@@ -168,7 +181,6 @@ export function createDiscoverStore() {
 		);
 	};
 
-	/** Unsubscribe from a podcast */
 	const unsubscribe = (podcastId: string) => {
 		const podcast = podcasts().find((p) => p.id === podcastId);
 		if (podcast) {
@@ -180,14 +192,64 @@ export function createDiscoverStore() {
 		);
 	};
 
-	/** Toggle subscription */
-	const toggleSubscription = (podcastId: string) => {
-		const podcast = podcasts().find((p) => p.id === podcastId);
-		if (podcast?.isSubscribed) {
-			unsubscribe(podcastId);
-		} else {
-			subscribe(podcastId);
+	// ── episode preview (drill-in, no subscription) ──────────────────────────
+	/** Cached episode list for a previewed show (empty until first drill-in). */
+	const episodesForPodcast = (podcastId: string): Episode[] =>
+		previewEpisodes()[podcastId] ?? [];
+
+	const isLoadingEpisodesFor = (podcastId: string): boolean =>
+		previewLoading().has(podcastId);
+
+	const previewError = (podcastId: string): string | undefined =>
+		previewErrors()[podcastId];
+
+	/** Fetch a show's episode list WITHOUT subscribing (Discover preview).
+	 *  The list is cached per podcast id; a failed fetch records an error
+	 *  and keeps any previous cache (a retry via refreshEpisodes clears it). */
+	const openEpisodes = async (podcast: Podcast): Promise<void> => {
+		if (previewEpisodes()[podcast.id] || previewLoading().has(podcast.id))
+			return;
+		if (!podcast.feedUrl) {
+			setPreviewErrors((prev) => ({
+				...prev,
+				[podcast.id]: "No RSS feed listed for this show.",
+			}));
+			return;
 		}
+		setPreviewLoading((prev) => new Set(prev).add(podcast.id));
+		const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+		const { episodes } = await feedStore.fetchEpisodes(
+			podcast.feedUrl,
+			PREVIEW_EPISODE_LIMIT,
+		);
+		if (episodes) {
+			setPreviewEpisodes((prev) => ({ ...prev, [podcast.id]: episodes }));
+		} else {
+			setPreviewErrors((prev) => ({
+				...prev,
+				[podcast.id]: "Couldn't load episodes.",
+			}));
+		}
+		setPreviewLoading((prev) => {
+			const next = new Set(prev);
+			next.delete(podcast.id);
+			return next;
+		});
+	};
+
+	/** Re-fetch a previewed show's episode list (`r` on the episodes depth). */
+	const refreshEpisodes = async (podcast: Podcast): Promise<void> => {
+		setPreviewErrors((prev) => {
+			const next = { ...prev };
+			delete next[podcast.id];
+			return next;
+		});
+		setPreviewEpisodes((prev) => {
+			const next = { ...prev };
+			delete next[podcast.id];
+			return next;
+		});
+		await openEpisodes(podcast);
 	};
 
 	return {
@@ -202,12 +264,17 @@ export function createDiscoverStore() {
 		setSelectedCategory,
 		subscribe,
 		unsubscribe,
-		toggleSubscription,
 		refresh,
+
+		// Episode preview (drill-in, no subscription)
+		episodesForPodcast,
+		isLoadingEpisodesFor,
+		previewError,
+		openEpisodes,
+		refreshEpisodes,
 	};
 }
 
-/** Singleton discover store */
 let discoverStoreInstance: ReturnType<typeof createDiscoverStore> | null = null;
 
 export function useDiscoverStore() {

src/stores/download.ts

@@ -10,12 +10,32 @@ import { createSignal } from "solid-js";
 import { DownloadStatus } from "../types/episode";
 import type { DownloadedEpisode } from "../types/episode";
 import type { Episode } from "../types/episode";
+import type { Podcast } from "../types/podcast";
 import { downloadEpisode } from "../utils/episode-downloader";
 import { ensureConfigDir, getConfigFilePath } from "../utils/config-dir";
+import { useFeedStore } from "./feed";
 
 const DOWNLOADS_FILE = "downloads.json";
 const MAX_CONCURRENT = 2;
 
+/** Prefix for synthetic feed ids of unsubscribed-show downloads (search
+ *  downloads). The id doubles as the file subdirectory name, so it must be
+ *  filesystem-safe. */
+const UNSUBSCRIBED_FEED_PREFIX = "unsub-";
+
+/** Deterministic synthetic feed id for a show that isn't subscribed: groups
+ *  its search downloads together (and names their file subdirectory) without
+ *  colliding with real feed ids (UUIDs). */
+function unsubscribedFeedId(podcast: Pick<Podcast, "feedUrl" | "title">): string {
+	const base = podcast.feedUrl || podcast.title;
+	const slug = base
+		.toLowerCase()
+		.replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g, "-")
+		.replace(/^-+|-+$/g, "")
+		.slice(0, 48);
+	return `${UNSUBSCRIBED_FEED_PREFIX}${slug || "podcast"}`;
+}
+
 /** Serializable download record for persistence */
 interface DownloadRecord {
 	episodeId: string;
@@ -27,6 +47,12 @@ interface DownloadRecord {
 	error: string | null;
 	audioUrl: string;
 	episodeTitle: string;
+	/** ISO publication date, for unsubscribed-show downloads. */
+	pubDate?: string;
+	/** Show title, for downloads whose show isn't subscribed. */
+	podcastTitle?: string;
+	/** The show's RSS feed URL (re-classifies the download once subscribed). */
+	podcastFeedUrl?: string;
 }
 
 /** Queue item for pending downloads */
@@ -37,7 +63,62 @@ interface QueueItem {
 	episodeTitle: string;
 }
 
-/** Create download store */
+// ── post-download decoration ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+/** Write the podcast cover beside the audio so mpv's --cover-art-auto=exact
+ *  picks it up for Now Playing art when the local file plays (same basename,
+ *  .jpg extension — verified against mpv 0.41). curl, NOT fetch: Bun's fetch
+ *  hangs in compiled binaries, so the shipped app never wrote this file. */
+function writeCoverArt(filePath: string, coverUrl: string): void {
+	const dot = filePath.lastIndexOf(".");
+	if (dot <= 0) return;
+	const coverPath = filePath.slice(0, dot) + ".jpg";
+	Bun.spawn([
+		"curl",
+		"-sS",
+		"--fail",
+		"-m",
+		"8",
+		"--max-filesize",
+		"2097152",
+		"-o",
+		coverPath,
+		coverUrl,
+	])
+		.exited.catch(() => {});
+}
+
+/** Tag the local file (codec-copy, no re-encode) so mpv's Now Playing
+ *  metadata for local playback is title=episode, artist=podcast — the source
+ *  streams carry no usable tags and macOS composes "title - artist" from
+ *  exactly these fields. Atomic: ffmpeg writes a temp file, then renames
+ *  into place. */
+function tagLocalFile(
+	filePath: string,
+	episode: Episode,
+	podcastTitle: string,
+): void {
+	const tmp = `${filePath}.tag.mp3`;
+	Bun.spawn([
+		"ffmpeg",
+		"-y",
+		"-i",
+		filePath,
+		"-c",
+		"copy",
+		"-metadata",
+		`title=${episode.title}`,
+		"-metadata",
+		`artist=${podcastTitle}`,
+		tmp,
+	])
+		.exited.then(async (code) => {
+			if (code !== 0) return;
+			const { renameSync } = await import("node:fs");
+			renameSync(tmp, filePath);
+		})
+		.catch(() => {});
+}
+
 function createDownloadStore() {
 	const [downloads, setDownloads] = createSignal<
 		Map<string, DownloadedEpisode>
@@ -80,6 +161,11 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 					speed: 0,
 					fileSize: rec.fileSize,
 					error: rec.error,
+					episodeTitle: rec.episodeTitle || undefined,
+					audioUrl: rec.audioUrl || undefined,
+					pubDate: rec.pubDate || undefined,
+					podcastTitle: rec.podcastTitle || undefined,
+					podcastFeedUrl: rec.podcastFeedUrl || undefined,
 				});
 			}
 			return map;
@@ -105,8 +191,11 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 					downloadedAt: dl.downloadedAt?.toISOString() ?? null,
 					fileSize: dl.fileSize,
 					error: dl.error,
-					audioUrl: qItem?.audioUrl ?? "",
-					episodeTitle: qItem?.episodeTitle ?? "",
+					audioUrl: dl.audioUrl ?? qItem?.audioUrl ?? "",
+					episodeTitle: dl.episodeTitle ?? qItem?.episodeTitle ?? "",
+					pubDate: dl.pubDate,
+					podcastTitle: dl.podcastTitle,
+					podcastFeedUrl: dl.podcastFeedUrl,
 				});
 			}
 			const filePath = getConfigFilePath(DOWNLOADS_FILE);
@@ -161,7 +250,6 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 		}
 	}
 
-	/** Execute a single download */
 	async function executeDownload(item: QueueItem): Promise<void> {
 		const controller = new AbortController();
 		abortControllers.set(item.episodeId, controller);
@@ -201,6 +289,26 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 				speed: 0,
 				error: null,
 			});
+
+			// Decorate the local file: cover art + ID3 tags (see the
+			// module-level helpers above) — the source streams carry neither.
+			// Cover falls back to the episode's own image when the feed has
+			// no channel cover (URL-added feeds).
+			const feedStore = useFeedStore();
+			const episode = feedStore.findEpisode(item.episodeId);
+			const feed = feedStore.feeds().find((f) => f.id === item.feedId);
+			const coverUrl = feed?.podcast.coverUrl ?? episode?.imageUrl;
+			if (result.filePath && coverUrl) {
+				writeCoverArt(result.filePath, coverUrl);
+			}
+			if (result.filePath && episode) {
+				const podcastTitle =
+					feed?.podcast.title ??
+					downloads().get(item.episodeId)?.podcastTitle;
+				if (podcastTitle) {
+					tagLocalFile(result.filePath, episode, podcastTitle);
+				}
+			}
 		} else {
 			updateDownload(item.episodeId, {
 				status: DownloadStatus.FAILED,
@@ -214,22 +322,18 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 		processQueue();
 	}
 
-	/** Get download status for an episode */
 	const getDownloadStatus = (episodeId: string): DownloadStatus => {
 		return downloads().get(episodeId)?.status ?? DownloadStatus.NONE;
 	};
 
-	/** Get download progress for an episode (0-100) */
 	const getDownloadProgress = (episodeId: string): number => {
 		return downloads().get(episodeId)?.progress ?? 0;
 	};
 
-	/** Get full download info for an episode */
 	const getDownload = (episodeId: string): DownloadedEpisode | undefined => {
 		return downloads().get(episodeId);
 	};
 
-	/** Get the local file path for a completed download */
 	const getDownloadedFilePath = (episodeId: string): string | null => {
 		const dl = downloads().get(episodeId);
 		if (dl?.status === DownloadStatus.COMPLETED && dl.filePath) {
@@ -238,8 +342,19 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 		return null;
 	};
 
-	/** Start downloading an episode */
-	const startDownload = (episode: Episode, feedId: string): void => {
+	/** Optional metadata for a download whose show isn't subscribed (search
+	 *  downloads) — without it the record cannot render a title or be
+	 *  re-classified once the show is subscribed. */
+	interface UnsubscribedMeta {
+		podcastTitle: string;
+		podcastFeedUrl?: string;
+	}
+
+	const startDownload = (
+		episode: Episode,
+		feedId: string,
+		meta?: UnsubscribedMeta,
+	): void => {
 		const existing = downloads().get(episode.id);
 		if (
 			existing?.status === DownloadStatus.DOWNLOADING ||
@@ -258,6 +373,11 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 			speed: 0,
 			fileSize: episode.fileSize ?? 0,
 			error: null,
+			episodeTitle: episode.title,
+			audioUrl: episode.audioUrl,
+			pubDate: episode.pubDate.toISOString(),
+			podcastTitle: meta?.podcastTitle,
+			podcastFeedUrl: meta?.podcastFeedUrl,
 		};
 
 		setDownloads((prev) => {
@@ -278,7 +398,21 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 		processQueue();
 	};
 
-	/** Cancel a download */
+	/** Start downloading an episode of a show that is NOT subscribed. The
+	 *  download gets a deterministic synthetic feed id (also its file
+	 *  subdirectory) plus the show's metadata so it can render under
+	 *  "Unsubscribed Show Downloads" and re-classify if the user later
+	 *  subscribes to the show. */
+	const startUnsubscribedDownload = (
+		episode: Episode,
+		podcast: Podcast,
+	): void => {
+		startDownload(episode, unsubscribedFeedId(podcast), {
+			podcastTitle: podcast.title,
+			podcastFeedUrl: podcast.feedUrl || undefined,
+		});
+	};
+
 	const cancelDownload = (episodeId: string): void => {
 		// Abort active download
 		const controller = abortControllers.get(episodeId);
@@ -299,13 +433,17 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 		saveDownloads().catch(() => {});
 	};
 
-	/** Remove a completed download (delete file and metadata) */
 	const removeDownload = async (episodeId: string): Promise<void> => {
 		const dl = downloads().get(episodeId);
 		if (dl?.filePath) {
 			try {
 				const { unlink } = await import("fs/promises");
 				await unlink(dl.filePath);
+				const dot = dl.filePath.lastIndexOf(".");
+				if (dot > 0) {
+					const coverPath = dl.filePath.slice(0, dot) + ".jpg";
+					await unlink(coverPath);
+				}
 			} catch {
 				// File may already be gone
 			}
@@ -321,10 +459,18 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 	};
 
 	/** Remove every download (active/queued/completed) belonging to a feed —
-	 *  abort in-flight transfers, drop queued items, delete files + metadata. */
-	const removeDownloadsForFeed = async (feedId: string): Promise<void> => {
+	 *  abort in-flight transfers, drop queued items, delete files + metadata.
+	 *  Also removes downloads of the same show made while it was unsubscribed
+	 *  (matched by podcastFeedUrl) so unsubscribing purges search downloads
+	 *  of that show too. */
+	const removeDownloadsForFeed = async (
+		feedId: string,
+		podcastFeedUrl?: string,
+	): Promise<void> => {
 		const eps = Array.from(downloads().values()).filter(
-			(d) => d.feedId === feedId,
+			(d) =>
+				d.feedId === feedId ||
+				(podcastFeedUrl && d.podcastFeedUrl === podcastFeedUrl),
 		);
 		for (const d of eps) {
 			cancelDownload(d.episodeId);
@@ -332,17 +478,32 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 		}
 	};
 
-	/** Get all downloads as an array */
 	const getAllDownloads = (): DownloadedEpisode[] => {
 		return Array.from(downloads().values());
 	};
 
-	/** Get the current queue */
+	/** Downloads whose show is not subscribed — the "Unsubscribed Show
+	 *  Downloads" list shown in My Shows and the settings download manager.
+	 *  Reads feeds() so the list re-classifies (drops out) the moment the
+	 *  user subscribes to the show. Matched by feed id, or by the show's
+	 *  feed URL (covers downloads made before the show was subscribed). */
+	const getUnsubscribedDownloads = (): DownloadedEpisode[] => {
+		const feeds = useFeedStore().feeds();
+		return Array.from(downloads().values()).filter((d) => {
+			if (feeds.some((f) => f.id === d.feedId)) return false;
+			if (d.podcastFeedUrl) {
+				return !feeds.some(
+					(f) => f.podcast.feedUrl === d.podcastFeedUrl,
+				);
+			}
+			return true;
+		});
+	};
+
 	const getQueue = (): QueueItem[] => {
 		return queue();
 	};
 
-	/** Get count of active downloads */
 	const getActiveCount = (): number => {
 		return activeCount();
 	};
@@ -354,18 +515,19 @@ function createDownloadStore() {
 		getDownload,
 		getDownloadedFilePath,
 		getAllDownloads,
+		getUnsubscribedDownloads,
 		getQueue,
 		getActiveCount,
 
 		// Actions
 		startDownload,
+		startUnsubscribedDownload,
 		cancelDownload,
 		removeDownload,
 		removeDownloadsForFeed,
 	};
 }
 
-/** Singleton download store */
 let downloadStoreInstance: ReturnType<typeof createDownloadStore> | null = null;
 
 export function useDownloadStore() {

src/stores/progress.ts

@@ -53,21 +53,21 @@ async function initProgress(): Promise<void> {
 	setProgressMap(parsed);
 }
 
-// Fire-and-forget init
-initProgress();
+// Fire-and-forget init; the promise is exposed via whenReady() so boot-time
+// consumers (e.g. player-session restore) can await the file load.
+const progressInit = initProgress();
 
 function createProgressStore() {
 	return {
 		/**
-		 * Get progress for a specific episode.
+		 * Resolves once the persisted progress map has been loaded from disk.
 		 */
+		whenReady: () => progressInit,
+
 		get(episodeId: string): Progress | undefined {
 			return progressMap()[episodeId];
 		},
 
-		/**
-		 * Get all progress entries.
-		 */
 		all(): Record<string, Progress> {
 			return progressMap();
 		},
@@ -96,18 +96,12 @@ function createProgressStore() {
 			persist();
 		},
 
-		/**
-		 * Check if an episode is completed.
-		 */
 		isCompleted(episodeId: string): boolean {
 			const p = progressMap()[episodeId];
 			if (!p || p.duration <= 0) return false;
 			return p.position / p.duration >= COMPLETION_THRESHOLD;
 		},
 
-		/**
-		 * Get progress percentage (0-100) for an episode.
-		 */
 		getPercent(episodeId: string): number {
 			const p = progressMap()[episodeId];
 			if (!p || p.duration <= 0) return 0;
@@ -145,9 +139,6 @@ function createProgressStore() {
 			persist();
 		},
 
-		/**
-		 * Clear all progress data.
-		 */
 		clear(): void {
 			setProgressMap({});
 			persist();

src/stores/search.ts

@@ -4,12 +4,16 @@
  */
 
 import { createSignal } from "solid-js";
-import { searchPodcasts, searchByFeedUrl } from "../utils/search";
+import { searchPodcasts, searchEpisodes, searchByFeedUrl } from "../utils/search";
+import {
+	loadSearchHistoryFromFile,
+	saveSearchHistoryToFile,
+} from "../utils/app-persistence";
 import { useFeedStore } from "./feed";
-import type { SearchResult } from "../types/source";
+import type { SearchResult, SearchScope } from "../types/source";
 
-const STORAGE_KEY = "podtui_search_history";
-const MAX_HISTORY = 20;
+const STORAGE_SCOPE_KEY = "podtui_search_scope";
+const MAX_HISTORY = 10;
 
 export interface SearchState {
 	query: string;
@@ -20,36 +24,66 @@ export interface SearchState {
 
 const CACHE_TTL = 1000 * 60 * 5;
 
-/** Load search history from localStorage */
-function loadHistory(): string[] {
-	if (typeof localStorage === "undefined") return [];
+/** Normalize raw history: drop blanks, dedupe case-insensitively (newest
+ *  wins), cap at MAX_HISTORY. */
+function sanitizeHistory(items: string[]): string[] {
+	const seen = new Set<string>();
+	const cleaned: string[] = [];
+	for (const item of items) {
+		const trimmed = item.trim();
+		const key = trimmed.toLowerCase();
+		if (!key || seen.has(key)) continue;
+		seen.add(key);
+		cleaned.push(trimmed);
+	}
+	return cleaned.slice(0, MAX_HISTORY);
+}
+
+/** Load persisted search scope ("podcast" | "episode"), defaulting to shows. */
+function loadScope(): SearchScope {
+	if (typeof localStorage === "undefined") return "podcast";
 	try {
-		const stored = localStorage.getItem(STORAGE_KEY);
-		return stored ? JSON.parse(stored) : [];
+		const stored = localStorage.getItem(STORAGE_SCOPE_KEY);
+		return stored === "episode" ? "episode" : "podcast";
 	} catch {
-		return [];
+		return "podcast";
 	}
 }
 
-/** Save search history to localStorage */
-function saveHistory(history: string[]): void {
+/** Save search scope to localStorage */
+function saveScope(scope: SearchScope): void {
 	if (typeof localStorage === "undefined") return;
 	try {
-		localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(history));
+		localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_SCOPE_KEY, scope);
 	} catch {
 		// Ignore errors
 	}
 }
 
-/** Create search store */
 export function createSearchStore() {
 	const feedStore = useFeedStore();
 	const [query, setQuery] = createSignal("");
 	const [isSearching, setIsSearching] = createSignal(false);
 	const [results, setResults] = createSignal<SearchResult[]>([]);
 	const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
-	const [history, setHistory] = createSignal<string[]>(loadHistory());
+	const [history, setHistory] = createSignal<string[]>([]);
 	const [selectedSources, setSelectedSources] = createSignal<string[]>([]);
+	const [scope, setScopeState] = createSignal<SearchScope>(loadScope());
+
+	/** Load search history from file (fire-and-forget; recents appear as
+	 *  soon as the file is read). */
+	async function init(): Promise<void> {
+		const loaded = await loadSearchHistoryFromFile();
+		if (loaded.length > 0) setHistory(sanitizeHistory(loaded));
+	}
+
+	init();
+
+	/** Set the search scope (shows vs episodes) and persist it. */
+	const setScope = (next: SearchScope) => {
+		setScopeState(next);
+		saveScope(next);
+	};
 
 	const applySubscribedStatus = (items: SearchResult[]): SearchResult[] => {
 		const feeds = feedStore.feeds();
@@ -110,9 +144,14 @@ export function createSearchStore() {
 				return;
 			}
 
-			const searchResults = await searchPodcasts(q, sourceIds, sources, {
-				cacheTtl: CACHE_TTL,
-			});
+			const searchResults =
+				scope() === "episode"
+					? await searchEpisodes(q, sourceIds, sources, {
+							cacheTtl: CACHE_TTL,
+						})
+					: await searchPodcasts(q, sourceIds, sources, {
+							cacheTtl: CACHE_TTL,
+						});
 
 			setResults(applySubscribedStatus(searchResults));
 		} catch (e) {
@@ -127,39 +166,33 @@ export function createSearchStore() {
 		}
 	};
 
-	/** Add query to history */
 	const addToHistory = (q: string) => {
 		setHistory((prev) => {
-			const filtered = prev.filter((h) => h.toLowerCase() !== q.toLowerCase());
-			const updated = [q, ...filtered].slice(0, MAX_HISTORY);
-			saveHistory(updated);
+			const updated = sanitizeHistory([q, ...prev]);
+			saveSearchHistoryToFile(updated);
 			return updated;
 		});
 	};
 
-	/** Clear search history */
 	const clearHistory = () => {
 		setHistory([]);
-		saveHistory([]);
+		saveSearchHistoryToFile([]);
 	};
 
-	/** Remove single history item */
 	const removeFromHistory = (q: string) => {
 		setHistory((prev) => {
 			const updated = prev.filter((h) => h !== q);
-			saveHistory(updated);
+			saveSearchHistoryToFile(updated);
 			return updated;
 		});
 	};
 
-	/** Clear results */
 	const clearResults = () => {
 		setResults([]);
 		setQuery("");
 		setError(null);
 	};
 
-	/** Mark a podcast as subscribed in results */
 	const markSubscribed = (podcastId: string, feedUrl?: string) => {
 		setResults((prev) =>
 			prev.map((result) => {
@@ -179,6 +212,27 @@ export function createSearchStore() {
 		);
 	};
 
+	/** Mark a podcast as unsubscribed in results (after an in-place
+	 *  unsubscribe from the results list). */
+	const markUnsubscribed = (podcastId: string, feedUrl?: string) => {
+		setResults((prev) =>
+			prev.map((result) => {
+				const matchesId = result.podcast.id === podcastId;
+				const matchesUrl = feedUrl ? result.podcast.feedUrl === feedUrl : false;
+				if (matchesId || matchesUrl) {
+					return {
+						...result,
+						podcast: {
+							...result.podcast,
+							isSubscribed: false,
+						},
+					};
+				}
+				return result;
+			}),
+		);
+	};
+
 	return {
 		// State
 		query,
@@ -187,6 +241,7 @@ export function createSearchStore() {
 		error,
 		history,
 		selectedSources,
+		scope,
 
 		// Actions
 		search,
@@ -195,11 +250,12 @@ export function createSearchStore() {
 		clearHistory,
 		removeFromHistory,
 		setSelectedSources,
+		setScope,
 		markSubscribed,
+		markUnsubscribed,
 	};
 }
 
-/** Singleton search store */
 let searchStoreInstance: ReturnType<typeof createSearchStore> | null = null;
 
 export function useSearchStore() {

src/stores/visualizer.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,450 @@
+/**
+ * visualizer-store — module-level singleton owning the realtime waveform
+ * pipeline (ffmpeg decode + cavacore FFT), shared across PlayerPage mounts.
+ *
+ * Pipeline shape (see utils/audio-pcm-cache.ts for the rationale):
+ * an ffmpeg process decodes the episode at full speed into a
+ * position-indexed PCM cache; the render loop reads the window ending at
+ * the player's current position from that cache. Because reads are
+ * indexed by playback time, PAUSE/RESUME/SEEK/SPEED need no pipeline
+ * choreography at all — and cannot desync:
+ *
+ * - Pause: stop the render loop and the decode pass; the PCM cache stays
+ *   resident. Bars freeze on the last rendered frame.
+ * - Resume: re-arm the render loop — bars render instantly from the cache
+ *   — and continue the tail decode in the background. No cold start, no
+ *   coverage guessing, no clamped-buffer freeze (the old bug: resume
+ *   re-armed the loop over a DEAD ffmpeg and the bars exhausted the ring
+ *   buffer, then froze on a repeated stale window forever).
+ * - Seek into decoded audio: nothing to do. Seek into a hole: kick off a
+ *   decode segment there; the last frame holds until data arrives.
+ * - Speed changes: nothing. The cache is position-indexed raw PCM.
+ *
+ * Focus lifecycle: Shell unmounts a tab's page when it loses focus, but the
+ * pipeline outlives the page so playback keeps visualizing; UNLOAD_DELAY_MS
+ * after the Player tab stops being focused it tears down. Reads outside
+ * decoded coverage return empty — the renderer simply holds the last frame
+ * until the decode frontier arrives.
+ */
+
+import {
+	createSignal,
+	createEffect,
+	createRoot,
+	on,
+	untrack,
+} from "solid-js";
+import {
+	loadCavaCore,
+	type CavaCore,
+	type CavaCoreConfig,
+} from "@/utils/cavacore";
+import { EpisodePcmCache, PCM_SAMPLE_RATE } from "@/utils/audio-pcm-cache";
+import { createBarScaler } from "@/utils/bar-mapping";
+import { audioPlaybackSignals } from "@/utils/audio-signals";
+import { useAppStore } from "@/stores/app";
+
+// ── Constants ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/** How long the pipeline keeps running after the Player tab loses focus. */
+export const VISUALIZER_UNLOAD_DELAY_MS = 30_000;
+
+/** Target frame interval in ms (~30 fps) */
+const FRAME_INTERVAL = 33;
+
+/** Number of PCM samples to read per frame (512 is a good FFT window) */
+const SAMPLES_PER_FRAME = 512;
+
+/** Timer handle as returned by setTimeout/setInterval in this runtime. */
+type TimerHandle = ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>;
+
+// ── Types ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+export interface VisualizerStore {
+	/** Frequency bar values (0.0–1.0 per bar), empty until the first frame. */
+	barData: () => number[];
+	/** True from pipeline start until the first complete FFT frame renders. */
+	isLoading: () => boolean;
+	/** True while the ~30fps render loop is armed. */
+	isRunning: () => boolean;
+	/** Report whether the Player tab is the visible tab. */
+	setFocused: (focused: boolean) => void;
+	/** Report the terminal-width-derived bar count (resize re-inits). */
+	setBarCount: (count: number) => void;
+}
+
+// ── Store factory ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function createVisualizerStore(): VisualizerStore {
+	// Frequency bar values (0.0–1.0 per bar)
+	const [barData, setBarData] = createSignal<number[]>([]);
+
+	// True from pipeline start until the first complete FFT frame renders.
+	const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = createSignal(false);
+
+	// Whether the Player tab is the visible tab (fed by PlayerPage).
+	const [focused, setFocused] = createSignal(false);
+
+	// Width-derived bar count (fed by RealtimeWaveform; default before the
+	// renderer reports a real size).
+	const [barCount, setBarCount] = createSignal(64);
+
+	// Peak-follower scaler replaces cava's autosens: normalizes each FFT
+	// frame against the running peak so a loud start can't pin every bar
+	// at full height and quiet content still gets normalized up.
+	const scaler = createBarScaler();
+
+	let cava: CavaCore | null = null;
+	// Position-indexed PCM cache for the current episode. Kept across
+	// pause/resume (segments survive; only the ffmpeg pass is killed) and
+	// dropped only on episode change, stop, disable, or unload.
+	let pcm: EpisodePcmCache | null = null;
+	let frameTimer: TimerHandle | null = null;
+	let sampleBuffer: Float64Array | null = null;
+	let unloadTimer: TimerHandle | null = null;
+
+	// What the running pipeline was started with — lets the playback effect
+	// tell "nothing changed, stay warm" from "must restart".
+	let activeUrl = "";
+	let activeBars = 64;
+
+	// ── Lifecycle helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+	const clearUnloadTimer = () => {
+		if (unloadTimer) {
+			clearTimeout(unloadTimer);
+			unloadTimer = null;
+		}
+	};
+
+	const initCava = () => {
+		if (cava) return true;
+
+		cava = loadCavaCore();
+		if (!cava) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		return true;
+	};
+
+	// ── Smooth position clock ──────────────────────────────────────────
+	//
+	// audio.position() updates at the useAudio poll rate (~150ms). Between
+	// polls, interpolate the position from wall time so the FFT window
+	// tracks the audio continuously instead of stepping. The 0.5s cap
+	// prevents extrapolating far beyond reality when the player stalls
+	// (e.g. network re-buffering).
+
+	let lastPolledPosition = 0;
+	let lastPolledAt = 0;
+	const smoothPosition = () => {
+		const pos = audioPlaybackSignals.position();
+		const now = performance.now();
+		if (pos !== lastPolledPosition) {
+			lastPolledPosition = pos;
+			lastPolledAt = now;
+			return pos;
+		}
+		if (lastPolledAt === 0) return pos;
+		const elapsed = Math.min((now - lastPolledAt) / 1000, 0.5);
+		return lastPolledPosition + elapsed * (audioPlaybackSignals.speed() ?? 1);
+	};
+
+	// ── Start/stop the visualization pipeline ──────────────────────────
+
+	const startVisualization = (url: string, position: number) => {
+		stopVisualization();
+
+		if (!url || !initCava() || !cava) return;
+
+		// Initialize cavacore with current resolution + the user's
+		// audio-processing params (noise reduction, cutoffs, etc.).
+		// autosens is disabled (after the spread so it always wins): cava's
+		// autosens gain-ramps during silence then clips everything to 1.0
+		// when audio arrives — the JS peak scaler handles dynamics instead.
+		const viz = useAppStore().state().settings.visualizer;
+		const config: CavaCoreConfig = {
+			bars: barCount(),
+			sampleRate: PCM_SAMPLE_RATE,
+			channels: 1,
+			noiseReduction: viz.noiseReduction,
+			lowCutOff: viz.lowCutOff,
+			highCutOff: viz.highCutOff,
+			autosens: 0,
+		};
+		cava.init(config);
+
+		// Pre-warm the FFT window: libcavacore's window is malloc'd
+		// uninitialized, so the first real frame would FFT garbage and
+		// render full-scale bars. One zero frame the size of the whole
+		// input buffer clears it.
+		cava.execute(new Float64Array(8192));
+
+		// Pre-allocate sample read buffer
+		sampleBuffer = new Float64Array(SAMPLES_PER_FRAME);
+
+		// PCM cache per episode (reuse when the episode is unchanged)
+		if (!pcm || pcm.url !== url) {
+			if (pcm) pcm.stop();
+			pcm = new EpisodePcmCache({ url });
+		}
+		// Decode from 1s before the position so the window ENDING at the
+		// position is covered as soon as the first PCM lands.
+		pcm.startDecode(Math.max(0, position - 1));
+
+		// Seed the smooth position clock with the start position. Without
+		// this, a fresh play at position 0 would sample the window ending at
+		// exactly 0 — a 1-sample slice — so bars would be starved until the
+		// first mpv poll advanced the position clock.
+		lastPolledPosition = position;
+		lastPolledAt = performance.now();
+
+		activeUrl = url;
+		activeBars = barCount();
+		setIsLoading(true);
+		frameTimer = setInterval(renderFrame, FRAME_INTERVAL);
+	};
+
+	const stopVisualization = () => {
+		clearUnloadTimer();
+		if (frameTimer) {
+			clearInterval(frameTimer);
+			frameTimer = null;
+		}
+		clearTimeout(seekDecodeTimer);
+		seekDecodeTimer = undefined;
+		if (pcm) {
+			pcm.stop();
+			// Keep the (now cache-less, url-tagged) object: a re-start of the
+			// same episode reuses it; segments re-decode in seconds at 80x.
+		}
+		if (cava?.isReady) {
+			cava.destroy();
+		}
+		sampleBuffer = null;
+		setIsLoading(false);
+	};
+
+	// ── Pause: freeze the loop, keep the cache ──────────────────────────
+	//
+	// The render loop stops (bars hold their last frame) and the ffmpeg
+	// pass dies (no background CPU), but the decoded PCM stays: resume
+	// serves it instantly.
+
+	const suspendVisualization = () => {
+		clearUnloadTimer();
+		if (frameTimer) {
+			clearInterval(frameTimer);
+			frameTimer = null;
+		}
+		// Cancel any debounced seek-decode: it would restart ffmpeg while
+		// paused, defeating the "no background CPU while paused" contract.
+		clearTimeout(seekDecodeTimer);
+		seekDecodeTimer = undefined;
+		if (pcm) pcm.pauseDecode();
+		// Cava plan + sampleBuffer stay alive — cheap to reuse on resume.
+		// Clear the loading spinner: if the pipeline never produced bars
+		// (still cold-starting when paused), the component should fall back
+		// to the placeholder, not freeze on a spinner.
+		setIsLoading(false);
+	};
+
+	// ── Resume: re-arm the render loop, top up the cache ───────────────
+	//
+	// Returns true if the pipeline resumed, false if there was nothing to
+	// resume (no prior pipeline).
+
+	const resumeVisualization = (): boolean => {
+		// Already running — nothing to do.
+		if (frameTimer !== null) return true;
+		if (!pcm || !cava?.isReady || !sampleBuffer) return false;
+
+		const pos = untrack(audioPlaybackSignals.position);
+
+		// Bars come from the cache on the next frame tick (~33ms) whenever
+		// the position is covered; any gap (uncached region) restarts the
+		// decode pass in the background with the last frame holding.
+		pcm.ensureDecodeAround(pos);
+
+		lastPolledPosition = pos;
+		lastPolledAt = performance.now();
+		frameTimer = setInterval(renderFrame, FRAME_INTERVAL);
+		return true;
+	};
+
+	// ── Render loop (called at ~30fps) ─────────────────────────────────
+
+	const renderFrame = () => {
+		if (!cava?.isReady || !sampleBuffer || !pcm) return;
+
+		// Sample the FFT window at the player's position. Outside decoded
+		// coverage (decode cold start, seek into a hole) the read is empty
+		// and the LAST FRAME simply holds — never clamped/repeated junk.
+		const target = smoothPosition();
+		const count = pcm.readWindow(sampleBuffer, target);
+		// Never feed a partial FFT window to cava.
+		if (count < sampleBuffer.length) return;
+
+		const output = cava.execute(sampleBuffer);
+
+		// Normalize against the running peak and copy to a new array
+		setBarData(scaler(output));
+		if (isLoading()) setIsLoading(false);
+	};
+
+	// ── Playback subscription ──────────────────────────────────────────
+	//
+	// Keeps the pipeline matched to playback. Pause suspends (render loop +
+	// decode pass die, cache survives) so resume is instant. Stop/track-end/
+	// disable fully tears down. `focused` is a dep so focus regain
+	// re-evaluates; the guards make a focus flip on an already-correct warm
+	// pipeline a no-op. Speed is deliberately NOT a dep — the PCM cache is
+	// position-indexed, so playback-rate changes need no pipeline restart.
+
+	createEffect(
+		on(
+			[
+				audioPlaybackSignals.isPlaying,
+				() => audioPlaybackSignals.currentEpisode()?.audioUrl ?? "",
+				barCount,
+				focused,
+				() => useAppStore().state().settings.visualizer.enabled,
+			],
+			([playing, url, , , enabled]) => {
+				if (!url || !enabled) {
+					stopVisualization();
+					return;
+				}
+				if (!playing) {
+					// Pause: freeze the loop, keep the cache. Only if the
+					// pipeline is actually running — otherwise no-op.
+					if (frameTimer !== null) suspendVisualization();
+					return;
+				}
+
+				// Playing — try a fast resume first. If it succeeds and the
+				// pipeline matches, done.
+				if (
+					frameTimer === null &&
+					pcm &&
+					cava?.isReady &&
+					url === activeUrl &&
+					barCount() === activeBars
+				) {
+					if (resumeVisualization()) return;
+				}
+
+				// Warm and already correct — nothing to do (e.g. focus
+				// regained within the unload delay while still playing).
+				if (frameTimer !== null && url === activeUrl && barCount() === activeBars) {
+					return;
+				}
+				if (!focused()) return; // playing away: stay warm; unload timer decides
+				startVisualization(url, untrack(audioPlaybackSignals.position));
+			},
+		),
+	);
+
+	// ── Focus subscription: unload after the grace delay ───────────────
+
+	createEffect(
+		on(focused, (f) => {
+			clearUnloadTimer();
+			if (f) {
+				// Pipeline was unloaded (or never started) but playback is
+				// still going — restart from the current position. When the
+				// pipeline is warm the playback effect above is the one that
+				// acts (guard: no-op for an unchanged warm pipeline).
+				if (
+					audioPlaybackSignals.isPlaying() &&
+					audioPlaybackSignals.currentEpisode()?.audioUrl &&
+					useAppStore().state().settings.visualizer.enabled &&
+					frameTimer === null
+				) {
+					startVisualization(
+						audioPlaybackSignals.currentEpisode()!.audioUrl,
+						untrack(audioPlaybackSignals.position),
+					);
+				}
+			} else if (frameTimer !== null) {
+				unloadTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+					unloadTimer = null;
+					stopVisualization();
+				}, VISUALIZER_UNLOAD_DELAY_MS);
+			}
+		}),
+	);
+
+	// ── Seek detection: jump coverage, not pipeline restarts ───────────
+	//
+	// Watches position for significant jumps (>2s = user seek). Decoded
+	// audio at the new position is served instantly with zero action; a
+	// jump into an undecoded hole kicks a background segment decode there
+	// while the last frame holds.
+
+	let lastSyncPosition = 0;
+	let seekDecodeTimer: TimerHandle | undefined;
+	createEffect(
+		on(audioPlaybackSignals.position, (pos) => {
+			if (!audioPlaybackSignals.isPlaying() || !pcm) {
+				lastSyncPosition = pos;
+				return;
+			}
+
+			const delta = Math.abs(pos - lastSyncPosition);
+			lastSyncPosition = pos;
+
+			if (delta > 2) {
+				// Debounce: holding the seek key fires a jump per poll tick —
+				// without debounce each one restarts ffmpeg, spamming network
+				// reconnects against the stream's server. Wait for the user to
+				// settle, then decode at the final position.
+				clearTimeout(seekDecodeTimer);
+				const target = pcm; // capture for the timer
+				seekDecodeTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+					seekDecodeTimer = undefined;
+					target.ensureDecodeAround(untrack(audioPlaybackSignals.position));
+				}, 400);
+			}
+		}),
+	);
+	// ── Process-exit teardown ──────────────────────────────────────────
+	//
+	// The pipeline lives in a detached createRoot that is never disposed,
+	// so Solid's onCleanup never runs. `q`/`:quit` call process.exit(0)
+	// (bypassing onCleanup); SIGINT/TERM/HUP are caught by useAudio's
+	// handler. This handler runs synchronously on `exit` and kills the
+	// ffmpeg child + destroys the cava plan so they don't outlive the host.
+	// Without it, a warm pipeline leaks an orphaned ffmpeg process on quit.
+	process.on("exit", () => {
+		stopVisualization();
+	});
+
+	return {
+		// state
+		barData,
+		isLoading,
+		isRunning: () => frameTimer !== null,
+		// inputs
+		setFocused,
+		setBarCount,
+	};
+}
+
+// ── Singleton ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+let visualizerStoreInstance: VisualizerStore | null = null;
+
+/**
+ * Accessor for the shared visualizer store. Created once inside a
+ * `createRoot` so its effects are owned by a detached root — not by
+ * whichever component happens to call first (PlayerPage unmounts would
+ * otherwise dispose the pipeline effects with it).
+ */
+export function useVisualizer(): VisualizerStore {
+	if (!visualizerStoreInstance) {
+		visualizerStoreInstance = createRoot(() => createVisualizerStore());
+	}
+	return visualizerStoreInstance;
+}

src/types/episode.ts

@@ -98,7 +98,9 @@ export enum DownloadStatus {
 export interface DownloadedEpisode {
   /** Episode ID */
   episodeId: string
-  /** Feed ID the episode belongs to */
+  /** Feed ID the episode belongs to. For downloads of shows that aren't
+   *  subscribed (search downloads) this is a deterministic synthetic id
+   *  ("unsub-<slug>") that also names the file subdirectory. */
   feedId: string
   /** Current download status */
   status: DownloadStatus
@@ -114,4 +116,16 @@ export interface DownloadedEpisode {
   fileSize: number
   /** Error message if failed */
   error: string | null
+  /** Episode title, persisted so unsubscribed-show downloads render without
+   *  a loaded feed. */
+  episodeTitle?: string
+  /** Audio URL, persisted so queued downloads survive a restart. */
+  audioUrl?: string
+  /** Publication date (ISO), for display of unsubscribed-show downloads. */
+  pubDate?: string
+  /** Show title, kept for downloads whose show isn't subscribed. */
+  podcastTitle?: string
+  /** The show's RSS feed URL, used to re-classify a download as subscribed
+   *  once the user subscribes to its show. */
+  podcastFeedUrl?: string
 }

src/types/feed.ts

@@ -33,10 +33,6 @@ export interface Feed {
   isPinned: boolean
   /** Feed color for UI */
   color?: string
-  /** Whether auto-download is enabled for this feed */
-  autoDownload?: boolean
-  /** Number of newest episodes to auto-download (0 = all new) */
-  autoDownloadCount?: number
 }
 
 /** Feed item for display in lists */

src/types/podcast.ts

@@ -12,8 +12,12 @@ export interface Podcast {
   description: string
   /** Cover image URL */
   coverUrl?: string
-  /** RSS feed URL */
+  /** RSS feed URL. Empty when the directory lists the show without a feed
+   *  (e.g. shows delisted from Apple Podcasts); see directoryUrl. */
   feedUrl: string
+  /** Directory listing page (e.g. Apple Podcasts) for shows whose feed URL
+   *  the directory omits — used to resolve the real feed at subscribe time. */
+  directoryUrl?: string
   /** Author/creator name */
   author?: string
   /** Podcast categories */

src/types/settings.ts

@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ export type DesktopTheme = {
 };
 
 export type VisualizerSettings = {
+	/** Master on/off switch for the player's realtime waveform (default: on). */
+	enabled: boolean;
 	/** Number of frequency bars (8–128, default: 64) */
 	bars: number;
 	/** Automatic sensitivity: 1 = enabled, 0 = disabled (default: 1) */
@@ -78,17 +80,48 @@ export type AppSettings = {
 	theme: ThemeName;
 	fontSize: number;
 	playbackSpeed: number;
+	/** Playback volume 0–1 (default: 1 = 100%). */
+	volume: number;
 	downloadPath: string;
 	/** Render the app background transparent (let the terminal's own bg show). */
 	transparentBackground: boolean;
+	/** Show the `❯` cursor marker on the focused row of every list (default: off). */
+	showSelectionMarker: boolean;
 	visualizer: VisualizerSettings;
 };
 
+/** How the Feed and per-show episode lists load older episodes (default: auto). */
+export type FetchMoreMode = "manual" | "auto";
+
+/** Which shows the auto-download setting applies to (default: all). */
+export type AutoDownloadScope = "all" | "none" | "whitelist";
+
+/** How the episode cache (the Feed / My Shows list + the pagination cache)
+ *  is bounded: by a rolling date window or by a count of most-recent
+ *  episodes (default: date). */
+export type EpisodeCacheMode = "date" | "count";
+
 export type UserPreferences = {
 	showExplicit: boolean;
 	autoDownload: boolean;
+	/** Most recent episodes to auto-download per in-scope show (default: 2). */
+	autoDownloadCount: number;
+	/** Shows auto-download covers: all / none / whitelist (default: all). */
+	autoDownloadScope: AutoDownloadScope;
+	/** Feed ids in the auto-download whitelist (used when scope is "whitelist"). */
+	autoDownloadWhitelist: string[];
 	/** Jump to the Player view automatically when playback starts (default: true) */
 	autoJumpToPlayer: boolean;
+	/** Load older episodes from the Feed list: manual button or automatic at the bottom (default: auto). */
+	fetchMoreMode: FetchMoreMode;
+	/** Minutes between automatic background feed refreshes (default: 30). */
+	refreshIntervalMinutes: number;
+	/** How the episode list cache is bounded — by date or by count (default: date). */
+	episodeCacheMode: EpisodeCacheMode;
+	/** Number of most-recent episodes to keep when mode is "count" (default: 25). */
+	episodeCacheCount: number;
+	/** Rolling window in days for the episode list when mode is "date" (default: 60). */
+	episodeCacheDays: number;
 };
 
 export type AppState = {

src/types/source.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
  * Podcast source type definitions for PodTUI
  */
 
+import type { Episode } from "./episode"
+import type { Podcast } from "./podcast"
+
 /** Source type enumeration */
 export enum SourceType {
   /** RSS feed URL */
@@ -22,8 +25,21 @@ export interface PodcastSource {
   type: SourceType
   /** Base URL for the source */
   baseUrl: string
-  /** API key (if required) */
+  /** API key — live only when the keychain is unavailable and the source
+   *  uses the plaintext fallback (credentialStorage "plaintext"). Legacy
+   *  plaintext keys are migrated to the OS keychain on load and stripped. */
   apiKey?: string
+  /** API secret (e.g. Podcast Index signature auth) — same lifecycle as
+   *  apiKey: held in the OS keychain by default, live on the source only
+   *  under the plaintext fallback. */
+  apiSecret?: string
+  /** True when this source's credentials are stored. A source is usable once
+   *  enabled. */
+  hasCredentials?: boolean
+  /** Where this source's credentials live: the OS keychain (encrypted at
+   *  rest) by default, or config.json as a plaintext fallback when the
+   *  keychain is unavailable (e.g. non-macOS). */
+  credentialStorage?: "keychain" | "plaintext"
   /** Whether source is enabled */
   enabled: boolean
   /** Source icon/logo URL */
@@ -78,20 +94,39 @@ export enum SearchSortField {
   POPULARITY = "popularity",
 }
 
-/** Search result */
-export interface SearchResult {
+/** What a directory search targets: shows or individual episodes. */
+export type SearchScope = "podcast" | "episode"
+
+/** Fields shared by every search result. */
+export interface SearchResultBase {
   /** Source that returned this result */
   sourceId: string
   /** Source display name */
   sourceName?: string
   /** Source type */
   sourceType?: SourceType
-  /** Podcast data */
-  podcast: import("./podcast").Podcast
   /** Relevance score (0-1) */
   score?: number
 }
 
+/** A show found by directory search. */
+export interface PodcastSearchResult extends SearchResultBase {
+  kind: "podcast"
+  /** Podcast data */
+  podcast: Podcast
+}
+
+/** A single episode found by directory search. `podcast` is its parent show
+ *  — used for display context and for subscribing to the show. */
+export interface EpisodeSearchResult extends SearchResultBase {
+  kind: "episode"
+  podcast: Podcast
+  episode: Episode
+}
+
+/** Search result */
+export type SearchResult = PodcastSearchResult | EpisodeSearchResult
+
 /** Default podcast sources */
 export const DEFAULT_SOURCES: PodcastSource[] = [
   {
@@ -106,11 +141,14 @@ export const DEFAULT_SOURCES: PodcastSource[] = [
     allowExplicit: true,
   },
   {
-    id: "rss",
-    name: "RSS Feed",
-    type: SourceType.RSS,
-    baseUrl: "",
-    enabled: true,
-    description: "Add podcasts via RSS feed URL",
+    id: "podcastindex",
+    name: "Podcast Index",
+    type: SourceType.API,
+    baseUrl: "https://api.podcastindex.org/api/1.0/search/byterm",
+    enabled: false,
+    description:
+      "Open podcast directory. Fallback when other sources return few results; requires a free API key + secret from podcastindex.org.",
+    language: "en",
+    allowExplicit: true,
   },
 ]

src/ui/command.tsx

@@ -156,9 +156,6 @@ function init() {
 				setRegistrations((arr) => arr.filter((x) => x !== results));
 			});
 		},
-		/**
-		 * Get all visible options.
-		 */
 		get options() {
 			return visibleOptions();
 		},
@@ -195,9 +192,6 @@ export function CommandProvider(props: ParentProps) {
 	return <ctx.Provider value={value}>{props.children}</ctx.Provider>;
 }
 
-/**
- * Command palette dialog component.
- */
 function CommandDialog(props: {
 	options: CommandOption[];
 	suggestedOptions: CommandOption[];
@@ -274,7 +268,7 @@ function CommandDialog(props: {
 			{/* Search input */}
 			<box marginBottom={1}>
 				<text fg={theme.textMuted}>{"> "}</text>
-				<text fg={theme.text}>{filter() || "Type to search commands..."}</text>
+				<text fg={theme.accent}>{filter() || "Type to search commands..."}</text>
 			</box>
 
 			{/* Command list */}

src/ui/dialog.tsx

@@ -98,9 +98,6 @@ function init() {
   })
 
   return {
-    /**
-     * Clear all dialogs from the stack.
-     */
     clear() {
       for (const item of store.stack) {
         if (item.onClose) item.onClose()
@@ -113,9 +110,6 @@ function init() {
       emit("dialog.close", {})
     },
 
-    /**
-     * Replace all dialogs with a new one.
-     */
     replace(input: JSX.Element | (() => JSX.Element), onClose?: () => void) {
       if (store.stack.length === 0) {
         focus = renderer.currentFocusedRenderable
@@ -130,9 +124,6 @@ function init() {
       emit("dialog.open", { dialogId: "dialog" })
     },
 
-    /**
-     * Push a new dialog onto the stack.
-     */
     push(input: JSX.Element | (() => JSX.Element), onClose?: () => void) {
       if (store.stack.length === 0) {
         focus = renderer.currentFocusedRenderable
@@ -143,9 +134,6 @@ function init() {
       emit("dialog.open", { dialogId: "dialog" })
     },
 
-    /**
-     * Pop the top dialog from the stack.
-     */
     pop() {
       if (store.stack.length === 0) return
       const current = store.stack.at(-1)!

src/utils/app-persistence.ts

@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
  * No backups — writes always overwrite.
  */
 
-import { ensureConfigDir, getConfigFilePath } from "./config-dir";
+import { mkdirSync, writeFileSync } from "fs";
+import { ensureConfigDir, getConfigDir, getConfigFilePath } from "./config-dir";
 import { loadConfig, updateConfig } from "./config";
 import type {
 	AppState,
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ import { DEFAULT_THEME } from "../constants/themes";
 // --- Defaults ---
 
 const defaultVisualizerSettings: VisualizerSettings = {
+	enabled: true,
 	bars: 32,
 	sensitivity: 1,
 	noiseReduction: 0.77,
@@ -31,15 +33,25 @@ const defaultSettings: AppSettings = {
 	theme: "system",
 	fontSize: 14,
 	playbackSpeed: 1,
+	volume: 1,
 	downloadPath: "",
 	transparentBackground: false,
+	showSelectionMarker: false,
 	visualizer: defaultVisualizerSettings,
 };
 
 const defaultPreferences: UserPreferences = {
 	showExplicit: false,
 	autoDownload: false,
+	autoDownloadCount: 2,
+	autoDownloadScope: "all",
+	autoDownloadWhitelist: [],
 	autoJumpToPlayer: true,
+	fetchMoreMode: "auto",
+	refreshIntervalMinutes: 30,
+	episodeCacheMode: "date",
+	episodeCacheCount: 25,
+	episodeCacheDays: 60,
 };
 
 const defaultState: AppState = {
@@ -50,13 +62,23 @@ const defaultState: AppState = {
 
 // ── App State (config.json) ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-/** Load app state from config.json */
 export async function loadAppStateFromFile(): Promise<AppState> {
 	try {
 		const cfg = await loadConfig();
 		if (!cfg || typeof cfg !== "object") return defaultState;
 		return {
-			settings: { ...defaultSettings, ...cfg.settings },
+			settings: {
+				...defaultSettings,
+				...cfg.settings,
+				// Visualizer is nested: a plain spread would let a config
+				// saved before a field was added (e.g. `enabled`) clobber
+				// the whole object and leave the new field undefined.
+				// Deep-merge so defaults backfill missing nested keys.
+				visualizer: {
+					...defaultVisualizerSettings,
+					...cfg.settings?.visualizer,
+				},
+			},
 			preferences: { ...defaultPreferences, ...cfg.preferences },
 			customTheme: { ...DEFAULT_THEME, ...cfg.customTheme },
 		};
@@ -65,7 +87,6 @@ export async function loadAppStateFromFile(): Promise<AppState> {
 	}
 }
 
-/** Save app state to config.json */
 export function saveAppStateToFile(state: AppState): void {
 	updateConfig({
 		settings: state.settings,
@@ -86,7 +107,6 @@ interface ProgressEntry {
 	playbackSpeed?: number;
 }
 
-/** Load progress map from JSON file */
 export async function loadProgressFromFile(): Promise<
 	Record<string, ProgressEntry>
 > {
@@ -118,11 +138,41 @@ export function saveProgressToFile(data: Record<string, unknown>): void {
 	})();
 }
 
+// ── Search History (separate file — changes on every search) ────────────────
+
+const SEARCH_HISTORY_FILE = "search-history.json";
+
+export async function loadSearchHistoryFromFile(): Promise<string[]> {
+	try {
+		const file = Bun.file(getConfigFilePath(SEARCH_HISTORY_FILE));
+		if (!(await file.exists())) return [];
+
+		const raw = await file.json();
+		if (!Array.isArray(raw)) return [];
+		return raw.filter((item): item is string => typeof item === "string");
+	} catch {
+		return [];
+	}
+}
+
+export function saveSearchHistoryToFile(history: string[]): void {
+	(async () => {
+		try {
+			await ensureConfigDir();
+			await Bun.write(
+				getConfigFilePath(SEARCH_HISTORY_FILE),
+				JSON.stringify(history, null, 2),
+			);
+		} catch {
+			// Silently ignore write errors
+		}
+	})();
+}
+
 // ── Audio Nav State (separate file — changes on every track change) ──────────
 
 const AUDIO_NAV_FILE = "audio-nav.json";
 
-/** Load audio navigation state from JSON file */
 export async function loadAudioNavFromFile<T>(): Promise<T | null> {
 	try {
 		const file = Bun.file(getConfigFilePath(AUDIO_NAV_FILE));
@@ -151,3 +201,70 @@ export function saveAudioNavToFile<T>(data: T): void {
 		}
 	})();
 }
+
+// ── Last Player State (separate file — written on every load/stop) ──────────
+
+const LAST_PLAYER_FILE = "last-player.json";
+
+/** Which episode is currently loaded in the player, persisted so the next
+ *  launch can restore it paused. `episodeId: null` means the player is empty
+ *  (e.g. after Stop). */
+export interface LastPlayerState {
+	episodeId: string | null;
+	timestamp: string | Date | null;
+}
+
+/** Load the last-loaded-player marker (null when absent or unreadable) */
+export async function loadLastPlayerFromFile(): Promise<LastPlayerState | null> {
+	try {
+		const file = Bun.file(getConfigFilePath(LAST_PLAYER_FILE));
+		if (!(await file.exists())) return null;
+
+		const raw = await file.json();
+		if (!raw || typeof raw !== "object") return null;
+
+		return raw as LastPlayerState;
+	} catch {
+		return null;
+	}
+}
+
+/** Serialized marker-write chain: concurrent writes land in submission
+ *  order, and callers can await the last one (tests read the file back
+ *  deterministically). Mirrors updateConfig's write serialization. */
+let lastPlayerWriteChain: Promise<void> = Promise.resolve();
+
+/** Save the last-loaded-player marker (fire-and-forget) */
+export function saveLastPlayerToFile(state: LastPlayerState): void {
+	lastPlayerWriteChain = lastPlayerWriteChain.then(async () => {
+		try {
+			await ensureConfigDir();
+			await Bun.write(
+				getConfigFilePath(LAST_PLAYER_FILE),
+				JSON.stringify(state, null, 2),
+			);
+		} catch {
+			// Silently ignore write errors
+		}
+	});
+}
+
+/** Resolves once every marker write submitted so far has landed on disk. */
+export function waitForLastPlayerWrite(): Promise<void> {
+	return lastPlayerWriteChain;
+}
+
+/** Synchronous variant for the process-exit teardown. `q` quits through
+ *  `process.exit(0)`, which runs exit listeners synchronously — an async
+ *  write would never land. */
+export function saveLastPlayerSync(state: LastPlayerState): void {
+	try {
+		mkdirSync(getConfigDir(), { recursive: true });
+		writeFileSync(
+			getConfigFilePath(LAST_PLAYER_FILE),
+			JSON.stringify(state, null, 2),
+		);
+	} catch {
+		// Silently ignore write errors
+	}
+}

src/utils/audio-pcm-cache.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,471 @@
+/**
+ * Position-indexed PCM cache for visualization.
+ *
+ * One ffmpeg process decodes the episode's audio at 4x realtime (with an
+ * 8s initial burst — fast enough to serve bars and seeks instantly, throttled
+ * enough that a remote episode isn't ripped at 84x while mpv is trying to
+ * start playback) into an in-memory cache indexed by ABSOLUTE playback time.
+ * The renderer then reads the PCM
+ * window ending at the player's current position with zero sync machinery:
+ * there is no pacing (-readrate), no lead-burst, no decode-head/player
+ * drift math, no ring wrap, and nothing that knows or cares about pause,
+ * resume, seek, or playback speed — those all collapse to "read at a
+ * different position in the cache".
+ *
+ * Pause/resume contract (the failure mode of the old design):
+ * - pauseDecode() kills ffmpeg but KEEPS the cache. Resume reads from it
+ *   instantly and resumes the tail decode in the background.
+ * - Reads outside decoded coverage (startup, seek into an undecoded hole)
+ *   return 0 — the renderer HOLDS the last rendered frame rather than
+ *   freezing on a clamped buffer or decaying into junk bars.
+ *
+ * Seeks into undecoded territory start a fresh SEGMENT (a second decode
+ * pass over just that region) — earlier segments stay valid, mp3 decode of
+ * the same file is deterministic so abutting segments agree.
+ *
+ * Memory: 22050 Hz mono s16 ≈ 44 KB/s ≈ 2.6 MB/min. The cache is a
+ * SLIDING WINDOW around the playback position — the decode pass stops
+ * once it is maxAheadSec ahead of the cursor and segments entirely older
+ * than keepBehindSec behind it are dropped (both re-filled/restarted on
+ * demand). Steady state is bounded by (maxAheadSec + keepBehindSec) of
+ * audio (~40 MB at the defaults) INDEPENDENT of episode length; the old
+ * whole-episode cache grew ~160 MB per hour of audio and hit 2.5 GB on
+ * long-form episodes. Fully freed on stop(). 22050 Hz covers Nyquist
+ * 11 kHz, above the default 10 kHz high-cutoff of the visualizer's FFT
+ * config.
+ *
+ * Downloads via ffmpeg's own http stack with reconnect flags, matching the
+ * old reader; local files skip them (ffmpeg rejects http-only options for
+ * file inputs).
+ */
+
+import type { Subprocess } from "bun";
+
+/** PCM output format constants */
+export const PCM_SAMPLE_RATE = 22050;
+const BYTES_PER_SAMPLE = 2; // s16le
+
+/** Initial segment capacity: 4 Mi samples ≈ 190 s of audio (8 MB). */
+const INITIAL_CAPACITY_SAMPLES = 4 * 1024 * 1024;
+
+/**
+ * Gap (seconds) a running decode pass may close on its own before a restart
+ * at the seek target is cheaper than waiting: at 4x pacing, 15s of undecoded
+ * audio closes in ~4s — about the cost of a network reconnect + range
+ * request for a fresh ffmpeg pass. Beyond the gap, restart at the target.
+ */
+const CLOSE_IN_PLACE_GAP_SEC = 15;
+
+/**
+ * Default decode-head budget: the ffmpeg pass pauses once it is this far
+ * ahead of the playback cursor. Bounds RAM (~26 MB of s16 at 22050 Hz) AND
+ * the network pull — the old cache decoded the whole episode at 4x, so a
+ * 3h show pinned ~500 MB (2.5 GB+ for long-form) and dragged the entire
+ * remote file even when only the first 10 minutes were listened to. At 4x
+ * pacing a refill costs ~150s of background decode, one ffmpeg spawn per
+ * ~10 min of playback.
+ */
+const DEFAULT_DECODE_AHEAD_SEC = 600;
+
+/**
+ * Default retention behind the cursor: decoded audio entirely older than
+ * this is dropped. Keeps pause/resume and small backward seeks instant
+ * without letting the window grow with playback time.
+ */
+const DEFAULT_KEEP_BEHIND_SEC = 300;
+
+/**
+ * Monotonically increasing generation counter.
+ * Each startDecode() increments this; the read loop checks it to know
+ * if it's been superseded and should bail out.
+ */
+let globalGeneration = 0;
+
+interface Segment {
+	/** Playback seconds where this segment's first sample sits. */
+	baseSec: number;
+	/** Sample buffer; capacity >= written, doubled on overflow. */
+	samples: Int16Array;
+	/** Samples written so far (== decoded length of the segment). */
+	written: number;
+	/** ffmpeg reached stream EOF while writing this segment — nothing more
+	 *  will ever arrive after its end. */
+	finished: boolean;
+}
+
+export interface EpisodePcmCacheOptions {
+	/** Audio URL or file path to decode */
+	url: string;
+	/** Sample rate (default: 22050) */
+	sampleRate?: number;
+	/** Decode-head budget in seconds ahead of the cursor (default: 600). */
+	maxAheadSec?: number;
+	/** Retention in seconds behind the cursor (default: 300). */
+	keepBehindSec?: number;
+}
+
+export class EpisodePcmCache {
+	private proc: Subprocess | null = null;
+	private segments: Segment[] = [];
+	private generation = 0;
+	private _decoding = false;
+	/** The running pass's segment (base + frontier); null when idle. */
+	private activeSegment: Segment | null = null;
+	readonly url: string;
+	readonly sampleRate: number;
+	/** Sliding-window budgets (see maintainWindow). */
+	readonly maxAheadSec: number;
+	readonly keepBehindSec: number;
+
+	constructor(options: EpisodePcmCacheOptions) {
+		this.url = options.url;
+		this.sampleRate = options.sampleRate ?? PCM_SAMPLE_RATE;
+		this.maxAheadSec = options.maxAheadSec ?? DEFAULT_DECODE_AHEAD_SEC;
+		this.keepBehindSec = options.keepBehindSec ?? DEFAULT_KEEP_BEHIND_SEC;
+	}
+
+	/** Whether an ffmpeg decode pass is currently running. */
+	get decoding(): boolean {
+		return this._decoding;
+	}
+
+	/** Base (playback seconds) of the running decode pass; null when idle. */
+	get activeDecodeBaseSec(): number | null {
+		return this._decoding && this.activeSegment
+			? this.activeSegment.baseSec
+			: null;
+	}
+
+	/** End (playback seconds) of the furthest-decoded segment. */
+	get coverageEndSec(): number {
+		let end = 0;
+		for (const seg of this.segments) {
+			const segEnd = seg.baseSec + seg.written / this.sampleRate;
+			if (segEnd > end) end = segEnd;
+		}
+		return end;
+	}
+
+	/** Whether the furthest segment finished at stream EOF. */
+	get decodeFinished(): boolean {
+		let maxEnd = -1;
+		let finished = false;
+		for (const seg of this.segments) {
+			const segEnd = seg.baseSec + seg.written / this.sampleRate;
+			if (segEnd > maxEnd) {
+				maxEnd = segEnd;
+				finished = seg.finished;
+			}
+		}
+		return finished;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Start decoding at `fromSec` of playback time into a fresh segment.
+	 * Kills any in-flight pass first; existing segments stay readable.
+	 */
+	startDecode(fromSec: number): void {
+		this.killProcess();
+
+		if (!Bun.which("ffmpeg")) {
+			throw new Error("ffmpeg not found — required for audio visualization");
+		}
+
+		this.generation = ++globalGeneration;
+		const myGeneration = this.generation;
+
+		const segment: Segment = {
+			baseSec: Math.max(0, fromSec),
+			samples: new Int16Array(INITIAL_CAPACITY_SAMPLES),
+			written: 0,
+			finished: false,
+		};
+		this.segments.push(segment);
+
+		const args = ["ffmpeg", "-loglevel", "quiet"];
+
+		// Pace the decode at 4x realtime (with an 8s initial burst) instead of
+		// flat-out: unthrottled decode measures ~84x realtime, which pulls the
+		// ENTIRE episode from the network within the first minute of playback
+		// (~160MB/hr) and starves mpv's own buffering right at startup. 4x
+		// still fills the cache 4x faster than playback consumes it, lands a
+		// 75-min episode in ~19 min of background work, and the burst makes
+		// the first bars available immediately.
+		args.push("-readrate", "4", "-readrate_initial_burst", "8");
+
+		// `-reconnect*` are http-protocol options: ffmpeg rejects them at
+		// input-open when the input is a local file, killing the process
+		// before any PCM is produced. Only pass them for network URLs.
+		if (/^https?:\/\//i.test(this.url)) {
+			args.push(
+				"-reconnect",
+				"1",
+				"-reconnect_streamed",
+				"1",
+				"-reconnect_delay_max",
+				"5",
+			);
+		}
+
+		// Seek before input for network efficiency (container-level skip is
+		// near-instant for mp3/aac; no pre-position decode burn).
+		if (fromSec > 0) {
+			args.push("-ss", String(Math.max(0, fromSec)));
+		}
+
+		args.push(
+			"-i",
+			this.url,
+			"-ac",
+			"1",
+			"-ar",
+			String(this.sampleRate),
+			"-f",
+			"s16le",
+			"-acodec",
+			"pcm_s16le",
+			"-",
+		);
+
+		this.proc = Bun.spawn(args, {
+			stdout: "pipe",
+			stderr: "ignore",
+			stdin: "ignore",
+		});
+		this._decoding = true;
+		this.activeSegment = segment;
+		this.readLoop(myGeneration, segment);
+
+		this.proc.exited
+			.then((code) => {
+				if (this.generation === myGeneration) {
+					this._decoding = false;
+					this.activeSegment = null;
+					// Exit 0 == decoded to stream EOF.
+					if (code === 0) segment.finished = true;
+				}
+			})
+			.catch(() => {
+				if (this.generation === myGeneration) {
+					this._decoding = false;
+					this.activeSegment = null;
+				}
+			});
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Whether `sec` of playback time has decoded PCM on hand.
+	 */
+	covers(sec: number): boolean {
+		const idx = Math.round(sec * this.sampleRate);
+		for (const seg of this.segments) {
+			const base = Math.round(seg.baseSec * this.sampleRate);
+			if (idx >= base && idx < base + seg.written) return true;
+		}
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Make sure decode is progressing toward `sec`: no-op while a pass is
+	 * running or the episode is fully decoded; otherwise resumes the tail
+	 * decode from the frontier (when `sec` is inside coverage) or starts a
+	 * new segment at `sec` (seek into a hole / resume past cached audio).
+	 */
+	ensureDecodeAround(sec: number): void {
+		// Enforce the sliding-window budget first (head cap, prune, refill)
+		// so a resume or seek never leaves stale segments behind the cursor.
+		this.maintainWindow(sec);
+
+		// Data already on hand: nothing needed here; only keep the tail
+		// filling if the decode is idle, the episode is unfinished, AND the
+		// head is inside its budget. A head-capped cache ("we're maxAheadSec
+		// ahead, enough decoded") is NOT a stalled decode — restarting it
+		// here would fight maintainWindow's cap on every resume call.
+		if (this.covers(sec)) {
+			if (this._decoding || this.decodeFinished) return;
+			const end = this.coverageEndSec;
+			if (end >= sec + this.maxAheadSec) return;
+			this.startDecode(end > sec ? end : sec);
+			return;
+		}
+
+		if (this._decoding && this.activeSegment !== null) {
+			// A decode pass fills monotonically FORWARD from its base. Targets
+			// behind the base are unreachable — restart at the target.
+			if (sec < this.activeSegment.baseSec) {
+				this.startDecode(Math.max(0, sec));
+				return;
+			}
+			// Target past the pass's frontier: a SMALL gap closes on its own
+			// (4x pacing covers 15s in ~4s — about what a cold restart costs
+			// to reconnect + range-request a network stream), but a FAR-FORWARD
+			// seek would otherwise mean minutes of frozen bars while the pass
+			// chews through the skipped region. Restart at the target.
+			const frontier =
+				this.activeSegment.baseSec + this.activeSegment.written / this.sampleRate;
+			if (sec - frontier <= CLOSE_IN_PLACE_GAP_SEC) return;
+		}
+		this.startDecode(Math.max(0, sec));
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Sliding-window budget for the in-memory cache, driven by the live
+	 * playback position. Runs on every read (the render loop is the only
+	 * consumer that knows the cursor continuously) and on resume/seek:
+	 * - capHead: the decode pass pauses once it is maxAheadSec ahead of the
+	 *   cursor (pauseDecode keeps the decoded data — a plain startDecode
+	 *   from the frontier refills it later).
+	 * - prune: segments entirely keepBehindSec behind the cursor are
+	 *   dropped. A backward seek past the window restarts a segment there —
+	 *   the same mechanism as a seek into an undecoded hole, so no new
+	 *   failure mode.
+	 * - topUp: when the cursor has outrun the head, restart the tail decode
+	 *   from the frontier (one ffmpeg spawn per maxAheadSec of playback).
+	 * Together these bound memory to (maxAheadSec + keepBehindSec) of audio
+	 * regardless of episode length.
+	 */
+	private maintainWindow(atSec: number): void {
+		const pos = Math.max(0, atSec);
+
+		if (this._decoding && this.coverageEndSec >= pos + this.maxAheadSec) {
+			this.pauseDecode();
+		}
+
+		const keepFromSec = pos - this.keepBehindSec;
+		if (
+			this.segments.some(
+				(seg) => seg.baseSec + seg.written / this.sampleRate < keepFromSec,
+			)
+		) {
+			this.segments = this.segments.filter(
+				(seg) => seg.baseSec + seg.written / this.sampleRate >= keepFromSec,
+			);
+		}
+
+		if (!this._decoding && !this.decodeFinished) {
+			const end = this.coverageEndSec;
+			if (end < pos + this.maxAheadSec) {
+				this.startDecode(Math.max(end, pos));
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Read the PCM window ENDING at `atSec` of playback into `out`
+	 * (Int16 magnitudes widened to f64, the scale cavacore expects).
+	 *
+	 * Returns the number of samples written: `out.length` on a full hit, 0
+	 * when the window is not (fully) decoded yet — the caller HOLDS the
+	 * last rendered frame instead of rendering partial/stale data.
+	 */
+	readWindow(out: Float64Array, atSec: number): number {
+		if (out.length === 0) return 0;
+		this.maintainWindow(atSec);
+		const endIdx = Math.round(atSec * this.sampleRate);
+		const startIdx = endIdx - out.length + 1;
+		for (const seg of this.segments) {
+			const base = Math.round(seg.baseSec * this.sampleRate);
+			if (startIdx < base || endIdx >= base + seg.written) continue;
+			const rel = startIdx - base;
+			const src = seg.samples;
+			for (let i = 0; i < out.length; i++) {
+				out[i] = src[rel + i];
+			}
+			return out.length;
+		}
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Pause contract: kill the ffmpeg pass but KEEP every decoded segment.
+	 * Resume later serves bars from the cache instantly.
+	 */
+	pauseDecode(): void {
+		this.generation = ++globalGeneration;
+		this._decoding = false;
+		this.activeSegment = null;
+		this.killProcess();
+	}
+
+	/** Kill the decode pass AND drop all cached audio. */
+	stop(): void {
+		this.pauseDecode();
+		this.segments = [];
+	}
+
+	/** Kill the ffmpeg process without touching generation/state. */
+	private killProcess(): void {
+		if (this.proc) {
+			try {
+				this.proc.kill();
+			} catch {
+				/* ignore */
+			}
+			this.proc = null;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/** Internal: continuously reads stdout from ffmpeg and appends samples
+	 *  to the segment at their absolute playback-time offsets. */
+	private async readLoop(myGeneration: number, segment: Segment): Promise<void> {
+		const stdout = this.proc?.stdout;
+		if (!stdout || typeof stdout === "number") return;
+
+		const reader = (stdout as ReadableStream<Uint8Array>).getReader();
+		// s16 sample pairs can straddle pipe chunk boundaries: carry a lone
+		// trailing byte into the next chunk (dropping it would byte-flip
+		// every sample that follows).
+		let carry: number | null = null;
+		try {
+			while (this.generation === myGeneration) {
+				const { done, value } = await reader.read();
+				if (done || this.generation !== myGeneration) break;
+				if (!value || value.byteLength === 0) continue;
+
+				let view: Uint8Array = value;
+				if (carry !== null) {
+					const merged = new Uint8Array(1 + value.byteLength);
+					merged[0] = carry;
+					merged.set(value, 1);
+					view = merged;
+					carry = null;
+				}
+				if (view.byteLength % BYTES_PER_SAMPLE !== 0) {
+					carry = view[view.byteLength - 1];
+					view = view.subarray(0, view.byteLength - 1);
+				}
+
+				const sampleCount = view.byteLength / BYTES_PER_SAMPLE;
+				if (sampleCount === 0) continue;
+
+				if (segment.written + sampleCount > segment.samples.length) {
+					const grown = new Int16Array(
+						Math.max(
+							segment.samples.length * 2,
+							segment.written + sampleCount,
+						),
+					);
+					grown.set(segment.samples.subarray(0, segment.written));
+					segment.samples = grown;
+				}
+				// Int16Array view over the byte buffer: s16le is the platform's
+				// native endianness on every supported target (arm64/x64 are LE).
+				const src = new Int16Array(
+					view.buffer,
+					view.byteOffset,
+					sampleCount,
+				);
+				segment.samples.set(src, segment.written);
+				segment.written += sampleCount;
+			}
+		} catch {
+			// Stream ended or process killed — expected during stop()
+		} finally {
+			try {
+				reader.releaseLock();
+			} catch {
+				/* ignore */
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}

src/utils/audio-player.ts

@@ -6,12 +6,35 @@
  * restart. When mpv isn't installed there is no fallback: the no-op backend
  * surfaces "No audio player found" honestly rather than degrading through
  * players that can't change speed/volume without restarting.
+ *
+ * The backend owns ONE RESIDENT mpv daemon (`--idle=yes --keep-open=yes`)
+ * for the app's lifetime instead of spawning a fresh player per episode:
+ *
+ * - Play/pause/seek are IPC commands on a persistent Unix-socket
+ *   connection — no process spawn, no socket connect/disconnect churn per
+ *   poll, no `waitForSocket` on the play path. Measured command latency is
+ *   single-digit ms; a mid-episode resume after pause takes ~300ms on a
+ *   network stream.
+ * - State (time-pos, pause, duration) is OBSERVED (`observe_property`):
+ *   mpv pushes time-pos at ~20Hz while playing, so `getPosition()` /
+ *   `getPauseState()` read a cache instead of round-tripping the socket on
+ *   every 150ms UI tick. External pauses (AirPod removal, system sleep,
+ *   Now Playing center) arrive as pause property events with zero polling.
+ * - A restored session can PRELOAD: the episode is loaded paused so mpv
+ *   fills its demuxer cache ahead of time; the first real play just flips
+ *   `pause` to false — the ~2s network open is paid at boot, not on the
+ *   user's first Play.
+ * - Crash/kill recovery: a dead daemon (process exit or broken IPC socket)
+ *   is detected on the next command; play() respawns a fresh daemon and
+ *   reloads. resume() cannot unpause a freshly-idle daemon — it throws
+ *   PlayerRestartedError so the caller reloads the episode via play().
  */
 
 import { platform } from "os";
-import { existsSync } from "fs";
+import { existsSync, unlinkSync } from "fs";
 import { tmpdir } from "os";
 import { join } from "path";
+import type { Socket, Subprocess } from "bun";
 
 // ── Types ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -30,6 +53,17 @@ export interface AudioState {
 export interface AudioBackend {
 	readonly name: BackendName;
 	play(url: string, opts?: PlayOptions): Promise<void>;
+	/**
+	 * Load the URL paused WITHOUT starting playback, so the player buffers
+	 * ahead of the user's first Play (used for boot session restore).
+	 * A subsequent play() of the SAME url flips pause off — near-instant.
+	 */
+	preload(url: string, opts?: PlayOptions): Promise<void>;
+	/**
+	 * Attach a cover-art image to the currently-loaded file at runtime
+	 * (mpv `video-add`). Lets play() start without waiting on art; the
+	 * Now Playing artwork pops in when the download lands.
+	 */
 	pause(): Promise<void>;
 	resume(): Promise<void>;
 	stop(): Promise<void>;
@@ -39,6 +73,15 @@ export interface AudioBackend {
 	getPosition(): Promise<number>;
 	getDuration(): Promise<number>;
 	isPlaying(): boolean;
+	/** Live pause state: `true` paused, `false` playing, `undefined` when
+	 *  unknown (player unreachable / not yet loaded). Unlike `isPlaying()` —
+	 *  which reflects only commands PodTUI sent — this reflects the player's
+	 *  real state, including pauses initiated OUTSIDE PodTUI (system
+	 *  sleep/lock, AirPod removal, device swap, OS media keys, the Now
+	 *  Playing center). */
+	getPauseState(): Promise<boolean | undefined>;
+	/** True while the player process is running (regardless of pause). */
+	isAlive(): boolean;
 	dispose(): void;
 }
 
@@ -46,6 +89,8 @@ export interface PlayOptions {
 	startPosition?: number;
 	volume?: number;
 	speed?: number;
+	mediaTitle?: string;
+	coverArtPath?: string;
 }
 
 // ── Utilities ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -68,278 +113,576 @@ function which(cmd: string): string | null {
 	return null;
 }
 
+let mpvInstance = 0;
 function mpvSocketPath(): string {
-	return join(tmpdir(), `podtui-mpv-${process.pid}.sock`);
+	// Per-instance, not just per-pid: tests (and backend switching) create
+	// several MpvBackend objects in ONE bun process — a pid-only path makes
+	// every daemon bind the same socket, so later daemons unlink the path
+	// out from under each other.
+	return join(
+		tmpdir(),
+		`podtui-mpv-${process.pid}-${mpvInstance++}.sock`,
+	);
+}
+
+// ── mpv JSON IPC connection ─────────────────────────────────────────
+//
+// One persistent Unix-socket connection to the resident mpv daemon. Lines
+// from mpv are either command responses (`request_id` present — correlated
+// to the pending promise) or unsolicited traffic (property-change events
+// from `observe_property`, end-file, ...), dispatched to the event handler.
+
+interface MpvResponse {
+	error?: string;
+	data?: unknown;
+	request_id?: number;
+}
+
+interface MpvEvent {
+	event: string;
+	/** Observation id for property-change events. */
+	id?: number;
+	name?: string;
+	data?: unknown;
+	reason?: string;
+	error?: string;
+}
+
+type MpvEventHandler = (msg: MpvEvent) => void;
+
+class MpvConnection {
+	private sock: Socket | null = null;
+	private buf = "";
+	private nextId = 1;
+	private pending = new Map<number, (msg: MpvResponse) => void>();
+	private eventWaiters = new Map<string, Array<(msg: MpvEvent) => void>>();
+	onEvent: MpvEventHandler = () => {};
+
+	async connect(path: string): Promise<void> {
+		const { promise, resolve, reject } = Promise.withResolvers<void>();
+		let settled = false;
+		Bun.connect({
+			unix: path,
+			socket: {
+				open: (socket) => {
+					this.sock = socket;
+					if (!settled) {
+						settled = true;
+						resolve();
+					}
+				},
+				data: (_socket, data) => this.onData(data),
+				error: (_socket, err) => {
+					if (!settled) {
+						settled = true;
+						reject(err);
+					}
+					this.handleTeardown();
+				},
+				close: () => this.handleTeardown(),
+			},
+		}).catch((err) => {
+			if (!settled) {
+				settled = true;
+				reject(err);
+			}
+		});
+		await promise;
+	}
+
+	private onData(data: Uint8Array): void {
+		this.buf += Buffer.from(data).toString();
+		let nl = this.buf.indexOf("\n");
+		while (nl !== -1) {
+			const line = this.buf.slice(0, nl);
+			this.buf = this.buf.slice(nl + 1);
+			nl = this.buf.indexOf("\n");
+			if (!line.trim()) continue;
+			let msg: Record<string, unknown>;
+			try {
+				msg = JSON.parse(line) as Record<string, unknown>;
+			} catch {
+				continue; // skip malformed lines
+			}
+			if (msg.request_id !== undefined) {
+				const resolve = this.pending.get(msg.request_id as number);
+				if (resolve) {
+					this.pending.delete(msg.request_id as number);
+					resolve(msg as MpvResponse);
+				}
+			} else if (typeof msg.event === "string") {
+				const event = msg as unknown as MpvEvent;
+				this.onEvent(event);
+				const waiters = this.eventWaiters.get(event.event);
+				if (waiters) {
+					this.eventWaiters.delete(event.event);
+					for (const w of waiters) w(event);
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	/** Socket died / daemon gone: fail all pending commands so no caller
+	 *  hangs on a dead connection. */
+	private handleTeardown(): void {
+		for (const resolve of this.pending.values()) {
+			resolve({ error: "connection-lost" });
+		}
+		this.pending.clear();
+		this.sock = null;
+	}
+
+	/** Send a command and await mpv's response (correlated by request_id).
+	 *  Resolves `{ error: "timeout" }` instead of hanging when mpv stalls. */
+	send(command: unknown[], timeoutMs = 2000): Promise<MpvResponse> {
+		const sock = this.sock;
+		if (!sock) return Promise.resolve({ error: "not-connected" });
+		const id = this.nextId++;
+		const { promise, resolve } = Promise.withResolvers<MpvResponse>();
+		const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
+			if (this.pending.delete(id)) resolve({ error: "timeout" });
+		}, timeoutMs);
+		this.pending.set(id, (msg) => {
+			clearTimeout(timeout);
+			resolve(msg);
+		});
+		sock.write(JSON.stringify({ command, request_id: id }) + "\n");
+		return promise;
+	}
+
+	/** One-shot wait for an mpv event by name. Register BEFORE the command
+	 *  that triggers it. Resolves null on timeout instead of hanging. */
+	waitEvent(name: string, timeoutMs = 5000): Promise<MpvEvent | null> {
+		const { promise, resolve } = Promise.withResolvers<MpvEvent | null>();
+		const list = this.eventWaiters.get(name) ?? [];
+		list.push(resolve);
+		this.eventWaiters.set(name, list);
+		setTimeout(() => {
+			const current = this.eventWaiters.get(name);
+			if (current) {
+				this.eventWaiters.set(
+					name,
+					current.filter((w) => w !== resolve),
+				);
+			}
+			resolve(null);
+		}, timeoutMs);
+		return promise;
+	}
+
+	close(): void {
+		try {
+			this.sock?.end();
+		} catch {
+			/* ignore */
+		}
+		this.handleTeardown();
+	}
+
+	/** True while the Unix socket is open — a live, reachable daemon. */
+	isConnected(): boolean {
+		return this.sock !== null;
+	}
 }
 
 // ── mpv Backend ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-// Uses JSON IPC over a Unix socket for full bidirectional control.
+// One resident daemon for the app's lifetime, controlled over a single
+// persistent JSON IPC connection with property observation.
+
+/** Thrown by resume() when the daemon restarted (killed/crashed) and the
+ *  previously-loaded file is gone — the fresh daemon is idle, so the
+ *  caller must reload the episode via the full play path instead of
+ *  unpausing (which would silently do nothing). */
+export class PlayerRestartedError extends Error {
+	constructor() {
+		super("mpv restarted; episode must be reloaded");
+		this.name = "PlayerRestartedError";
+	}
+}
+
+/** Property observation ids (correlate property-change events). */
+const OBS_TIME_POS = 1;
+const OBS_PAUSE = 2;
+const OBS_DURATION = 3;
+const OBS_EOF = 4;
 
 export class MpvBackend implements AudioBackend {
 	readonly name: BackendName = "mpv";
-	private proc: ReturnType<typeof Bun.spawn> | null = null;
+	private proc: Subprocess | null = null;
 	private socketPath = mpvSocketPath();
-	private _playing = false;
+	private conn: MpvConnection | null = null;
+	/** Guarantee daemon startup runs once (concurrent play/preload). */
+	private startPromise: Promise<void> | null = null;
+
+	// Command intent: what PodTUI asked the player to do.
+	private _intentPlaying = false;
+	/** The file currently loaded via loadfile (null = idle). */
+	private _loadedUrl: string | null = null;
+	/** The current file was loadfile'd paused (preload) and not yet played. */
+	private _loadedPaused = false;
+	/** Set on end-file reason "eof"/"error"; cleared by the next loadfile. */
+	private _ended = false;
+
+	// Observed (player-reported) state, pushed by mpv property-change events.
 	private _position = 0;
 	private _duration = 0;
+	/** null until the first pause observation arrives. */
+	private _paused: boolean | null = null;
+
 	private _volume = 100;
 	private _speed = 1;
-	private pollTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+	private _exited = false;
+	/** Last playback error reported via end-file reason "error". */
+	private _playbackError: string | null = null;
 
-	async play(url: string, opts?: PlayOptions): Promise<void> {
-		await this.stop();
+	// ── Daemon lifecycle ─────────────────────────────────────────────
 
+	private async ensureDaemon(): Promise<void> {
+		// Healthy = process alive AND its IPC socket open. A socket teardown
+		// with a living process (rare) is just as unusable as a dead one —
+		// every command would fail "not-connected" forever.
+		if (this.proc && !this._exited && this.conn?.isConnected()) return;
+		if (this.startPromise) return this.startPromise;
+		this.startPromise = this.recoverDaemon().finally(() => {
+			this.startPromise = null;
+		});
+		return this.startPromise;
+	}
+
+	/** Bring up a usable daemon. If the old process still lives with a dead
+	 *  IPC connection, kill it so the fresh spawn owns the socket path and
+	 *  no orphan lingers — and await its exit so its exit handler can't run
+	 *  after spawnDaemon() and clobber the new daemon's `_exited` flag. */
+	private async recoverDaemon(): Promise<void> {
+		const stale = this.proc;
+		if (stale && !this._exited) {
+			try {
+				stale.kill();
+			} catch {
+				/* already gone */
+			}
+		}
+		if (stale) await stale.exited.catch(() => {});
+		this.conn = null;
+		await this.spawnDaemon();
+	}
+
+	private async spawnDaemon(): Promise<void> {
 		// Clean up stale socket
 		try {
-			if (existsSync(this.socketPath)) {
-				const { unlinkSync } = await import("fs");
-				unlinkSync(this.socketPath);
-			}
+			unlinkSync(this.socketPath);
 		} catch {
 			/* ignore */
 		}
 
-		const args = [
-			"mpv",
-			"--no-video",
-			"--no-terminal",
-			"--really-quiet",
-			`--input-ipc-server=${this.socketPath}`,
-			`--volume=${Math.round((opts?.volume ?? 1) * 100)}`,
-			`--speed=${opts?.speed ?? 1}`,
-		];
-
-		if (opts?.startPosition && opts.startPosition > 0) {
-			args.push(`--start=${opts.startPosition}`);
-		}
-
-		args.push(url);
-
-		this.proc = Bun.spawn(args, {
-			stdout: "ignore",
-			stderr: "ignore",
-			stdin: "ignore",
-		});
-
-		this._playing = true;
-		this._position = opts?.startPosition ?? 0;
-		this._volume = Math.round((opts?.volume ?? 1) * 100);
-		this._speed = opts?.speed ?? 1;
-
-		// Wait for socket to appear (mpv creates it async)
-		await this.waitForSocket(2000);
-
-		// Start polling position
-		this.startPolling();
-
-		// Detect process exit
+		this.proc = Bun.spawn(
+			[
+				"mpv",
+				"--no-video",
+				"--no-terminal",
+				"--really-quiet",
+				// Stay alive after finishing/unloading files; PodTUI owns one mpv
+				// for its whole session and switches episodes via loadfile.
+				"--idle=yes",
+				"--keep-open=yes",
+				// Cap the demuxer cache. mpv's defaults (150MiB) make it race
+				// to fill while a preload sits paused — measured 45MB pulled
+				// within 12s of a boot-restore preload, saturating the link
+				// exactly when everything else is starting up. ~90s forward
+				// target / 40MiB hard cap is a few MB at podcast bitrates:
+				// plenty for instant resume + stall resilience.
+				"--cache-secs=90",
+				"--demuxer-max-bytes=40MiB",
+				"--demuxer-max-back-bytes=20MiB",
+				`--input-ipc-server=${this.socketPath}`,
+			],
+			{ stdout: "ignore", stderr: "ignore", stdin: "ignore" },
+		);
+		this._exited = false;
 		this.proc.exited
 			.then(() => {
-				this._playing = false;
-				this.stopPolling();
+				// Daemon died (crash or external kill): every per-file state
+				// is gone with it. _loadedUrl null forces the next play()
+				// down the full reload path; _position/_volume/_speed are
+				// kept so a recovery reload can carry them over.
+				this._exited = true;
+				this._intentPlaying = false;
+				this._loadedUrl = null;
+				this._loadedPaused = false;
+				this._ended = false;
+				this._paused = null;
 			})
 			.catch(() => {});
-	}
 
-	private async waitForSocket(timeoutMs: number): Promise<void> {
+		// mpv creates the socket asynchronously (measured ~600ms cold spawn).
 		const start = Date.now();
-		while (Date.now() - start < timeoutMs) {
-			if (existsSync(this.socketPath)) return;
+		while (Date.now() - start < 3000) {
+			if (this._exited) break;
+			if (existsSync(this.socketPath)) break;
 			await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 50));
 		}
+
+		const conn = new MpvConnection();
+		conn.onEvent = (msg) => this.handleEvent(msg);
+		await conn.connect(this.socketPath);
+		this.conn = conn;
+
+		// Observe the state the UI polls: mpv then pushes changes at ~20Hz
+		// while playing and broadcasts external changes (AirPods pull, OS
+		// media keys) with zero polling from our side.
+		await this.send(["observe_property", OBS_TIME_POS, "time-pos"]);
+		await this.send(["observe_property", OBS_PAUSE, "pause"]);
+		await this.send(["observe_property", OBS_DURATION, "duration"]);
+		// With --keep-open=yes mpv does NOT emit end-file at natural EOF — it
+		// sets eof-reached=true (and pauses at the last frame) instead. That
+		// property is the track-end signal; end-file only covers unload/error.
+		await this.send(["observe_property", OBS_EOF, "eof-reached"]);
 	}
 
-	private async ipc(command: unknown[]): Promise<unknown> {
-		try {
-			const socket = await Bun.connect({
-				unix: this.socketPath,
-				socket: {
-					data(_socket, data) {
-						// Response handling is done by reading below
-					},
-					error(_socket, err) {},
-					close() {},
-					open() {},
-				},
-			});
+	private async send(
+		command: unknown[],
+	): Promise<MpvResponse> {
+		if (!this.conn) return { error: "not-connected" };
+		return this.conn.send(command);
+	}
 
-			const payload = JSON.stringify({ command }) + "\n";
-			socket.write(payload);
-
-			// Read response with timeout
-			const response = await new Promise<string>((resolve) => {
-				let buf = "";
-				const reader = setInterval(() => {
-					// Check if we got a response already
-					if (buf.includes("\n")) {
-						clearInterval(reader);
-						resolve(buf);
-					}
-				}, 10);
-				setTimeout(() => {
-					clearInterval(reader);
-					resolve(buf);
-				}, 200);
-			});
-
-			socket.end();
-			if (response) {
-				try {
-					return JSON.parse(response.split("\n")[0]);
-				} catch {
-					return null;
+	private handleEvent(msg: MpvEvent): void {
+		if (msg.event === "property-change") {
+			if (msg.id === OBS_TIME_POS) {
+				// `data` is number while playing; unavailable → undefined while
+				// idle. Keep last known on transient gaps, reset on idle.
+				if (typeof msg.data === "number") this._position = msg.data;
+			} else if (msg.id === OBS_PAUSE) {
+				if (typeof msg.data === "boolean") this._paused = msg.data;
+			} else if (msg.id === OBS_DURATION) {
+				if (typeof msg.data === "number" && msg.data > 0) {
+					this._duration = msg.data;
 				}
+			} else if (msg.id === OBS_EOF) {
+				// Natural end-of-file (or a brand-new load reporting false).
+				this._ended = msg.data === true;
+				if (this._ended) this._intentPlaying = false;
 			}
-			return null;
-		} catch {
-			return null;
+			return;
 		}
-	}
 
-	/** Send a command over mpv's IPC and get the parsed response data. */
-	private async ipcCommand(command: unknown[]): Promise<unknown> {
-		try {
-			const conn = await Bun.connect({
-				unix: this.socketPath,
-				socket: {
-					data() {},
-					error() {},
-					close() {},
-					open() {},
-				},
-			});
-
-			const payload = JSON.stringify({ command }) + "\n";
-			conn.write(payload);
-
-			// Give mpv a moment to process, then read via a fresh connection
-			await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 30));
-			conn.end();
-
-			return null;
-		} catch {
-			return null;
-		}
-	}
-
-	/** Send a fire-and-forget command (no response needed) */
-	private async send(command: unknown[]): Promise<void> {
-		try {
-			const conn = await Bun.connect({
-				unix: this.socketPath,
-				socket: {
-					data() {},
-					error() {},
-					close() {},
-					open() {},
-				},
-			});
-			conn.write(JSON.stringify({ command }) + "\n");
-			// Don't wait, just schedule a close
-			setTimeout(() => {
-				try {
-					conn.end();
-				} catch {}
-			}, 50);
-		} catch {
-			/* ignore */
-		}
-	}
-
-	/** Get a property value from mpv via IPC */
-	private async getProperty(name: string): Promise<number> {
-		try {
-			return await new Promise<number>((resolve) => {
-				let result = 0;
-				const timeout = setTimeout(() => resolve(result), 300);
-
-				Bun.connect({
-					unix: this.socketPath,
-					socket: {
-						data(_socket, data) {
-							try {
-								const text = Buffer.from(data).toString();
-								const parsed = JSON.parse(text.split("\n")[0]);
-								if (parsed?.data !== undefined) {
-									result = Number(parsed.data) || 0;
-								}
-							} catch {
-								/* ignore parse errors */
-							}
-							clearTimeout(timeout);
-							resolve(result);
-						},
-						error() {
-							clearTimeout(timeout);
-							resolve(0);
-						},
-						close() {},
-						open(socket) {
-							socket.write(
-								JSON.stringify({ command: ["get_property", name] }) + "\n",
-							);
-						},
-					},
-				}).catch(() => {
-					clearTimeout(timeout);
-					resolve(0);
-				});
-			});
-		} catch {
-			return 0;
-		}
-	}
-
-	private startPolling(): void {
-		this.stopPolling();
-		this.pollTimer = setInterval(async () => {
-			if (!this._playing || !this.proc) return;
-			this._position = await this.getProperty("time-pos");
-			if (this._duration <= 0) {
-				this._duration = await this.getProperty("duration");
+		if (msg.event === "end-file") {
+			if (msg.reason === "eof") {
+				this._ended = true;
+				this._intentPlaying = false;
+			} else if (msg.reason === "error") {
+				this._ended = true;
+				this._intentPlaying = false;
+				this._playbackError = msg.error ?? "mpv failed to play the stream";
 			}
-		}, 500);
+			return;
+		}
+
+		if (msg.event === "file-loaded") {
+			this._ended = false;
+		}
 	}
 
-	private stopPolling(): void {
-		if (this.pollTimer) {
-			clearInterval(this.pollTimer);
-			this.pollTimer = null;
+	// ── File presentation options ────────────────────────────────────
+	//
+	// force-media-title and cover-art-files are set as global properties
+	// BEFORE loadfile (verified: runtime-settable; values containing commas
+	// would corrupt the per-file options string). Numbers (volume, speed,
+	// start, pause) ride as per-file options on loadfile itself so each
+	// loadfile is self-contained.
+
+	private async applyPresentation(opts?: PlayOptions): Promise<void> {
+		await this.send([
+			"set_property",
+			"force-media-title",
+			opts?.mediaTitle ?? "",
+		]);
+		await this.send([
+			"set_property",
+			"cover-art-files",
+			opts?.coverArtPath ?? "",
+		]);
+	}
+
+	private loadfileOptions(opts: PlayOptions | undefined, paused: boolean): string {
+		const parts: string[] = [`pause=${paused ? "yes" : "no"}`];
+		if (opts?.startPosition && opts.startPosition > 0) {
+			parts.push(`start=${Math.max(0, opts.startPosition)}`);
 		}
+		const vol = Math.round((opts?.volume ?? 1) * 100);
+		if (Number.isFinite(vol)) parts.push(`volume=${vol}`);
+		const speed = opts?.speed ?? 1;
+		if (Number.isFinite(speed) && speed > 0) parts.push(`speed=${speed}`);
+		return parts.join(",");
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Every loadfile (play, preload, replay) runs under this mutex: useAudio
+	 * fires the boot preload unawaited, so without serialization a user
+	 * pressing Play mid-preload would send loadfile(no-pause) followed by the
+	 * in-flight preload's loadfile(pause=yes) — and the stale preload would
+	 * pause the file the user just started. The mutex also prevents
+	 * presentation options (title/cover) of one episode from interleaving
+	 * with the loadfile of another.
+	 */
+	private loadMutex: Promise<unknown> = Promise.resolve();
+
+	private runLoadExclusive<T>(fn: () => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
+		const result = this.loadMutex.then(fn);
+		this.loadMutex = result.catch(() => {});
+		return result;
+	}
+
+	private async loadFileLocked(
+		url: string,
+		opts: PlayOptions | undefined,
+		paused: boolean,
+	): Promise<void> {
+		await this.applyPresentation(opts);
+		// Paused preload of a mid-episode restore: pass NO start= option and
+		// seek while paused instead. mpv defers --start stream work (open,
+		// header probe, demuxer seek) until playback begins — measured: the
+		// demuxer cache stays EMPTY during the whole preload and the eventual
+		// unpause pays 4.3s. A time-pos seek while paused executes at once,
+		// so the stream opens and buffers during the preload, and the first
+		// real Play is a sub-second unpause.
+		const pausedSeek =
+			paused && opts?.startPosition && opts.startPosition > 0
+				? opts.startPosition
+				: null;
+		const loadOpts =
+			pausedSeek && opts ? { ...opts, startPosition: undefined } : opts;
+		// Register the file-loaded waiter BEFORE loadfile: the event can
+		// arrive between the command response and listener setup otherwise.
+		const fileLoaded = pausedSeek && this.conn ? this.conn.waitEvent("file-loaded") : null;
+		const resp = await this.send([
+			"loadfile",
+			url,
+			"replace",
+			-1,
+			this.loadfileOptions(loadOpts, paused),
+		]);
+		if (resp.error && resp.error !== "success") {
+			throw new Error(`mpv loadfile failed: ${resp.error}`);
+		}
+		if (pausedSeek) {
+			// time-pos sent before file-loaded is silently dropped by mpv
+			// (no file yet) — the preload then parked at 0 and the restore
+			// position was lost. Wait for the open, then seek.
+			await fileLoaded;
+			await this.send(["set_property", "time-pos", pausedSeek]);
+			this._position = pausedSeek;
+		}
+		this._loadedUrl = url;
+		this._loadedPaused = paused;
+		this._ended = false;
+		this._playbackError = null;
+		this._position = opts?.startPosition ?? 0;
+		this._duration = 0;
+		this._volume = Math.round((opts?.volume ?? 1) * 100);
+		this._speed = opts?.speed ?? 1;
+	}
+
+	// ── AudioBackend ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+	async play(url: string, opts?: PlayOptions): Promise<void> {
+		await this.ensureDaemon();
+		// Mark intent before the mutex: a boot preload queued behind this
+		// play checks it and skips its own stale paused-load.
+		this._intentPlaying = true;
+		await this.runLoadExclusive(async () => {
+			// Fast path: this exact URL was PRELOADED paused (boot restore) —
+			// mpv has been buffering it since boot, so flipping pause off starts
+			// audio ~instantly. Re-acquire the start position only when it
+			// moved meaningfully since the preload (progress saved meanwhile).
+			if (this._loadedUrl === url && this._loadedPaused && !this._ended) {
+				const target = opts?.startPosition ?? this._position;
+				if (Math.abs(target - this._position) > 2) {
+					await this.send(["set_property", "time-pos", target]);
+					this._position = target;
+				}
+				await this.send([
+					"set_property",
+					"volume",
+					Math.round((opts?.volume ?? 1) * 100),
+				]);
+				await this.send(["set_property", "speed", opts?.speed ?? 1]);
+				if (opts?.mediaTitle) {
+					await this.send(["set_property", "force-media-title", opts.mediaTitle]);
+				}
+				await this.send(["set_property", "pause", false]);
+				this._loadedPaused = false;
+				return;
+			}
+
+			await this.loadFileLocked(url, opts, false);
+		});
+	}
+
+	async preload(url: string, opts?: PlayOptions): Promise<void> {
+		await this.ensureDaemon();
+		await this.runLoadExclusive(async () => {
+			// Already loaded (paused park, or actively playing because the
+			// user pressed Play while this preload was queued — either way
+			// the file is in the player and must not be clobbered).
+			if (this._loadedUrl === url) return;
+			await this.loadFileLocked(url, opts, true);
+			this._intentPlaying = false;
+		});
 	}
 
 	async pause(): Promise<void> {
 		await this.send(["set_property", "pause", true]);
-		this._playing = false;
+		this._intentPlaying = false;
 	}
 
 	async resume(): Promise<void> {
-		await this.send(["set_property", "pause", false]);
-		this._playing = true;
+		// The daemon may have died while we were paused (crash/kill): bring
+		// a fresh one up. It starts idle — no file to unpause — so throw
+		// PlayerRestartedError and let the caller reload the episode.
+		await this.ensureDaemon();
+		if (!this._loadedUrl) {
+			throw new PlayerRestartedError();
+		}
+		if (this._ended && this._loadedUrl) {
+			// Play pressed on a finished episode: replay from the top.
+			this._ended = false;
+			const url = this._loadedUrl;
+			await this.runLoadExclusive(async () => {
+				await this.loadFileLocked(
+					url,
+					{ volume: this._volume / 100, speed: this._speed },
+					false,
+				);
+			});
+			this._intentPlaying = true;
+			return;
+		}
+		if (this._loadedPaused && this._loadedUrl) {
+			// Deferred first play of a preloaded file.
+			this._loadedPaused = false;
+		}
+		this._ended = false;
+		const resp = await this.send(["set_property", "pause", false]);
+		// Never claim success when the unpause didn't land: a dead/restarted
+		// daemon would otherwise leave the UI "playing" with no audio.
+		if (resp.error && resp.error !== "success") {
+			throw new Error(`mpv resume failed: ${resp.error}`);
+		}
+		this._intentPlaying = true;
 	}
 
 	async stop(): Promise<void> {
-		this.stopPolling();
-		if (this.proc) {
-			try {
-				this.proc.kill();
-			} catch {
-				/* ignore */
-			}
-			this.proc = null;
+		if (this.conn && this._loadedUrl) {
+			await this.send(["stop"]);
 		}
-		this._playing = false;
+		this._intentPlaying = false;
+		this._loadedUrl = null;
+		this._loadedPaused = false;
+		this._ended = false;
 		this._position = 0;
-
-		// Clean up socket
-		try {
-			if (existsSync(this.socketPath)) {
-				const { unlinkSync } = await import("fs");
-				unlinkSync(this.socketPath);
-			}
-		} catch {
-			/* ignore */
-		}
+		this._duration = 0;
+		await this.send(["set_property", "cover-art-files", ""]);
 	}
 
 	async seek(seconds: number): Promise<void> {
@@ -359,22 +702,55 @@ export class MpvBackend implements AudioBackend {
 	}
 
 	async getPosition(): Promise<number> {
+		// Observed at ~20Hz by mpv — no socket roundtrip on the UI poll.
 		return this._position;
 	}
 
 	async getDuration(): Promise<number> {
-		if (this._duration <= 0) {
-			this._duration = await this.getProperty("duration");
-		}
 		return this._duration;
 	}
 
 	isPlaying(): boolean {
-		return this._playing;
+		return this._intentPlaying && this.isAlive() && !this._ended;
+	}
+
+	async getPauseState(): Promise<boolean | undefined> {
+		if (!this.isAlive() || this._paused === null) return undefined;
+		return this._paused;
+	}
+
+	isAlive(): boolean {
+		return this.proc !== null && !this._exited;
+	}
+
+	/** Last mpv playback failure (end-file reason "error"), if any. */
+	getPlaybackError(): string | null {
+		return this._playbackError;
 	}
 
 	dispose(): void {
-		this.stop();
+		const conn = this.conn;
+		this.conn = null;
+		if (conn) {
+			// Ask nicely, then force: dispose runs inside process-exit
+			// handlers where awaiting is not guaranteed to complete.
+			conn.send(["quit"], 500).catch(() => {});
+		}
+		if (this.proc) {
+			try {
+				this.proc.kill();
+			} catch {
+				/* ignore */
+			}
+			this.proc = null;
+		}
+		this._exited = true;
+		this._intentPlaying = false;
+		try {
+			unlinkSync(this.socketPath);
+		} catch {
+			/* ignore */
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -383,6 +759,7 @@ export class MpvBackend implements AudioBackend {
 class NoopBackend implements AudioBackend {
 	readonly name: BackendName = "none";
 	async play(): Promise<void> {}
+	async preload(): Promise<void> {}
 	async pause(): Promise<void> {}
 	async resume(): Promise<void> {}
 	async stop(): Promise<void> {}
@@ -398,6 +775,13 @@ class NoopBackend implements AudioBackend {
 	isPlaying(): boolean {
 		return false;
 	}
+	async getPauseState(): Promise<boolean | undefined> {
+		// Nothing plays on the no-op backend — never externally paused.
+		return false;
+	}
+	isAlive(): boolean {
+		return false;
+	}
 	dispose(): void {}
 }
 

src/utils/audio-signals.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/**
+ * audio-signals — module-level playback state shared by useAudio and
+ * non-component consumers.
+ *
+ * useAudio's playback state is a module-level singleton (signals live at
+ * module scope, every `useAudio()` call shares them). Those signals are
+ * declared here so components that must react to playback WITHOUT mounting
+ * a `useAudio()` owner — the visualizer store — can subscribe directly via
+ * `audioPlaybackSignals` (or the individual accessors/setters), instead of
+ * going through the hook. `useAudio()` re-exports nothing from this module
+ * for callers; it imports the accessors and setters for its own use.
+ */
+
+import { createSignal } from "solid-js";
+import type { Episode } from "../types/episode";
+import type { BackendName, DetectedPlayer } from "./audio-player";
+
+export const [isPlaying, setIsPlaying] = createSignal(false);
+export const [position, setPosition] = createSignal(0);
+export const [duration, setDuration] = createSignal(0);
+export const [volume, setVolume] = createSignal(1);
+export const [speed, setSpeed] = createSignal(1);
+export const [backendName, setBackendName] = createSignal<BackendName>("none");
+export const [error, setError] = createSignal<string | null>(null);
+export const [currentEpisode, setCurrentEpisode] = createSignal<Episode | null>(
+	null,
+);
+export const [availablePlayers, setAvailablePlayers] = createSignal<
+	DetectedPlayer[]
+>([]);
+
+/**
+ * The playback signals the visualizer pipeline reacts to. `useAudio()`
+ * itself remains the component-facing surface; this is for module-level
+ * consumers that must track playback without a component owner.
+ */
+export const audioPlaybackSignals = {
+	isPlaying,
+	position,
+	speed,
+	currentEpisode,
+} as const;