diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateModal.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateModal.tsx
index ce259574..32ab118b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateModal.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateModal.tsx
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ export const CreateModal: React.FC<CreateModalProps> = ({ onCreate, open, defaul
     setShowAIDetailsButton(topicInput.trim().length > 0 && !isUrl);
   }, [topicInput, isUrl]);
 
-  // Check if avatar is present (from any source: upload, brand avatar, or generated)
+  // Check if avatar is present (from any source: upload, selfie, brand avatar, or asset library)
   const hasAvatar = Boolean(
     avatarFile ||                         // User uploaded an image
     avatarUrl ||                         // Already processed avatar URL
@@ -267,8 +267,11 @@ export const CreateModal: React.FC<CreateModalProps> = ({ onCreate, open, defaul
   const hasVoice = Boolean(selectedVoiceId);
   const hasDuration = Boolean(duration > 0 && duration <= 10);
   const hasSpeakers = Boolean(speakers >= 1 && speakers <= 2);
+  const hasPodcastMode = Boolean(podcastMode);
 
-  const canSubmit = Boolean(hasTopic && (podcastMode === "audio_only" || hasAvatar) && hasVoice && hasDuration && hasSpeakers);
+  // Required: topic, duration, speakers, voice, podcastMode, presenter avatar
+  // Avatar required for video modes; for audio_only, still require avatar for presenter display
+  const canSubmit = Boolean(hasTopic && hasVoice && hasDuration && hasSpeakers && hasPodcastMode && hasAvatar);
 
   const [submitError, setSubmitError] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateStep/CreateActions.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateStep/CreateActions.tsx
index 0cdbdc9c..4be835db 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateStep/CreateActions.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PodcastMaker/CreateStep/CreateActions.tsx
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ export const CreateActions: React.FC<CreateActionsProps> = ({ reset, submit, can
           disabled={!canSubmit || isSubmitting}
           loading={isSubmitting}
           startIcon={<AutoAwesomeIcon />}
-          tooltip={!canSubmit ? "Complete all 4 steps: 1) Enter topic/URL, 2) Configure duration & speakers, 3) Add avatar, 4) Select voice" : "We'll start AI analysis after this click"}
+          tooltip={!canSubmit ? "Required: Podcast topic, presenter avatar, voice, duration, speakers, and podcast mode" : "Start AI analysis after this click"}
         >
           {isSubmitting ? "Analyzing..." : buttonText}
         </PrimaryButton>