diff --git a/backend/app.py b/backend/app.py
index 5f636a09..adb01952 100644
--- a/backend/app.py
+++ b/backend/app.py
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ load_dotenv(backend_dir / '.env')  # backend/.env
 load_dotenv(project_root / '.env')  # root .env (fallback)
 load_dotenv()  # CWD .env (fallback)
 
+# Feature flags (read early so app wiring can rely on a single source of truth)
+PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE = os.getenv("PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE", "false").lower() == "true"
+
 # Set up clean logging for end users
 from logging_config import setup_clean_logging
 setup_clean_logging()
@@ -405,48 +408,62 @@ async def analyze_urls_ai_endpoint(request: AnalyzeURLsRequest, current_user: di
     """Run AI-powered SEO analysis on selected URLs."""
     return await analyze_urls_ai(request, current_user)
 
-# Include platform analytics router
-from routers.platform_analytics import router as platform_analytics_router
-app.include_router(platform_analytics_router)
-# Include Bing Analytics Storage router to expose storage-backed endpoints
-from routers.bing_analytics_storage import router as bing_analytics_storage_router
-app.include_router(bing_analytics_storage_router)
-app.include_router(images_router)
-app.include_router(image_studio_router)
-app.include_router(product_marketing_router)
-app.include_router(campaign_creator_router)
+# Centralized mode helpers for router wiring.
+# Keep all mode decisions in this section to avoid scattered env checks.
+def is_podcast_only_demo_mode() -> bool:
+    return PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE
 
-# Include content assets router
-from api.content_assets.router import router as content_assets_router
-app.include_router(content_assets_router)
 
-# Include Podcast Maker router
+def should_include_non_podcast_routers() -> bool:
+    return not is_podcast_only_demo_mode()
+
+
+# Include Podcast Maker router (available in all modes)
 from api.podcast.router import router as podcast_router
 app.include_router(podcast_router)
 
-# Include YouTube Creator Studio router
-from api.youtube.router import router as youtube_router
-app.include_router(youtube_router, prefix="/api")
+if should_include_non_podcast_routers():
+    # Include platform analytics router
+    from routers.platform_analytics import router as platform_analytics_router
+    app.include_router(platform_analytics_router)
 
-# Include research configuration router
-app.include_router(research_config_router, prefix="/api/research", tags=["research"])
+    # Include Bing Analytics Storage router to expose storage-backed endpoints
+    from routers.bing_analytics_storage import router as bing_analytics_storage_router
+    app.include_router(bing_analytics_storage_router)
+    app.include_router(images_router)
+    app.include_router(image_studio_router)
+    app.include_router(product_marketing_router)
+    app.include_router(campaign_creator_router)
 
-# Include Research Engine router (standalone AI research module)
-from api.research.router import router as research_engine_router
-app.include_router(research_engine_router, tags=["Research Engine"])
+    # Include content assets router
+    from api.content_assets.router import router as content_assets_router
+    app.include_router(content_assets_router)
 
-# Scheduler dashboard routes
-from api.scheduler_dashboard import router as scheduler_dashboard_router
-app.include_router(scheduler_dashboard_router)
-app.include_router(oauth_token_monitoring_router)
+    # Include YouTube Creator Studio router
+    from api.youtube.router import router as youtube_router
+    app.include_router(youtube_router, prefix="/api")
 
-# Autonomous Agents API routes (Phase 3A)
-from api.agents_api import router as agents_router
-app.include_router(agents_router)
+    # Include research configuration router
+    app.include_router(research_config_router, prefix="/api/research", tags=["research"])
 
-# Today workflow routes
-from api.today_workflow import router as today_workflow_router
-app.include_router(today_workflow_router)
+    # Include Research Engine router (standalone AI research module)
+    from api.research.router import router as research_engine_router
+    app.include_router(research_engine_router, tags=["Research Engine"])
+
+    # Scheduler dashboard routes
+    from api.scheduler_dashboard import router as scheduler_dashboard_router
+    app.include_router(scheduler_dashboard_router)
+    app.include_router(oauth_token_monitoring_router)
+
+    # Autonomous Agents API routes (Phase 3A)
+    from api.agents_api import router as agents_router
+    app.include_router(agents_router)
+
+    # Today workflow routes
+    from api.today_workflow import router as today_workflow_router
+    app.include_router(today_workflow_router)
+else:
+    logger.info("PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE is enabled: non-podcast routers are not registered.")
 
 # Setup frontend serving using modular utilities
 frontend_serving.setup_frontend_serving()
diff --git a/backend/start_alwrity_backend.py b/backend/start_alwrity_backend.py
index 58286dd6..260c667a 100644
--- a/backend/start_alwrity_backend.py
+++ b/backend/start_alwrity_backend.py
@@ -298,6 +298,11 @@ def main():
     parser.add_argument("--dev", action="store_true", help="Enable development mode (auto-reload)")
     parser.add_argument("--production", action="store_true", help="Enable production mode (optimized for deployment)")
     parser.add_argument("--verbose", action="store_true", help="Enable verbose logging for debugging")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--podcast-only-demo",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Enable podcast-only demo mode (sets PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE=true before app startup)",
+    )
     args = parser.parse_args()
     
     # Determine mode
@@ -307,6 +312,8 @@ def main():
     
     # Set global verbose flag for utilities
     os.environ["ALWRITY_VERBOSE"] = "true" if verbose_mode else "false"
+    if args.podcast_only_demo:
+        os.environ["PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE"] = "true"
     
     print("[*] ALwrity Backend Server")
     print("=" * 40)
@@ -314,6 +321,8 @@ def main():
     print(f"Auto-reload: {'ENABLED' if enable_reload else 'DISABLED'}")
     if verbose_mode:
         print("Verbose logging: ENABLED")
+    if args.podcast_only_demo:
+        print("Podcast-only demo mode: ENABLED")
     print("=" * 40)
     
     # Check if we're in the right directory
@@ -401,4 +410,4 @@ def main():
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     success = main()
     if not success:
-        sys.exit(1)
\ No newline at end of file
+        sys.exit(1)