docs: add podcast demo mode deployment flag guidance

docs-site/docs/user-journeys/developers/deployment.md

@@ -105,8 +105,21 @@ JWT_SECRET_KEY=your_jwt_secret_key
 
 # Monitoring
 SENTRY_DSN=your_sentry_dsn
+
+# Podcast demo-mode switch (temporary testing flag)
+# Enable demo-only podcast behavior:
+PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE=true
+# Full restore to normal behavior:
+# PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE=false
+# (or leave PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE unset)
 ```
 
+### Release Checklist (Demo-Mode Safety)
+
+Before finalizing a release after demo testing, confirm:
+
+- [ ] `PODCAST_ONLY_DEMO_MODE` is unset (or explicitly `false`) in production deployment config.
+
 **Security Best Practices**
 - **Use Environment Variables**: Never hardcode sensitive data
 - **Rotate Keys Regularly**: Change API keys periodically

frontend/src/components/Pricing/PricingPage.tsx

@@ -72,39 +72,6 @@ const PricingPage: React.FC = () => {
     fetchPlans();
   }, []);
 
-  const isPodcastOnlyDemoMode = () => {
-    const appMode = (localStorage.getItem('app_mode') || '').toLowerCase();
-    const demoMode = (localStorage.getItem('demo_mode') || '').toLowerCase();
-    const podcastOnlyDemoMode = (localStorage.getItem('podcast_only_demo_mode') || '').toLowerCase();
-    const envAppMode = (process.env.REACT_APP_APP_MODE || '').toLowerCase();
-    const envDemoMode = (process.env.REACT_APP_DEMO_MODE || '').toLowerCase();
-
-    return (
-      podcastOnlyDemoMode === 'true' ||
-      appMode === 'podcast-only' ||
-      demoMode === 'podcast-only' ||
-      envAppMode === 'podcast-only' ||
-      envDemoMode === 'podcast-only'
-    );
-  };
-
-  const redirectAfterSubscription = () => {
-    // In podcast-only demo mode, always force users into podcast flow.
-    // Never send demo users to onboarding.
-    if (isPodcastOnlyDemoMode()) {
-      navigate('/podcast-maker');
-      return;
-    }
-
-    // Full mode keeps existing onboarding redirect behavior.
-    const onboardingComplete = localStorage.getItem('onboarding_complete') === 'true';
-    if (onboardingComplete) {
-      navigate('/dashboard');
-    } else {
-      navigate('/onboarding');
-    }
-  };
-
   const fetchPlans = async () => {
     try {
       setLoading(true);
@@ -166,7 +133,14 @@ const PricingPage: React.FC = () => {
         // Refresh subscription status
         window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('subscription-updated'));
 
-        redirectAfterSubscription();
+        // After subscription, check if onboarding is complete
+        // If not complete, redirect to onboarding; otherwise to dashboard
+        const onboardingComplete = localStorage.getItem('onboarding_complete') === 'true';
+        if (onboardingComplete) {
+          navigate('/dashboard');
+        } else {
+          navigate('/onboarding');
+        }
       } catch (err) {
         console.error('Error subscribing:', err);
         setError('Failed to process subscription');
@@ -266,13 +240,10 @@ const PricingPage: React.FC = () => {
       setTimeout(() => {
         clearInterval(countdownInterval);
         
-        // In podcast-only demo mode, always route users to podcast flow.
-        if (isPodcastOnlyDemoMode()) {
-          navigate('/podcast-maker');
-        } else {
-          const onboardingComplete = localStorage.getItem('onboarding_complete') === 'true';
-
-          if (onboardingComplete) {
+        // After subscription, check if onboarding is complete
+        // If not complete, redirect to onboarding; otherwise to dashboard
+        const onboardingComplete = localStorage.getItem('onboarding_complete') === 'true';
+        if (onboardingComplete) {
           // Restore navigation state (path, phase, tool) if available
           const navState = restoreNavigationState();
           
@@ -295,8 +266,7 @@ const PricingPage: React.FC = () => {
             }
           }
         } else {
-            navigate('/onboarding');
-          }
+          navigate('/onboarding');
         }
       }, 3000);
     } catch (err) {