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/App.tsx

@@ -280,11 +280,10 @@ const InitialRouteHandler: React.FC = () => {
     );
   }
 
-  // Only block on onboarding initialization once we know the user has an active subscription.
+  // Loading state - only wait for onboarding init, not subscription check
-  // This allows no-subscription/inactive flows to continue even when onboarding data is still null.
+  // Subscription check is non-blocking and happens in background
-  const isActiveSubscriber = Boolean(subscription && subscription.active && subscription.plan !== 'none');
+  const waitingForOnboardingInit = loading || !data;
-  const waitingForOnboardingInit = isActiveSubscriber && (loading || !data);
+  if (loading || waitingForOnboardingInit) {
-  if (waitingForOnboardingInit) {
     return (
       <Box
         display="flex"
@@ -296,7 +295,7 @@ const InitialRouteHandler: React.FC = () => {
       >
         <CircularProgress size={60} />
         <Typography variant="h6" color="textSecondary">
-          Preparing your workspace...
+          {subscriptionLoading ? 'Checking subscription...' : 'Preparing your workspace...'}
         </Typography>
       </Box>
     );