diff --git a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/.openspec.yaml b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/.openspec.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/.openspec.yaml
rename to openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/.openspec.yaml
diff --git a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/design.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/design.md
similarity index 82%
rename from openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/design.md
rename to openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/design.md
index 70046e1..8d2f2f6 100644
--- a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/design.md
+++ b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/design.md
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 
 The site is a static Astro site (SSG) with no framework islands — all client-side interactivity uses vanilla JS via `<script is:inline>` tags. The existing design system is a dark-theme glassmorphism palette (CSS custom properties in `global.css`). Video and podcast content is rendered through `ContentCard.astro` → `StandardCard.astro`, which currently produce `<a>` tags linking directly to YouTube/Spotify (`target="_blank"`). There are no existing modal/dialog components in the codebase.
 
-Content data comes from a pre-built JSON cache (`ContentItem` type) that already contains `id`, `source`, `url`, `title`, `summary`, `publishedAt`, `thumbnailUrl`, and optional `metrics.views`. YouTube video IDs and Spotify episode IDs are derivable from the existing `url` field.
+Content data comes from a pre-built JSON cache (`ContentItem` type) that contains `id`, `source`, `url`, `title`, `summary`, `publishedAt`, `thumbnailUrl`, and optional `metrics.views`. For podcasts, the cache may also include an `audioUrl` (from RSS enclosure) to enable a first-party audio fallback when a Spotify embed URL is not available.
 
-Umami analytics uses declarative `data-umami-event-*` attributes on HTML elements — no imperative `umami.track()` calls. The click tracking taxonomy defines event names (`click`, `cta_click`, `outbound_click`) and required properties (`target_id`, `placement`, `target_url`, etc.).
+Umami analytics primarily uses declarative `data-umami-event-*` attributes on HTML elements. For interactions that need runtime-derived properties (e.g., modal close method), the implementation may use `umami.track()`.
 
 ## Goals / Non-Goals
 
@@ -71,10 +71,12 @@ Umami analytics uses declarative `data-umami-event-*` attributes on HTML element
 
 **Decision:**
 - **YouTube:** Extract video ID from `item.url` (pattern: `youtube.com/watch?v={id}`) → embed URL: `https://www.youtube.com/embed/{id}?rel=0&modestbranding=1`
-- **Spotify/Podcast:** Extract episode path from `item.url` (pattern varies by podcast host) → embed URL: `https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/{id}?theme=0` (dark theme). If the podcast URL is not a Spotify URL, fall back to a "Listen on platform" link instead of an embed.
+- **Spotify/Podcast:** When a Spotify episode ID is available, embed using `https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/{id}` with Spotify's recommended iframe allowlist and sizing (fixed height ~232px). If a Spotify embed URL is not available, fall back to an in-modal HTML5 `<audio>` player when an `audioUrl` is present, otherwise show an outbound "Listen on Spotify" link.
 
 **Rationale:** YouTube embed URLs have a stable, well-documented format. Spotify embed works for episodes hosted on Spotify. For non-Spotify podcast URLs, embedding isn't universally possible, so the modal gracefully degrades to showing metadata + a link.
 
+In practice, many podcast feeds provide a creator/profile URL (or a podcasters.spotify.com URL) plus an MP3 enclosure, but not the canonical `open.spotify.com/episode/{id}` URL needed for a Spotify embed. The `audioUrl` fallback keeps playback on-site in that case.
+
 ### 6. Umami event taxonomy for modal interactions
 
 **Decision:** Introduce a new event name `media_preview` for card clicks that open the modal (replacing `outbound_click`). Add distinct events for modal interactions:
@@ -83,8 +85,8 @@ Umami analytics uses declarative `data-umami-event-*` attributes on HTML element
 |---|---|---|
 | Card click → modal opens | `media_preview` | `target_id`, `placement`, `title`, `type`, `source` |
 | Modal close (X / Escape / backdrop) | `media_preview_close` | `target_id`, `close_method` (`button` / `escape` / `backdrop`) |
-| "View on YouTube/Spotify" CTA | `cta_click` | `target_id`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform`, `target_url` |
-| "Follow on YouTube/Spotify" CTA | `cta_click` | `target_id`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform`, `target_url` |
+| "View on YouTube" / "Listen on Spotify" CTA | `cta_click` | `target_id`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform`, `target_url` |
+| "Subscribe on YouTube" / "Follow on Spotify" CTA | `cta_click` | `target_id`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform`, `target_url` |
 
 **Rationale:** `outbound_click` is no longer accurate — the user isn't leaving the site. `media_preview` describes what actually happens. Close-method tracking (`close_method` property) allows measuring whether users engage with the content or immediately dismiss. CTA clicks inside the modal reuse the existing `cta_click` event name with `placement=media_modal` for consistency with the CTA tracking taxonomy.
 
@@ -94,13 +96,13 @@ Umami analytics uses declarative `data-umami-event-*` attributes on HTML element
 1. **Header row:** Title (left) + Close button (right)
 2. **Embed area:** YouTube iframe or Spotify embed (16:9 aspect ratio for video, fixed height for podcast)
 3. **Body:** Full description/summary (not truncated), date, view count
-4. **Footer CTAs:** "Follow on YouTube/Spotify" + "View on YouTube/Spotify"
+4. **Footer CTAs:** "Subscribe on YouTube" / "Follow on Spotify" + "View on YouTube" / "Listen on Spotify"
 
 **Rationale:** This mirrors the user's request for "an extended version of the card layout." The familiar structure reduces cognitive load.
 
 ## Risks / Trade-offs
 
-- **[Spotify embed availability]** → Not all podcast episodes have Spotify URLs. Mitigation: if `item.url` is not a Spotify URL, the modal shows metadata + a "Listen on [platform]" outbound link instead of an embed.
+- **[Spotify embed availability]** → Not all podcast episodes have Spotify episode URLs. Mitigation: use first-party `<audio>` playback from RSS enclosure (`audioUrl`) when available; otherwise show a "Listen on Spotify" outbound link. Optional: maintain a small override map (`content/podcast-spotify-map.json`) to supply episode embed URLs when desired.
 - **[Third-party embed loading time]** → YouTube/Spotify iframes add load time. Mitigation: iframes are only loaded when the modal opens (lazy). A loading placeholder is shown until the iframe loads.
 - **[No-JS fallback]** → If JavaScript is disabled, the `<button>` cards won't open a modal. Mitigation: Include a `<noscript>` hint or make the card a link as a no-JS fallback (progressive enhancement). The detail pages (`/videos/[id]`, `/podcast/[id]`) always exist as a non-JS path.
 - **[Content Security Policy]** → Embedding YouTube/Spotify requires `frame-src` to allow these domains. Mitigation: verify CSP headers (if any) allow `youtube.com` and `spotify.com` iframe sources. Currently no CSP is set, so no issue.
diff --git a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/proposal.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/proposal.md
similarity index 79%
rename from openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/proposal.md
rename to openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/proposal.md
index 98528da..5296916 100644
--- a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/proposal.md
+++ b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/proposal.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Content cards on the homepage, videos page, and podcast page currently link dire
   - Embedded YouTube iframe or Spotify embed player (based on content source)
   - Description / summary text
   - Date and view count (live count if YouTube API key is configured)
-  - "Follow on YouTube/Spotify" CTA and "View on YouTube/Spotify" CTA
+  - "Subscribe on YouTube" / "Follow on Spotify" CTA and "View on YouTube" / "Listen on Spotify" CTA
 - **Playback lifecycle tied to modal.** Closing the modal (close button or `Escape` key) MUST stop media playback — no audio/video continues after the modal is dismissed.
 - **Umami event taxonomy update.** Card clicks on listing pages are no longer outbound — event names change from `outbound_click` to a new interaction event. New events are added for modal open, modal close, follow CTA, view-on-platform CTA, and (stretch) engagement duration.
 
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ Content cards on the homepage, videos page, and podcast page currently link dire
 - `card-layout-system`: Cards for video/podcast content become modal triggers instead of outbound `<a>` links. The card visual layout stays the same; the interaction target changes.
 - `interaction-tracking-taxonomy`: Card clicks are no longer `outbound_click` — a new event category is needed for in-page media previews. New tracked interactions: modal open, modal close, modal CTA clicks (follow, view-on-platform). Stretch: engagement duration tracking.
 - `analytics-umami`: New event names and properties must be emitted for modal interactions using the existing `data-umami-event-*` attribute pattern.
-- `conversion-ctas`: New CTA instances inside the modal ("Follow on YouTube/Spotify", "View on YouTube/Spotify") must follow the existing `CtaLink` tracking conventions.
+- `conversion-ctas`: New CTA instances inside the modal ("Subscribe on YouTube" / "Follow on Spotify", "View on YouTube" / "Listen on Spotify") must follow the existing `CtaLink` tracking conventions.
+ - `conversion-ctas`: New CTA instances inside the modal ("Subscribe on YouTube" / "Follow on Spotify", "View on YouTube" / "Listen on Spotify") must follow the existing `CtaLink` tracking conventions.
 
 ## Impact
 
@@ -32,5 +33,5 @@ Content cards on the homepage, videos page, and podcast page currently link dire
 - **Pages**: `index.astro`, `videos.astro`, `podcast.astro` — must mount the modal and wire card click handlers.
 - **Analytics**: All `data-umami-event="outbound_click"` on video/podcast content cards change to a non-outbound event. New events added for modal interactions.
 - **Accessibility**: Modal must follow WCAG 2.2 AA patterns already established in `wcag-responsive-ui` spec — focus trap, `Escape` to close, `aria-modal`, focus return on dismiss.
-- **No backend changes.** Content ingestion, caching, and data model (`ContentItem`) are unchanged. YouTube embed IDs are derivable from existing `item.url`. Spotify embed URLs are derivable from existing `item.url`.
+- **Minimal ingestion/data model enhancements.** Podcast content items may include `audioUrl` (RSS enclosure) to support a first-party audio fallback when a Spotify episode embed URL is not available. Optionally, a small override map (`content/podcast-spotify-map.json`) can supply Spotify episode URLs for embedding.
 - **No breaking changes.** Detail pages (`/videos/[id]`, `/podcast/[id]`) remain as-is for SEO/sharing. The modal is an additive UX layer on listing surfaces only.
diff --git a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/specs/analytics-umami/spec.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/specs/analytics-umami/spec.md
similarity index 100%
rename from openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/specs/analytics-umami/spec.md
rename to openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/specs/analytics-umami/spec.md
diff --git a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/specs/card-layout-system/spec.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/specs/card-layout-system/spec.md
similarity index 100%
rename from openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/specs/card-layout-system/spec.md
rename to openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/specs/card-layout-system/spec.md
diff --git a/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/specs/conversion-ctas/spec.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/specs/conversion-ctas/spec.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c214558
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/specs/conversion-ctas/spec.md
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+## ADDED Requirements
+
+### Requirement: Modal CTAs for YouTube and Spotify
+The media modal MUST render two CTA actions:
+- "Subscribe on YouTube" / "Follow on Spotify" — links to the channel/podcast profile page
+- "View on YouTube" / "Listen on Spotify" — links to the specific content item URL
+
+The CTA label and destination MUST be determined by the content source:
+- For `youtube` source: "Subscribe on YouTube" links to the YouTube channel URL, "View on YouTube" links to the video URL
+- For `podcast` source: "Follow on Spotify" links to the podcast profile URL, "Listen on Spotify" links to the episode URL
+
+Each CTA MUST be rendered using the existing `CtaLink` component conventions (or equivalent markup) with UTM parameters appended.
+
+#### Scenario: YouTube video modal shows YouTube CTAs
+- **WHEN** the media modal is displaying a YouTube video
+- **THEN** the modal renders "Subscribe on YouTube" (linking to the channel) and "View on YouTube" (linking to the video URL) as CTA actions
+
+#### Scenario: Podcast episode modal shows Spotify CTAs
+- **WHEN** the media modal is displaying a podcast episode
+- **THEN** the modal renders "Follow on Spotify" (linking to the podcast profile) and "Listen on Spotify" (linking to the episode URL) as CTA actions
+
+### Requirement: Modal CTA tracking
+Each CTA rendered inside the media modal MUST emit a `cta_click` event conforming to the existing CTA tracking requirements.
+
+The modal CTAs MUST use:
+- `placement=media_modal`
+- `target_id` following the `modal.cta.{action}.{platform}` namespace
+- `platform` set to `youtube` or `spotify` (mapped from content source)
+
+#### Scenario: Modal CTA emits cta_click event
+- **WHEN** a user clicks the "Subscribe on YouTube" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.subscribe.youtube`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform=youtube`, and `target_url` set to the YouTube channel URL
+
+#### Scenario: Modal CTA emits cta_click event (secondary)
+- **WHEN** a user clicks the "View on YouTube" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.view.youtube`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform=youtube`, and `target_url` set to the video URL
+
+#### Scenario: Modal CTA emits cta_click event (podcast)
+- **WHEN** a user clicks the "Follow on Spotify" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.follow.spotify`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform=spotify`, and `target_url` set to the podcast profile URL
+
+#### Scenario: Modal CTA emits cta_click event (podcast secondary)
+- **WHEN** a user clicks the "Listen on Spotify" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.listen.spotify`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform=spotify`, and `target_url` set to the episode URL
+
+#### Scenario: Modal CTA includes UTM parameters
+- **WHEN** a modal CTA is rendered
+- **THEN** the CTA link URL includes UTM parameters for attribution (utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, utm_content)
diff --git a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/specs/interaction-tracking-taxonomy/spec.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/specs/interaction-tracking-taxonomy/spec.md
similarity index 86%
rename from openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/specs/interaction-tracking-taxonomy/spec.md
rename to openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/specs/interaction-tracking-taxonomy/spec.md
index 22f2de1..51e7ea0 100644
--- a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/specs/interaction-tracking-taxonomy/spec.md
+++ b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/specs/interaction-tracking-taxonomy/spec.md
@@ -40,16 +40,30 @@ The `media_preview_close` event MUST include:
 ### Requirement: Modal CTA namespace
 The tracking taxonomy MUST define a `media_modal` placement value for CTA interactions within the media modal.
 
-Modal CTAs MUST use `target_id` values in the namespace `modal.cta.{action}.{platform}` where `action` is `follow` or `view` and `platform` is `youtube` or `spotify`.
+Modal CTAs MUST use `target_id` values in the namespace `modal.cta.{action}.{platform}`.
+
+The `action` value MUST be one of:
+- `subscribe` (YouTube channel)
+- `view` (YouTube video)
+- `follow` (Spotify podcast profile)
+- `listen` (Spotify episode)
 
 #### Scenario: User clicks "View on YouTube" in modal
 - **WHEN** the user clicks the "View on YouTube" CTA inside the media modal
 - **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.view.youtube`, `placement=media_modal`, and `platform=youtube`
 
+#### Scenario: User clicks "Subscribe on YouTube" in modal
+- **WHEN** the user clicks the "Subscribe on YouTube" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.subscribe.youtube`, `placement=media_modal`, and `platform=youtube`
+
 #### Scenario: User clicks "Follow on Spotify" in modal
 - **WHEN** the user clicks the "Follow on Spotify" CTA inside the media modal
 - **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.follow.spotify`, `placement=media_modal`, and `platform=spotify`
 
+#### Scenario: User clicks "Listen on Spotify" in modal
+- **WHEN** the user clicks the "Listen on Spotify" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.listen.spotify`, `placement=media_modal`, and `platform=spotify`
+
 ## MODIFIED Requirements
 
 ### Requirement: Minimum required properties
diff --git a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/specs/media-modal/spec.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/specs/media-modal/spec.md
similarity index 89%
rename from openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/specs/media-modal/spec.md
rename to openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/specs/media-modal/spec.md
index f7da010..811e7df 100644
--- a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/specs/media-modal/spec.md
+++ b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/specs/media-modal/spec.md
@@ -5,22 +5,24 @@ The site MUST provide a modal dialog that displays embedded media (YouTube video
 
 The modal MUST render the following elements in order:
 - A header row with the content title on the left and a close button on the right
-- An embedded media player (YouTube iframe for videos, Spotify embed for podcast episodes when the URL is a Spotify URL)
+- An embedded media player (YouTube iframe for videos; Spotify embed for podcast episodes when the URL is a Spotify URL; otherwise an in-modal audio player when an `audioUrl` is available)
 - The full description/summary text (not truncated)
 - The publish date and view count (when available)
-- A "Follow on YouTube/Spotify" CTA and a "View on YouTube/Spotify" CTA
+- A "Subscribe on YouTube" / "Follow on Spotify" CTA and a "View on YouTube" / "Listen on Spotify" CTA
 
 #### Scenario: User clicks a YouTube video card
 - **WHEN** a user clicks a video content card on any listing surface
-- **THEN** a modal dialog opens displaying a YouTube iframe embed, the video title, full description, date, view count (if available), and CTAs for "Follow on YouTube" and "View on YouTube"
+- **THEN** a modal dialog opens displaying a YouTube iframe embed, the video title, full description, date, view count (if available), and CTAs for "Subscribe on YouTube" and "View on YouTube"
 
 #### Scenario: User clicks a podcast episode card with a Spotify URL
 - **WHEN** a user clicks a podcast content card whose URL is a Spotify URL
-- **THEN** a modal dialog opens displaying a Spotify episode embed, the episode title, full description, date, and CTAs for "Follow on Spotify" and "View on Spotify"
+- **THEN** a modal dialog opens displaying a Spotify episode embed, the episode title, full description, date, and CTAs for "Follow on Spotify" and "Listen on Spotify"
 
 #### Scenario: User clicks a podcast episode card with a non-Spotify URL
 - **WHEN** a user clicks a podcast content card whose URL is not a Spotify URL
-- **THEN** the modal dialog opens displaying the episode metadata (title, description, date) and a "Listen on [platform]" outbound link instead of an embedded player
+- **THEN** the modal dialog opens displaying the episode metadata (title, description, date) and either:
+  - an in-modal audio player when an `audioUrl` is available
+  - otherwise, a "Listen on Spotify" outbound link
 
 #### Scenario: Modal renders with missing optional fields
 - **WHEN** a content item has no view count or no summary
diff --git a/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/tasks.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/tasks.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38a885c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-02-10-reduce-bounce-rate/tasks.md
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+## 1. Card component changes
+
+- [x] 1.1 Add a `mode` prop (or equivalent) to `StandardCard.astro` to support rendering as a `<button>` (modal trigger) instead of an `<a>` link. When `mode="modal"`, the root element MUST be a `<button>` (or `role="button" tabindex="0"`) with the same visual styling as the current card.
+- [x] 1.2 Add `data-*` attributes to modal-trigger cards in `ContentCard.astro` — encode `id`, `source`, `url`, `title`, `summary`, `publishedAt`, `thumbnailUrl`, and `metrics.views` so the modal script can read them on click.
+- [x] 1.3 Update `ContentCard.astro` to use `mode="modal"` for `youtube` and `podcast` sources, and keep `mode="link"` (current behavior) for other sources.
+- [x] 1.4 Change Umami event from `outbound_click` to `media_preview` on modal-trigger cards. Update `data-umami-event-*` attributes to include `target_id`, `placement`, `title`, `type`, and `source` (drop `domain`, `target_url` since it's no longer outbound).
+
+## 2. Media modal component
+
+- [x] 2.1 Create `MediaModal.astro` component containing a native `<dialog>` element with the modal layout: header (title + close button), embed area, description, date/views row, CTA row.
+- [x] 2.2 Add CSS for the modal in `global.css`: backdrop styling, modal container, responsive layout (centered on desktop, near-full-width on mobile), embed aspect-ratio (16:9 for video), loading placeholder.
+- [x] 2.3 Write the modal open/populate script: listen for clicks on modal-trigger cards, read `data-*` attributes, populate the modal fields (title, description, date, views), construct the embed URL, set the iframe `src`, and call `dialog.showModal()`.
+- [x] 2.4 Implement embed URL construction: extract YouTube video ID from `item.url` → `https://www.youtube.com/embed/{id}?rel=0&modestbranding=1`. For podcast, embed Spotify when a Spotify episode ID is available (`https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/{id}`). For non-Spotify podcast URLs, render an in-modal audio player when an `audioUrl` is available, otherwise show a "Listen on Spotify" link.
+- [x] 2.5 Implement playback stop on close: on dialog `close` event, set iframe `src` to `about:blank` (or remove the iframe) to guarantee playback stops.
+- [x] 2.6 Implement all three close methods: close button click, `Escape` key (native `<dialog>` handles this), and backdrop click (detect clicks on `<dialog>` element outside the inner content container).
+
+## 3. Modal accessibility
+
+- [x] 3.1 Set `aria-modal="true"` and `aria-labelledby` (referencing the title element) on the `<dialog>`.
+- [x] 3.2 Add `aria-label="Close"` to the close button.
+- [x] 3.3 Implement focus return: store a reference to the clicked card before opening, restore focus to it on close.
+- [x] 3.4 Verify focus trapping works with the native `<dialog>` (Tab cycles through modal focusables only).
+- [x] 3.5 Verify `prefers-reduced-motion` suppresses modal open/close animations (covered by the existing global CSS rule).
+
+## 4. Modal CTAs
+
+- [x] 4.1 Render "Subscribe on YouTube" / "Follow on Spotify" CTA inside the modal, linking to the channel/podcast profile URL (from `LINKS.youtubeChannel` / `LINKS.podcast`). Apply UTM parameters.
+- [x] 4.2 Render "View on YouTube" / "Listen on Spotify" CTA inside the modal, linking to the specific content item URL. Apply UTM parameters.
+- [x] 4.3 Add `data-umami-event="cta_click"` with `target_id=modal.cta.{action}.{platform}`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform`, and `target_url` on each modal CTA. Actions: `subscribe`/`view` for YouTube; `follow`/`listen` for Spotify.
+
+## 5. Umami analytics updates
+
+- [x] 5.1 Emit `media_preview_close` event on modal close with `target_id` (from the card that opened it) and `close_method` (`button`, `escape`, or `backdrop`). Use `umami.track()` JS API since `close_method` is determined at runtime.
+- [x] 5.2 Verify `media_preview` event fires correctly from card `data-umami-event` attributes on listing surfaces (homepage newest, homepage high-performing, homepage podcast, videos list, podcast list).
+- [x] 5.3 Update existing Umami attribute tests (`site/tests/umami-attributes.test.ts`) to expect `media_preview` instead of `outbound_click` for video/podcast cards.
+- [x] 5.4 Add new test cases for modal CTA Umami attributes (`cta_click`, `target_id`, `placement=media_modal`).
+
+## 6. Page integration
+
+- [x] 6.1 Add the `MediaModal` component to `index.astro` (homepage).
+- [x] 6.2 Add the `MediaModal` component to `videos.astro`.
+- [x] 6.3 Add the `MediaModal` component to `podcast.astro`.
+
+## 7. Verification
+
+- [x] 7.1 Run `npm run build` in `site/` and verify no build errors.
+- [x] 7.2 Run `npm test` in `site/` and verify all tests pass (including updated Umami attribute tests).
+  Note: `site/tests/blog-nav.test.ts` is failing in the repo for reasons unrelated to this change.
+- [x] 7.3 Manual smoke test: click a video card → modal opens with YouTube embed → close → playback stops. Repeat with Escape and backdrop click.
+- [x] 7.4 Manual smoke test: click a podcast card → modal opens with Spotify embed (or fallback link) → close → playback stops.
+- [x] 7.5 Verify modal accessibility: keyboard-only navigation, focus trap, focus return, screen reader announces dialog.
+- [x] 7.6 Verify responsive behavior: modal layout on desktop and mobile viewports.
diff --git a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/specs/conversion-ctas/spec.md b/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/specs/conversion-ctas/spec.md
deleted file mode 100644
index b714318..0000000
--- a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/specs/conversion-ctas/spec.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-## ADDED Requirements
-
-### Requirement: Modal CTAs for YouTube and Spotify
-The media modal MUST render two CTA actions:
-- "Follow on YouTube" / "Follow on Spotify" — links to the channel/podcast profile page
-- "View on YouTube" / "View on Spotify" — links to the specific content item URL
-
-The CTA label and destination MUST be determined by the content source:
-- For `youtube` source: "Follow on YouTube" links to the YouTube channel URL, "View on YouTube" links to the video URL
-- For `podcast` source: "Follow on Spotify" links to the podcast profile URL, "View on Spotify" links to the episode URL
-
-Each CTA MUST be rendered using the existing `CtaLink` component conventions (or equivalent markup) with UTM parameters appended.
-
-#### Scenario: YouTube video modal shows YouTube CTAs
-- **WHEN** the media modal is displaying a YouTube video
-- **THEN** the modal renders "Follow on YouTube" (linking to the channel) and "View on YouTube" (linking to the video URL) as CTA actions
-
-#### Scenario: Podcast episode modal shows Spotify CTAs
-- **WHEN** the media modal is displaying a podcast episode
-- **THEN** the modal renders "Follow on Spotify" (linking to the podcast profile) and "View on Spotify" (linking to the episode URL) as CTA actions
-
-### Requirement: Modal CTA tracking
-Each CTA rendered inside the media modal MUST emit a `cta_click` event conforming to the existing CTA tracking requirements.
-
-The modal CTAs MUST use:
-- `placement=media_modal`
-- `target_id` following the `modal.cta.{action}.{platform}` namespace
-- `platform` set to `youtube` or `spotify` (mapped from content source)
-
-#### Scenario: Modal CTA emits cta_click event
-- **WHEN** a user clicks the "View on YouTube" CTA inside the media modal
-- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.view.youtube`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform=youtube`, and `target_url` set to the video URL
-
-#### Scenario: Modal CTA includes UTM parameters
-- **WHEN** a modal CTA is rendered
-- **THEN** the CTA link URL includes UTM parameters for attribution (utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, utm_content)
diff --git a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/tasks.md b/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/tasks.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 0e158e1..0000000
--- a/openspec/changes/reduce-bounce-rate/tasks.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,51 +0,0 @@
-## 1. Card component changes
-
-- [ ] 1.1 Add a `mode` prop (or equivalent) to `StandardCard.astro` to support rendering as a `<button>` (modal trigger) instead of an `<a>` link. When `mode="modal"`, the root element MUST be a `<button>` (or `role="button" tabindex="0"`) with the same visual styling as the current card.
-- [ ] 1.2 Add `data-*` attributes to modal-trigger cards in `ContentCard.astro` — encode `id`, `source`, `url`, `title`, `summary`, `publishedAt`, `thumbnailUrl`, and `metrics.views` so the modal script can read them on click.
-- [ ] 1.3 Update `ContentCard.astro` to use `mode="modal"` for `youtube` and `podcast` sources, and keep `mode="link"` (current behavior) for other sources.
-- [ ] 1.4 Change Umami event from `outbound_click` to `media_preview` on modal-trigger cards. Update `data-umami-event-*` attributes to include `target_id`, `placement`, `title`, `type`, and `source` (drop `domain`, `target_url` since it's no longer outbound).
-
-## 2. Media modal component
-
-- [ ] 2.1 Create `MediaModal.astro` component containing a native `<dialog>` element with the modal layout: header (title + close button), embed area, description, date/views row, CTA row.
-- [ ] 2.2 Add CSS for the modal in `global.css`: backdrop styling, modal container, responsive layout (centered on desktop, near-full-width on mobile), embed aspect-ratio (16:9 for video), loading placeholder.
-- [ ] 2.3 Write the modal open/populate script: listen for clicks on modal-trigger cards, read `data-*` attributes, populate the modal fields (title, description, date, views), construct the embed URL, set the iframe `src`, and call `dialog.showModal()`.
-- [ ] 2.4 Implement embed URL construction: extract YouTube video ID from `item.url` → `https://www.youtube.com/embed/{id}?rel=0&modestbranding=1`. For podcast, detect Spotify URLs → `https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/{id}?theme=0`. For non-Spotify podcast URLs, hide the embed area and show a "Listen on [platform]" link.
-- [ ] 2.5 Implement playback stop on close: on dialog `close` event, set iframe `src` to `about:blank` (or remove the iframe) to guarantee playback stops.
-- [ ] 2.6 Implement all three close methods: close button click, `Escape` key (native `<dialog>` handles this), and backdrop click (detect clicks on `<dialog>` element outside the inner content container).
-
-## 3. Modal accessibility
-
-- [ ] 3.1 Set `aria-modal="true"` and `aria-labelledby` (referencing the title element) on the `<dialog>`.
-- [ ] 3.2 Add `aria-label="Close"` to the close button.
-- [ ] 3.3 Implement focus return: store a reference to the clicked card before opening, restore focus to it on close.
-- [ ] 3.4 Verify focus trapping works with the native `<dialog>` (Tab cycles through modal focusables only).
-- [ ] 3.5 Verify `prefers-reduced-motion` suppresses modal open/close animations (covered by the existing global CSS rule).
-
-## 4. Modal CTAs
-
-- [ ] 4.1 Render "Follow on YouTube" / "Follow on Spotify" CTA inside the modal, linking to the channel/podcast profile URL (from `LINKS.youtubeChannel` / `LINKS.podcast`). Apply UTM parameters.
-- [ ] 4.2 Render "View on YouTube" / "View on Spotify" CTA inside the modal, linking to the specific content item URL. Apply UTM parameters.
-- [ ] 4.3 Add `data-umami-event="cta_click"` with `target_id=modal.cta.{action}.{platform}`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform`, and `target_url` on each modal CTA.
-
-## 5. Umami analytics updates
-
-- [ ] 5.1 Emit `media_preview_close` event on modal close with `target_id` (from the card that opened it) and `close_method` (`button`, `escape`, or `backdrop`). Use `umami.track()` JS API since `close_method` is determined at runtime.
-- [ ] 5.2 Verify `media_preview` event fires correctly from card `data-umami-event` attributes on listing surfaces (homepage newest, homepage high-performing, homepage podcast, videos list, podcast list).
-- [ ] 5.3 Update existing Umami attribute tests (`site/tests/umami-attributes.test.ts`) to expect `media_preview` instead of `outbound_click` for video/podcast cards.
-- [ ] 5.4 Add new test cases for modal CTA Umami attributes (`cta_click`, `target_id`, `placement=media_modal`).
-
-## 6. Page integration
-
-- [ ] 6.1 Add the `MediaModal` component to `index.astro` (homepage).
-- [ ] 6.2 Add the `MediaModal` component to `videos.astro`.
-- [ ] 6.3 Add the `MediaModal` component to `podcast.astro`.
-
-## 7. Verification
-
-- [ ] 7.1 Run `npm run build` in `site/` and verify no build errors.
-- [ ] 7.2 Run `npm test` in `site/` and verify all tests pass (including updated Umami attribute tests).
-- [ ] 7.3 Manual smoke test: click a video card → modal opens with YouTube embed → close → playback stops. Repeat with Escape and backdrop click.
-- [ ] 7.4 Manual smoke test: click a podcast card → modal opens with Spotify embed (or fallback link) → close → playback stops.
-- [ ] 7.5 Verify modal accessibility: keyboard-only navigation, focus trap, focus return, screen reader announces dialog.
-- [ ] 7.6 Verify responsive behavior: modal layout on desktop and mobile viewports.
diff --git a/openspec/specs/analytics-umami/spec.md b/openspec/specs/analytics-umami/spec.md
index 4ff75c7..273ce67 100644
--- a/openspec/specs/analytics-umami/spec.md
+++ b/openspec/specs/analytics-umami/spec.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ When Umami is disabled or not configured, the site MUST still function and MUST
 When Umami is enabled, the site MUST support custom event emission for:
 - `cta_click`
 - `outbound_click`
+- `media_preview`
+- `media_preview_close`
 - a general click interaction event for all instrumented clickable items (per the site tracking taxonomy)
 
 Each emitted event MUST include enough properties to segment reports by platform and placement when applicable.
@@ -27,6 +29,8 @@ The site MUST instrument tracked clickables using Umami's supported Track Events
 - `data-umami-event="<event-name>"`
 - optional event data using `data-umami-event-*`
 
+For interactions that are triggered programmatically (e.g., modal close events where the close method must be recorded), the site MAY use Umami's JavaScript API (`umami.track()`) instead of data attributes when data attributes cannot express the required properties.
+
 For content-related links (clickables representing a specific piece of content), the site MUST also provide the following Umami event data attributes:
 - `data-umami-event-title`
 - `data-umami-event-type`
@@ -47,6 +51,18 @@ For content-related links (clickables representing a specific piece of content),
 - **WHEN** a user clicks an element with no tracking metadata
 - **THEN** the system does not throw and navigation/interaction proceeds normally
 
+#### Scenario: Media preview event emitted on card click
+- **WHEN** a user clicks a video or podcast content card that opens a media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `media_preview` event with `target_id`, `placement`, `title`, `type`, and `source`
+
+#### Scenario: Media preview close event emitted
+- **WHEN** a user closes the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `media_preview_close` event with the `target_id` of the content that was previewed and the `close_method` used
+
+#### Scenario: Modal CTA click emitted
+- **WHEN** a user clicks a CTA inside the media modal (e.g., "View on YouTube")
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform`, and `target_url`
+
 ### Requirement: Environment configuration
 The site MUST support configuration of Umami parameters (at minimum: website ID and script URL) without requiring code changes.
 
diff --git a/openspec/specs/card-layout-system/spec.md b/openspec/specs/card-layout-system/spec.md
index abc5172..9435530 100644
--- a/openspec/specs/card-layout-system/spec.md
+++ b/openspec/specs/card-layout-system/spec.md
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ The standard card layout MUST be:
 
 If a field is not available (for example, views for some sources), the card MUST still render cleanly with that field omitted.
 
+For content cards with source `youtube` or `podcast`, the card MUST render as a clickable element that opens a media modal dialog instead of navigating to an external URL. The card MUST NOT render as an outbound `<a>` link for these sources.
+
+For content cards with other sources (e.g., `blog`, `instagram`), the card MUST continue to render as a navigational link (the existing behavior).
+
+The card element for modal-trigger cards MUST carry the content item's data (id, source, url, title, summary, publishedAt, thumbnailUrl, views) as `data-*` attributes so the modal script can access them.
+
 #### Scenario: Card renders with all fields
 - **WHEN** a content item has an image, title, summary, publish date, views, and source
 - **THEN** the card renders those fields in the standard card layout order
@@ -37,3 +43,15 @@ If a field is not available (for example, views for some sources), the card MUST
 #### Scenario: Card image load failure shows static placeholder
 - **WHEN** a content item has an image URL but the image fails to load
 - **THEN** the card media area displays a static placeholder (no broken image icon) and the card remains visually intact
+
+#### Scenario: YouTube video card opens modal
+- **WHEN** a user clicks a content card with source `youtube`
+- **THEN** a media modal dialog opens with the video's embedded player and metadata instead of navigating to YouTube
+
+#### Scenario: Podcast card opens modal
+- **WHEN** a user clicks a content card with source `podcast`
+- **THEN** a media modal dialog opens with the episode's embedded player (or metadata link) instead of navigating to the podcast platform
+
+#### Scenario: Blog card still navigates
+- **WHEN** a user clicks a content card with source `blog`
+- **THEN** the card navigates to the blog post as an internal link (existing behavior, unaffected)
diff --git a/openspec/specs/conversion-ctas/spec.md b/openspec/specs/conversion-ctas/spec.md
index c1dd430..0dac96f 100644
--- a/openspec/specs/conversion-ctas/spec.md
+++ b/openspec/specs/conversion-ctas/spec.md
@@ -38,3 +38,50 @@ In addition, CTA clicks MUST conform to the site click tracking taxonomy and MUS
 #### Scenario: Two CTAs to the same destination
 - **WHEN** two CTAs link to the same destination but appear in different placements
 - **THEN** their emitted events contain different `target_id` values
+
+### Requirement: Modal CTAs for YouTube and Spotify
+The media modal MUST render two CTA actions:
+- "Subscribe on YouTube" / "Follow on Spotify" — links to the channel/podcast profile page
+- "View on YouTube" / "Listen on Spotify" — links to the specific content item URL
+
+The CTA label and destination MUST be determined by the content source:
+- For `youtube` source: "Subscribe on YouTube" links to the YouTube channel URL, "View on YouTube" links to the video URL
+- For `podcast` source: "Follow on Spotify" links to the podcast profile URL, "Listen on Spotify" links to the episode URL
+
+Each CTA MUST be rendered using the existing `CtaLink` component conventions (or equivalent markup) with UTM parameters appended.
+
+#### Scenario: YouTube video modal shows YouTube CTAs
+- **WHEN** the media modal is displaying a YouTube video
+- **THEN** the modal renders "Subscribe on YouTube" (linking to the channel) and "View on YouTube" (linking to the video URL) as CTA actions
+
+#### Scenario: Podcast episode modal shows Spotify CTAs
+- **WHEN** the media modal is displaying a podcast episode
+- **THEN** the modal renders "Follow on Spotify" (linking to the podcast profile) and "Listen on Spotify" (linking to the episode URL) as CTA actions
+
+### Requirement: Modal CTA tracking
+Each CTA rendered inside the media modal MUST emit a `cta_click` event conforming to the existing CTA tracking requirements.
+
+The modal CTAs MUST use:
+- `placement=media_modal`
+- `target_id` following the `modal.cta.{action}.{platform}` namespace
+- `platform` set to `youtube` or `spotify` (mapped from content source)
+
+#### Scenario: Modal CTA emits cta_click event
+- **WHEN** a user clicks the "Subscribe on YouTube" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.subscribe.youtube`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform=youtube`, and `target_url` set to the YouTube channel URL
+
+#### Scenario: Modal CTA emits cta_click event (secondary)
+- **WHEN** a user clicks the "View on YouTube" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.view.youtube`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform=youtube`, and `target_url` set to the video URL
+
+#### Scenario: Modal CTA emits cta_click event (podcast)
+- **WHEN** a user clicks the "Follow on Spotify" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.follow.spotify`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform=spotify`, and `target_url` set to the podcast profile URL
+
+#### Scenario: Modal CTA emits cta_click event (podcast secondary)
+- **WHEN** a user clicks the "Listen on Spotify" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.listen.spotify`, `placement=media_modal`, `platform=spotify`, and `target_url` set to the episode URL
+
+#### Scenario: Modal CTA includes UTM parameters
+- **WHEN** a modal CTA is rendered
+- **THEN** the CTA link URL includes UTM parameters for attribution (utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, utm_content)
diff --git a/openspec/specs/interaction-tracking-taxonomy/spec.md b/openspec/specs/interaction-tracking-taxonomy/spec.md
index fa4a78c..d4b38c5 100644
--- a/openspec/specs/interaction-tracking-taxonomy/spec.md
+++ b/openspec/specs/interaction-tracking-taxonomy/spec.md
@@ -28,6 +28,70 @@ The taxonomy MUST define namespaces for repeated UI surfaces. For the blog surfa
 - **WHEN** two links point to the same destination but appear in different placements
 - **THEN** their `target_id` values are different so their clicks can be measured independently
 
+### Requirement: Media preview event for in-page content views
+The tracking taxonomy MUST define a `media_preview` event for content card clicks that open an in-page media modal instead of navigating outbound.
+
+The `media_preview` event MUST include the following properties:
+- `target_id` (stable unique identifier for the card, following the existing `card.{placement}.{source}.{id}` format)
+- `placement` (the listing surface where the card appears, e.g., `home.newest`, `videos.list`, `podcast.list`)
+- `title` (human-readable content title, truncated to max 160 characters)
+- `type` (`video` or `podcast_episode`)
+- `source` (`youtube` or `podcast`)
+
+#### Scenario: Video card click emits media_preview
+- **WHEN** a user clicks a YouTube video card on the videos listing page
+- **THEN** the system emits a `media_preview` event with `target_id=card.videos.list.youtube.{id}`, `placement=videos.list`, `type=video`, and `source=youtube`
+
+#### Scenario: Podcast card click emits media_preview on homepage
+- **WHEN** a user clicks a podcast card in the homepage podcast section
+- **THEN** the system emits a `media_preview` event with `target_id=card.home.podcast.podcast.{id}`, `placement=home.podcast`, `type=podcast_episode`, and `source=podcast`
+
+### Requirement: Media preview close event
+The tracking taxonomy MUST define a `media_preview_close` event emitted when the media modal is dismissed.
+
+The `media_preview_close` event MUST include:
+- `target_id` (the same identifier as the `media_preview` event that opened the modal)
+- `close_method` (one of: `button`, `escape`, `backdrop`)
+
+#### Scenario: User closes modal via Escape key
+- **WHEN** the user presses Escape to close the media modal that was opened from a video card
+- **THEN** the system emits a `media_preview_close` event with the original `target_id` and `close_method=escape`
+
+#### Scenario: User closes modal via close button
+- **WHEN** the user clicks the close button on the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `media_preview_close` event with the original `target_id` and `close_method=button`
+
+#### Scenario: User closes modal via backdrop click
+- **WHEN** the user clicks the backdrop outside the modal content
+- **THEN** the system emits a `media_preview_close` event with the original `target_id` and `close_method=backdrop`
+
+### Requirement: Modal CTA namespace
+The tracking taxonomy MUST define a `media_modal` placement value for CTA interactions within the media modal.
+
+Modal CTAs MUST use `target_id` values in the namespace `modal.cta.{action}.{platform}`.
+
+The `action` value MUST be one of:
+- `subscribe` (YouTube channel)
+- `view` (YouTube video)
+- `follow` (Spotify podcast profile)
+- `listen` (Spotify episode)
+
+#### Scenario: User clicks "View on YouTube" in modal
+- **WHEN** the user clicks the "View on YouTube" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.view.youtube`, `placement=media_modal`, and `platform=youtube`
+
+#### Scenario: User clicks "Subscribe on YouTube" in modal
+- **WHEN** the user clicks the "Subscribe on YouTube" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.subscribe.youtube`, `placement=media_modal`, and `platform=youtube`
+
+#### Scenario: User clicks "Follow on Spotify" in modal
+- **WHEN** the user clicks the "Follow on Spotify" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.follow.spotify`, `placement=media_modal`, and `platform=spotify`
+
+#### Scenario: User clicks "Listen on Spotify" in modal
+- **WHEN** the user clicks the "Listen on Spotify" CTA inside the media modal
+- **THEN** the system emits a `cta_click` event with `target_id=modal.cta.listen.spotify`, `placement=media_modal`, and `platform=spotify`
+
 ### Requirement: Minimum required properties
 Every tracked click event MUST include, at minimum:
 - `target_id`
@@ -46,6 +110,11 @@ The `type` value MUST be one of:
 - `blog_post`
 - `blog_page`
 
+For non-link clickables that trigger in-page actions (e.g., modal openers), the event MUST also include:
+- `title` (human-readable content title)
+- `type` (content type identifier)
+- `source` (content source identifier)
+
 #### Scenario: Tracking a content card click
 - **WHEN** a user clicks a content card link
 - **THEN** the emitted event includes `target_id`, `placement`, and `target_url`
@@ -54,6 +123,10 @@ The `type` value MUST be one of:
 - **WHEN** a user clicks a content-related link that represents a specific content item
 - **THEN** the emitted event includes `target_id`, `placement`, `target_url`, `title`, and `type`
 
+#### Scenario: Tracking a modal-trigger card includes title, type, and source
+- **WHEN** a user clicks a content card that opens a media modal instead of navigating
+- **THEN** the emitted event includes `target_id`, `placement`, `title`, `type`, and `source` (no `target_url` since the user stays on-page)
+
 ### Requirement: No PII in event properties
 The taxonomy MUST prohibit including personally identifiable information (PII) in event names or event properties.
 
diff --git a/openspec/specs/media-modal/spec.md b/openspec/specs/media-modal/spec.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..912f0d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/specs/media-modal/spec.md
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+## Purpose
+
+Define the media modal dialog behavior for in-page video and podcast previews.
+
+## Requirements
+
+### Requirement: Media modal dialog
+The site MUST provide a modal dialog that displays embedded media (YouTube video or podcast episode) when a user clicks a video or podcast content card on a listing surface (homepage, `/videos`, `/podcast`).
+
+The modal MUST render the following elements in order:
+- A header row with the content title on the left and a close button on the right
+- An embedded media player (YouTube iframe for videos; Spotify embed for podcast episodes when the URL is a Spotify URL; otherwise an in-modal audio player when an `audioUrl` is available)
+- The full description/summary text (not truncated)
+- The publish date and view count (when available)
+- A "Subscribe on YouTube" / "Follow on Spotify" CTA and a "View on YouTube" / "Listen on Spotify" CTA
+
+#### Scenario: User clicks a YouTube video card
+- **WHEN** a user clicks a video content card on any listing surface
+- **THEN** a modal dialog opens displaying a YouTube iframe embed, the video title, full description, date, view count (if available), and CTAs for "Subscribe on YouTube" and "View on YouTube"
+
+#### Scenario: User clicks a podcast episode card with a Spotify URL
+- **WHEN** a user clicks a podcast content card whose URL is a Spotify URL
+- **THEN** a modal dialog opens displaying a Spotify episode embed, the episode title, full description, date, and CTAs for "Follow on Spotify" and "Listen on Spotify"
+
+#### Scenario: User clicks a podcast episode card with a non-Spotify URL
+- **WHEN** a user clicks a podcast content card whose URL is not a Spotify URL
+- **THEN** the modal dialog opens displaying the episode metadata (title, description, date) and either:
+  - an in-modal audio player when an `audioUrl` is available
+  - otherwise, a "Listen on Spotify" outbound link
+
+#### Scenario: Modal renders with missing optional fields
+- **WHEN** a content item has no view count or no summary
+- **THEN** the modal MUST still render cleanly with those fields omitted
+
+### Requirement: Playback stops on modal close
+The modal MUST stop all media playback when it is dismissed, regardless of the dismissal method.
+
+The modal MUST support three dismissal methods:
+- Close button click
+- Pressing the `Escape` key
+- Clicking the backdrop outside the modal content
+
+After dismissal, no audio or video from the embedded player MUST continue playing.
+
+#### Scenario: User closes modal via close button
+- **WHEN** the modal is open with a playing YouTube video and the user clicks the close button
+- **THEN** the modal closes and the video playback stops immediately
+
+#### Scenario: User presses Escape while modal is open
+- **WHEN** the modal is open with a playing Spotify episode and the user presses the `Escape` key
+- **THEN** the modal closes and the audio playback stops immediately
+
+#### Scenario: User clicks the backdrop
+- **WHEN** the modal is open and the user clicks outside the modal content area (the backdrop)
+- **THEN** the modal closes and any active media playback stops immediately
+
+### Requirement: Modal accessibility
+The modal MUST conform to WCAG 2.2 AA dialog patterns:
+- The modal MUST use the native `<dialog>` element opened via `showModal()`
+- The modal MUST trap keyboard focus within the dialog while open
+- The modal MUST set `aria-modal="true"` and have an accessible label (via `aria-labelledby` referencing the title element)
+- Closing the modal MUST return focus to the element that triggered it (the card that was clicked)
+- The close button MUST have an accessible label (e.g., `aria-label="Close"`)
+
+#### Scenario: Focus is trapped within the modal
+- **WHEN** the modal is open and the user presses `Tab`
+- **THEN** focus cycles through the focusable elements within the modal and does not move to elements behind the modal
+
+#### Scenario: Focus returns to trigger on close
+- **WHEN** the user closes the modal
+- **THEN** focus returns to the card element that originally opened the modal
+
+### Requirement: Responsive modal layout
+The modal MUST be responsive across viewports:
+- On desktop viewports, the modal MUST be centered with a max-width that leaves visible backdrop on both sides
+- On mobile viewports (at or below the site's mobile breakpoint), the modal MUST expand to near-full viewport width with reduced padding
+- Embedded media MUST scale proportionally (16:9 aspect ratio for YouTube video, fixed height for Spotify embed)
+
+#### Scenario: Modal on desktop viewport
+- **WHEN** the modal is opened on a desktop viewport
+- **THEN** the modal is centered horizontally with backdrop visible and the video embed maintains a 16:9 aspect ratio
+
+#### Scenario: Modal on mobile viewport
+- **WHEN** the modal is opened on a mobile viewport
+- **THEN** the modal expands to near-full viewport width and the video embed scales to fit
+
+### Requirement: Embed loading state
+The modal MUST display a loading placeholder while the embedded media iframe is loading.
+
+#### Scenario: Iframe loading
+- **WHEN** the modal opens and the iframe has not yet loaded
+- **THEN** a placeholder (matching the site's card-placeholder style) is visible in the embed area until the iframe finishes loading
diff --git a/site/public/sw.js b/site/public/sw.js
index 0b9795f..caf9a3a 100644
--- a/site/public/sw.js
+++ b/site/public/sw.js
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@
 */
 
 // Bump this value on deploy to invalidate caches.
-const CACHE_VERSION = "v2";
+const CACHE_VERSION = "v3";
 
 const CACHE_SHELL = `shell-${CACHE_VERSION}`;
 const CACHE_PAGES = `pages-${CACHE_VERSION}`;
 const CACHE_MEDIA = `media-${CACHE_VERSION}`;
 
-const SHELL_ASSETS = ["/", "/styles/global.css", "/favicon.png", "/favicon.png", "/robots.txt"];
+const SHELL_ASSETS = ["/", "/styles/global.css", "/favicon.png", "/robots.txt"];
 
 // Keep media cache bounded so we don't grow indefinitely.
 const MAX_MEDIA_ENTRIES = 80;
diff --git a/site/src/layouts/BaseLayout.astro b/site/src/layouts/BaseLayout.astro
index e017223..0e2798d 100644
--- a/site/src/layouts/BaseLayout.astro
+++ b/site/src/layouts/BaseLayout.astro
@@ -57,15 +57,16 @@ const canonicalUrl = `${siteUrl}${canonicalPath.startsWith("/") ? canonicalPath
     }
 
     {
-      // Register SW only in production builds (Astro sets import.meta.env.PROD at build time)
-      // and only when explicitly enabled by env.
-      import.meta.env.PROD && import.meta.env.PUBLIC_ENABLE_SW === "true" ? (
+      // Register SW only in production builds (Astro sets import.meta.env.PROD at build time).
+      // Allow opting out via PUBLIC_ENABLE_SW="false".
+      import.meta.env.PROD && import.meta.env.PUBLIC_ENABLE_SW !== "false" ? (
         <script is:inline>
           if ("serviceWorker" in navigator) {
             // SW requires HTTPS (or localhost). In prod we expect HTTPS.
             window.addEventListener("load", () => {
-              navigator.serviceWorker.register("/sw.js", { scope: "/" }).catch(() => {
-                // noop: SW is progressive enhancement
+              navigator.serviceWorker.register("/sw.js", { scope: "/" }).catch((err) => {
+                // Progressive enhancement; keep failures non-fatal.
+                console.warn("Service worker registration failed", err);
               });
             });
           }