diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index d792a0d..3970b44 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "siteforge",
-  "version": "2.16.1",
+  "version": "2.17.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "siteforge",
-      "version": "2.16.1",
+      "version": "2.17.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "@aws-sdk/client-s3": "^3.1135.0",
         "@dnd-kit/core": "^6.3.1",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 67b0628..1a7835e 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "siteforge",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "2.16.1",
+  "version": "2.17.0",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite",
diff --git a/server/routes/podcast-workflow.js b/server/routes/podcast-workflow.js
index 36ed703..dc48bfd 100644
--- a/server/routes/podcast-workflow.js
+++ b/server/routes/podcast-workflow.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { writeFile } from '../atomic-write.js'
 import { requireAdminAuth } from '../auth.js'
 import { state } from '../state.js'
 import { DATA_DIR } from '../config.js'
-import { scriptKey, scriptEpisodeNumber } from '../episode-script-keys.js'
+import { scriptKey } from '../episode-script-keys.js'
 import { fetchAllEpisodes } from './episodes.js'
 
 const WORKFLOW_FILE = path.join(DATA_DIR, 'podcast-workflow.json')
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ function laneFor(season, wf) {
 }
 
 const normTitle = t => String(t ?? '').toLowerCase().replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g, ' ').trim()
-const plannedKey = p => p.key ?? scriptKey(p.season, p.episodeNumber)
+const plannedKey = p => scriptKey(p.season, p.episodeNumber)
 
 function toIsoDate(pubDate) {
   const d = new Date(pubDate)
@@ -67,18 +67,10 @@ export function register(app) {
     const byKey = new Map()
     const upsert = (key, patch) => byKey.set(key, { ...(byKey.get(key) ?? {}), key, ...patch })
 
-    for (const [key, entry] of Object.entries(state.episodeScripts ?? {})) {
-      upsert(key, {
-        season: entry.season ?? '',
-        episodeNumber: scriptEpisodeNumber(key, entry),
-        title: entry.title ?? '',
-        hasScript: true,
-      })
-    }
     for (const p of wf.planned) {
       const key = plannedKey(p)
       const prev = byKey.get(key)
-      upsert(key, { season: p.season, episodeNumber: p.episodeNumber, title: prev?.title || p.title || '', planned: true, plannedLane: p.lane })
+      upsert(key, { season: p.season, episodeNumber: p.episodeNumber, title: prev?.title || p.title || '', planned: true })
     }
     for (const item of feed) {
       const hasNum = /^\d+$/.test(item.episode)
@@ -104,7 +96,7 @@ export function register(app) {
 
     const items = [...byKey.values()].map(e => ({
       ...e,
-      lane: wf.laneOverrides[e.key] ?? e.plannedLane ?? laneFor(e.season, wf),
+      lane: wf.laneOverrides[e.key] ?? laneFor(e.season, wf),
       laneOverride: wf.laneOverrides[e.key] ?? '',
       released: Boolean(e.released),
       state: { ...emptyState(), ...(wf.items[e.key] ?? {}) },
@@ -113,22 +105,28 @@ export function register(app) {
     res.json({ items, feedOk, laneSeasons: { A: laneSeasonOf('A', wf), B: laneSeasonOf('B', wf) } })
   })
 
+  // Start the workflow for a new episode. Name, season and episode number are all required
+  // so the episode lands in the right lane and matches the feed once it is released.
   app.post('/api/admin/podcast-workflow/planned', requireAdminAuth, async (req, res) => {
-    const season = /^\d+$/.test(String(req.body?.season ?? '')) ? String(req.body.season) : ''
+    const season = String(req.body?.season ?? '').trim()
     const episodeNumber = String(req.body?.episodeNumber ?? '').trim()
     const title = typeof req.body?.title === 'string' ? req.body.title.trim().slice(0, 160) : ''
-    if (!/^\d+$/.test(episodeNumber)) {
-      res.status(400).json({ message: 'Episode number must be a whole number.' })
+    if (!title) {
+      res.status(400).json({ message: 'Episode name is required.' })
       return
     }
-    const lane = ['A', 'B'].includes(req.body?.lane) ? req.body.lane : 'other'
-    const wf = await load()
-    // Without a season number the key must still be unique per lane.
-    const key = season ? scriptKey(season, episodeNumber) : `${lane}-p${episodeNumber}`
-    if (!wf.planned.some(p => plannedKey(p) === key)) {
-      wf.planned.push({ key, season, episodeNumber, title, lane })
-      await save(wf)
+    if (!/^\d+$/.test(season) || !/^\d+$/.test(episodeNumber)) {
+      res.status(400).json({ message: 'Season and episode number must be whole numbers.' })
+      return
     }
+    const wf = await load()
+    const key = scriptKey(season, episodeNumber)
+    if (wf.planned.some(p => plannedKey(p) === key)) {
+      res.status(409).json({ message: `Season ${season} episode ${episodeNumber} has already been started.` })
+      return
+    }
+    wf.planned.push({ season, episodeNumber, title })
+    await save(wf)
     res.json({ ok: true, key })
   })
 
diff --git a/src/AdminPage.tsx b/src/AdminPage.tsx
index 2e68ace..f4997e0 100644
--- a/src/AdminPage.tsx
+++ b/src/AdminPage.tsx
@@ -1820,7 +1820,6 @@ interface PodcastWorkflowItem {
   released: boolean
   releaseDate?: string
   spotifyUrl?: string
-  hasScript?: boolean
   planned?: boolean
   state: PodcastWorkflowState
 }
@@ -1833,6 +1832,8 @@ function PodcastWorkflowAdmin({ laneA, laneB }: { laneA: { title: string }; lane
   const [lane, setLane] = useState<'A' | 'B' | 'other'>('A')
   const [selectedKey, setSelectedKey] = useState('')
   const [showReleased, setShowReleased] = useState(false)
+  const [starting, setStarting] = useState(false)
+  const [newSeason, setNewSeason] = useState('')
   const [newNumber, setNewNumber] = useState('')
   const [newTitle, setNewTitle] = useState('')
   const [error, setError] = useState('')
@@ -1888,11 +1889,11 @@ function PodcastWorkflowAdmin({ laneA, laneB }: { laneA: { title: string }; lane
     const r = await fetch('/api/admin/podcast-workflow/planned', {
       method: 'POST',
       headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-      body: JSON.stringify({ season: laneSeason, episodeNumber: newNumber, title: newTitle, lane }),
+      body: JSON.stringify({ season: newSeason, episodeNumber: newNumber, title: newTitle }),
     })
     const d = await r.json()
     if (!r.ok) { setError(d.message ?? 'Could not add episode.'); return }
-    setNewNumber(''); setNewTitle('')
+    setNewNumber(''); setNewTitle(''); setStarting(false)
     await reload()
     setSelectedKey(d.key)
   }
@@ -1929,7 +1930,6 @@ function PodcastWorkflowAdmin({ laneA, laneB }: { laneA: { title: string }; lane
       <strong>{label(i)}</strong>
       <div style={{ fontSize: '0.78rem', opacity: 0.75 }}>
         {i.released ? `Released ${i.releaseDate || ''}` : `${doneCount(i)}/${PODCAST_STEP_DEFS.length} steps`}
-        {!i.released && i.hasScript ? ' · script ready' : ''}
       </div>
     </button>
   )
@@ -1967,7 +1967,7 @@ function PodcastWorkflowAdmin({ laneA, laneB }: { laneA: { title: string }; lane
             onBlur={e => { if (e.target.value !== laneSeason) saveLaneSeason(e.target.value) }}
           />
           <span className="admin-stats-note">
-            {laneSeason ? `Only season ${laneSeason} episodes are shown here.` : 'Set a season number so this lane picks up its episodes, or assign episodes by hand.'}
+            {laneSeason ? `Only season ${laneSeason} episodes are shown here.` : 'Set a season number so this lane picks up its episodes, or start an episode and assign it by hand.'}
           </span>
         </div>
       ) : (
@@ -1982,11 +1982,30 @@ function PodcastWorkflowAdmin({ laneA, laneB }: { laneA: { title: string }; lane
               {upcoming.length === 0 && <p className="admin-stats-note">Nothing in progress.</p>}
               {upcoming.map(row)}
             </div>
-            {lane !== 'other' && (
-              <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: 6, margin: '8px 0 14px', flexWrap: 'wrap' }}>
-                <input type="number" min={1} placeholder="Ep #" value={newNumber} onChange={e => setNewNumber(e.target.value)} style={{ width: 70 }} aria-label="New episode number" />
-                <input type="text" placeholder="Title (optional)" value={newTitle} onChange={e => setNewTitle(e.target.value)} style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 120 }} aria-label="New episode title" />
-                <button type="button" className="btn-admin-add" onClick={addPlanned} disabled={!newNumber}>Add</button>
+            {!starting ? (
+              <button type="button" className="btn-admin-add" style={{ margin: '8px 0 14px' }} onClick={() => { setNewSeason(laneSeason); setStarting(true) }}>
+                + Start new episode
+              </button>
+            ) : (
+              <div style={{ margin: '8px 0 14px', padding: 10, border: '1px solid var(--color-border, #e5e0d5)', borderRadius: 6 }}>
+                <div className="admin-field">
+                  <label htmlFor="pw-new-title">Episode name</label>
+                  <input id="pw-new-title" type="text" value={newTitle} onChange={e => setNewTitle(e.target.value)} />
+                </div>
+                <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: 10, marginBottom: 8 }}>
+                  <div className="admin-field" style={{ flex: 1 }}>
+                    <label htmlFor="pw-new-season">Season</label>
+                    <input id="pw-new-season" type="number" min={1} value={newSeason} onChange={e => setNewSeason(e.target.value)} />
+                  </div>
+                  <div className="admin-field" style={{ flex: 1 }}>
+                    <label htmlFor="pw-new-number">Episode #</label>
+                    <input id="pw-new-number" type="number" min={1} value={newNumber} onChange={e => setNewNumber(e.target.value)} />
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+                <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: 8 }}>
+                  <button type="button" className="btn-admin-save" onClick={addPlanned} disabled={!newTitle.trim() || !newSeason || !newNumber}>Start workflow</button>
+                  <button type="button" className="btn-admin-ghost" onClick={() => setStarting(false)}>Cancel</button>
+                </div>
               </div>
             )}
             <label style={{ fontSize: '0.82rem', display: 'block', marginBottom: 6 }}>
@@ -2006,7 +2025,7 @@ function PodcastWorkflowAdmin({ laneA, laneB }: { laneA: { title: string }; lane
                   </p>
                 ) : (
                   <p style={{ fontSize: '0.86rem', opacity: 0.8 }}>
-                    {selected.hasScript ? 'Script uploaded.' : 'No script yet.'} This moves to Released on its own once it shows up in the feed.
+                    This moves to Released on its own once season {selected.season} episode {selected.episodeNumber} shows up in your Spotify feed.
                   </p>
                 )}
                 <div className="admin-field" style={{ maxWidth: 360, margin: '8px 0 12px' }}>
@@ -2053,8 +2072,8 @@ function PodcastWorkflowAdmin({ laneA, laneB }: { laneA: { title: string }; lane
                     onBlur={e => save(selected.key, { notes: e.target.value })}
                   />
                 </div>
-                {selected.planned && !selected.released && !selected.hasScript && (
-                  <button type="button" className="btn-admin-remove" onClick={() => removePlanned(selected.key)}>Remove planned episode</button>
+                {selected.planned && !selected.released && (
+                  <button type="button" className="btn-admin-remove" onClick={() => removePlanned(selected.key)}>Remove this episode</button>
                 )}
               </>
             )}