diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/__init__.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..30a2425b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+"""Generation: the LLM-driven brief and transcript controlled graphs.
+
+Two small graphs hold all the intelligence: ``brief`` proposes a reviewable spec
+(language detection + resolution), and ``transcript`` drafts long-form dialogue
+outline-first. Everything else in the podcast pipeline is deterministic.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from .brief import BriefConfig, BriefState, build_brief_graph
+from .transcript import TranscriptConfig, TranscriptState, build_transcript_graph
+
+__all__ = [
+    "BriefConfig",
+    "BriefState",
+    "TranscriptConfig",
+    "TranscriptState",
+    "build_brief_graph",
+    "build_transcript_graph",
+]
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/__init__.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0359a513d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+"""Brief planning: propose a reviewable spec from weak signals."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from .config import BriefConfig
+from .graph import build_brief_graph
+from .state import BriefState
+
+__all__ = ["BriefConfig", "BriefState", "build_brief_graph"]
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/config.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/config.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a9f2f9dec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+"""Configurable inputs for the brief-planning graph."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field, fields
+
+from langchain_core.runnables import RunnableConfig
+
+# Sensible defaults for a fresh brief; the user adjusts the range at the gate.
+DEFAULT_SPEAKER_COUNT = 2
+DEFAULT_MIN_MINUTES = 10
+DEFAULT_MAX_MINUTES = 20
+
+
+@dataclass(kw_only=True)
+class BriefConfig:
+    """Signals used to propose a brief; everything here is non-LLM context."""
+
+    search_space_id: int
+    speaker_count: int = DEFAULT_SPEAKER_COUNT
+    min_minutes: int = DEFAULT_MIN_MINUTES
+    max_minutes: int = DEFAULT_MAX_MINUTES
+    focus: str | None = None
+    last_used_language: str | None = None
+    last_used_voices: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_runnable_config(cls, config: RunnableConfig | None = None) -> BriefConfig:
+        configurable = (config.get("configurable") or {}) if config else {}
+        names = {f.name for f in fields(cls) if f.init}
+        return cls(**{k: v for k, v in configurable.items() if k in names})
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/detection.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/detection.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d505d4993
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/detection.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""The language-detection reply shape, normalised to a safe tag or ``None``."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, field_validator
+
+from app.podcasts.schemas import normalize_language_tag
+
+
+class DetectedLanguage(BaseModel):
+    """What the detector returns: a usable BCP-47 tag, or ``None`` when unsure.
+
+    A malformed or non-language reply is coerced to ``None`` so a bad detection
+    quietly defers to the rest of the resolution chain rather than poisoning the
+    spec with an invalid tag.
+    """
+
+    language: str | None = None
+
+    @field_validator("language")
+    @classmethod
+    def _normalise(cls, value: str | None) -> str | None:
+        if value is None:
+            return None
+        try:
+            return normalize_language_tag(value)
+        except ValueError:
+            return None
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/graph.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/graph.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..328529e59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/graph.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+"""The brief-planning graph: detect language, then propose a spec."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from langgraph.graph import StateGraph
+
+from .config import BriefConfig
+from .nodes import detect_language, propose_spec
+from .state import BriefState
+
+
+def build_brief_graph():
+    workflow = StateGraph(BriefState, config_schema=BriefConfig)
+
+    workflow.add_node("detect_language", detect_language)
+    workflow.add_node("propose_spec", propose_spec)
+
+    workflow.add_edge("__start__", "detect_language")
+    workflow.add_edge("detect_language", "propose_spec")
+    workflow.add_edge("propose_spec", "__end__")
+
+    graph = workflow.compile()
+    graph.name = "Surfsense Podcast Brief"
+    return graph
+
+
+graph = build_brief_graph()
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/nodes.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/nodes.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e0477940c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/nodes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+"""Brief-planning nodes: detect the language, then propose a full spec.
+
+Only ``detect_language`` spends tokens, and only a small sample of source text;
+``propose_spec`` is pure resolution. Together they open the brief gate pre-filled
+so the common case needs no edits.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Any
+
+from langchain_core.messages import HumanMessage, SystemMessage
+from langchain_core.runnables import RunnableConfig
+
+from app.config import config as app_config
+from app.podcasts.resolution import (
+    DEFAULT_LANGUAGE,
+    LanguageContext,
+    resolve_language,
+    resolve_voices,
+)
+from app.podcasts.schemas import (
+    DurationTarget,
+    PodcastSpec,
+    PodcastStyle,
+    SpeakerRole,
+    SpeakerSpec,
+    normalize_language_tag,
+)
+from app.podcasts.voices import (
+    VoiceCatalog,
+    TtsProvider,
+    get_voice_catalog,
+    provider_from_service,
+)
+from app.services.llm_service import get_agent_llm
+
+from ..prompts import detect_language_prompt
+from ..structured import StructuredOutputError, invoke_json
+from .config import BriefConfig
+from .detection import DetectedLanguage
+from .state import BriefState
+
+# Only the head of the source is needed to judge language; this caps tokens.
+_DETECTION_SAMPLE_CHARS = 4000
+
+# Default role per speaker slot; extra speakers beyond the list fall back to guest.
+_ROLE_BY_SLOT = (
+    SpeakerRole.HOST,
+    SpeakerRole.GUEST,
+    SpeakerRole.EXPERT,
+    SpeakerRole.COHOST,
+    SpeakerRole.NARRATOR,
+)
+
+
+async def detect_language(
+    state: BriefState, config: RunnableConfig
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Detect the source language; defer (``None``) on any uncertainty."""
+    brief = BriefConfig.from_runnable_config(config)
+    llm = await get_agent_llm(state.db_session, brief.search_space_id)
+    if llm is None:
+        return {"detected_language": None}
+
+    sample = (state.source_content or "")[:_DETECTION_SAMPLE_CHARS].strip()
+    if not sample:
+        return {"detected_language": None}
+
+    messages = [
+        SystemMessage(content=detect_language_prompt()),
+        HumanMessage(content=f"<source_content>{sample}</source_content>"),
+    ]
+    try:
+        detected = await invoke_json(llm, messages, DetectedLanguage)
+    except StructuredOutputError:
+        return {"detected_language": None}
+    return {"detected_language": detected.language}
+
+
+def propose_spec(state: BriefState, config: RunnableConfig) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Build a complete :class:`PodcastSpec` from the resolved defaults."""
+    brief = BriefConfig.from_runnable_config(config)
+    provider = _active_provider()
+    catalog = get_voice_catalog()
+
+    language = _supported_language(
+        detected=state.detected_language,
+        last_used=brief.last_used_language,
+        provider=provider,
+        catalog=catalog,
+    )
+    voices = resolve_voices(
+        catalog=catalog,
+        provider=provider,
+        language=language,
+        speaker_count=brief.speaker_count,
+        preferred=brief.last_used_voices,
+    )
+
+    speakers = [
+        SpeakerSpec(
+            slot=slot,
+            name=_default_name(slot),
+            role=_role_for(slot),
+            voice_id=voice.voice_id,
+        )
+        for slot, voice in enumerate(voices)
+    ]
+    spec = PodcastSpec(
+        language=language,
+        style=PodcastStyle.CONVERSATIONAL,
+        speakers=speakers,
+        duration=DurationTarget(
+            min_minutes=brief.min_minutes, max_minutes=brief.max_minutes
+        ),
+        focus=brief.focus,
+    )
+    return {"spec": spec}
+
+
+def _active_provider() -> TtsProvider:
+    service = app_config.TTS_SERVICE
+    if not service:
+        raise ValueError("TTS_SERVICE is not configured")
+    return provider_from_service(service)
+
+
+def _supported_language(
+    *,
+    detected: str | None,
+    last_used: str | None,
+    provider: TtsProvider,
+    catalog: VoiceCatalog,
+) -> str:
+    raw = resolve_language(LanguageContext(detected=detected, last_used=last_used))
+    try:
+        language = normalize_language_tag(raw)
+    except ValueError:
+        language = DEFAULT_LANGUAGE
+    if not catalog.supports_language(provider, language):
+        return DEFAULT_LANGUAGE
+    return language
+
+
+def _role_for(slot: int) -> SpeakerRole:
+    return _ROLE_BY_SLOT[slot] if slot < len(_ROLE_BY_SLOT) else SpeakerRole.GUEST
+
+
+def _default_name(slot: int) -> str:
+    role = _role_for(slot)
+    label = role.value.replace("cohost", "co-host").title()
+    return label if slot < len(_ROLE_BY_SLOT) else f"{label} {slot}"
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/state.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/state.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..976a72df5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/brief/state.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+"""Mutable state threaded through the brief-planning graph."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
+
+from app.podcasts.schemas import PodcastSpec
+
+
+@dataclass
+class BriefState:
+    """Runtime inputs and the proposed spec the graph produces."""
+
+    db_session: AsyncSession
+    source_content: str
+    detected_language: str | None = None
+    spec: PodcastSpec | None = None
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/__init__.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1f6d3993b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+"""Prompt builders for the generation graphs."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from .detect_language import detect_language_prompt
+from .draft_segment import draft_segment_prompt
+from .plan_outline import plan_outline_prompt
+from .speakers import render_speaker_roster
+
+__all__ = [
+    "detect_language_prompt",
+    "draft_segment_prompt",
+    "plan_outline_prompt",
+    "render_speaker_roster",
+]
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/detect_language.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/detect_language.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a5ab4da5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/detect_language.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+"""Prompt for detecting the dominant natural language of source content."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+_SYSTEM = """\
+You identify the dominant natural language of a piece of source content for a \
+podcast that will be generated from it.
+
+Rules:
+- Report the language the listener-facing podcast should be spoken in, i.e. the \
+language most of the meaningful prose is written in.
+- Ignore code, markup, URLs, numbers, and proper nouns when judging.
+- If the content is too short, ambiguous, mixed without a clear majority, or not \
+natural-language prose, return null rather than guessing.
+
+Respond with strict JSON and nothing else:
+{"language": "<BCP-47 tag like en, en-US, fr, pt-BR>"}  or  {"language": null}
+"""
+
+
+def detect_language_prompt() -> str:
+    return _SYSTEM
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/draft_segment.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/draft_segment.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c81dfa385
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/draft_segment.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+"""Prompt for drafting one outline segment into dialogue turns.
+
+Each segment is drafted on its own so long episodes stay coherent and within
+context limits. A short recap of the preceding dialogue is passed in so the new
+segment continues naturally instead of restarting. The model must write in the
+episode language and attribute every line to a real speaker slot.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+from app.podcasts.schemas import PodcastSpec
+
+from .speakers import render_speaker_roster
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from app.podcasts.generation.transcript.planning import OutlineSegment
+
+
+def draft_segment_prompt(
+    *,
+    spec: PodcastSpec,
+    segment: OutlineSegment,
+    position: int,
+    total: int,
+    recap: str | None,
+) -> str:
+    talking_points = "\n".join(f"- {point}" for point in segment.talking_points)
+    recap_block = (
+        f"\nRecap of the conversation so far (continue from here, do not repeat "
+        f"it):\n{recap}\n"
+        if recap
+        else "\nThis is the opening segment; begin the conversation naturally.\n"
+    )
+    return f"""\
+You are scripting natural, engaging podcast dialogue for segment {position} of \
+{total}.
+
+Write entirely in {spec.language}. The format is {spec.style.value}.
+Speakers — attribute every line using these exact slot numbers:
+{render_speaker_roster(spec)}
+{recap_block}
+This segment is "{segment.title}". Cover these points using only facts grounded \
+in the provided source content:
+{talking_points}
+
+Aim for about {segment.target_words} words of dialogue. Keep turns conversational \
+and varied; speakers should react to each other rather than deliver monologues. \
+Do not add greetings or sign-offs unless this is the first or last segment.
+
+Respond with strict JSON and nothing else:
+{{"turns": [{{"speaker": <slot>, "text": "..."}}]}}
+"""
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/plan_outline.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/plan_outline.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1b227c2ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/plan_outline.py
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+"""Prompt for planning a long-form podcast outline before drafting dialogue.
+
+Outlining first is what makes long-form reliable: a single LLM call cannot hold
+a coherent one- to two-hour script, but it can plan segments that are then
+drafted independently against a shared plan. The prompt is told the target
+length so the number and size of segments scale with the requested duration.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from app.podcasts.schemas import PodcastSpec
+
+from .speakers import render_speaker_roster
+
+
+def plan_outline_prompt(
+    *,
+    spec: PodcastSpec,
+    target_words: int,
+    suggested_segments: int,
+    focus: str | None,
+) -> str:
+    focus_block = (
+        f"\nThe user asked the episode to focus on:\n{focus}\n" if focus else ""
+    )
+    return f"""\
+You are a podcast showrunner planning the structure of an episode before any \
+dialogue is written.
+
+The episode language is {spec.language}. The format is {spec.style.value}.
+Speakers (refer to them by these slots later):
+{render_speaker_roster(spec)}
+{focus_block}
+Plan an outline that, when fully drafted, reaches roughly {target_words} words \
+of spoken dialogue (about {suggested_segments} segments). Each segment is one \
+coherent beat of the conversation: an opening, distinct topic areas grounded in \
+the source content, and a closing.
+
+For each segment provide:
+- title: a short label for the beat
+- talking_points: 2-5 concrete points to cover, drawn from the source content
+- target_words: how many words of dialogue this segment should run (the sum \
+across segments should approximate {target_words})
+
+Respond with strict JSON and nothing else:
+{{"segments": [{{"title": "...", "talking_points": ["..."], "target_words": 0}}]}}
+"""
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/speakers.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/speakers.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9df4138df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/prompts/speakers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+"""Render a spec's speaker roster for prompts.
+
+The drafting prompts must reference speakers by the exact ``slot`` the renderer
+expects, so this is the single place that formats that roster — keeping the
+slot contract identical across every prompt that mentions speakers.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from app.podcasts.schemas import PodcastSpec
+
+
+def render_speaker_roster(spec: PodcastSpec) -> str:
+    lines = [
+        f"- slot {speaker.slot} — {speaker.name} (role: {speaker.role.value})"
+        for speaker in spec.speakers
+    ]
+    return "\n".join(lines)
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/structured.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/structured.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9e9731c2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/structured.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+"""Parse a model's reply into a Pydantic shape, tolerating chatty output.
+
+Agent LLMs return JSON wrapped in prose, markdown fences, or reasoning blocks.
+This mirrors the legacy podcaster's resilient parsing — strip fences, then fall
+back to the outermost ``{...}`` span — so every generation node validates the
+reply the same way instead of repeating ad-hoc parsing.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, TypeVar
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, ValidationError
+
+from app.utils.content_utils import extract_text_content, strip_markdown_fences
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from langchain_core.messages import BaseMessage
+
+T = TypeVar("T", bound=BaseModel)
+
+
+class StructuredOutputError(RuntimeError):
+    """The model reply could not be parsed into the expected shape."""
+
+
+async def invoke_json(llm, messages: list[BaseMessage], model: type[T]) -> T:
+    """Invoke ``llm`` and validate its reply as ``model``."""
+    response = await llm.ainvoke(messages)
+    content = strip_markdown_fences(extract_text_content(response.content))
+
+    try:
+        return model.model_validate_json(content)
+    except (ValidationError, ValueError):
+        pass
+
+    start = content.find("{")
+    end = content.rfind("}") + 1
+    if 0 <= start < end:
+        try:
+            return model.model_validate_json(content[start:end])
+        except (ValidationError, ValueError) as exc:
+            raise StructuredOutputError(
+                f"could not parse {model.__name__} from model reply"
+            ) from exc
+
+    raise StructuredOutputError(
+        f"no JSON object found for {model.__name__} in model reply"
+    )
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/__init__.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5c8f23cd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+"""Transcript drafting: outline-first, long-form dialogue generation."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from .config import TranscriptConfig
+from .graph import build_transcript_graph
+from .planning import Outline, OutlineSegment, SegmentDraft
+from .state import TranscriptState
+
+__all__ = [
+    "Outline",
+    "OutlineSegment",
+    "SegmentDraft",
+    "TranscriptConfig",
+    "TranscriptState",
+    "build_transcript_graph",
+]
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/config.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/config.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f627fc166
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+"""Configurable inputs for the transcript-drafting graph."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass, fields
+
+from langchain_core.runnables import RunnableConfig
+
+from app.podcasts.schemas import PodcastSpec
+
+
+@dataclass(kw_only=True)
+class TranscriptConfig:
+    """The approved spec and user focus that drive drafting."""
+
+    search_space_id: int
+    spec: PodcastSpec
+    focus: str | None = None
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_runnable_config(
+        cls, config: RunnableConfig | None = None
+    ) -> TranscriptConfig:
+        configurable = (config.get("configurable") or {}) if config else {}
+        names = {f.name for f in fields(cls) if f.init}
+        return cls(**{k: v for k, v in configurable.items() if k in names})
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/graph.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/graph.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2f97db50f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/graph.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+"""The transcript-drafting graph: outline, draft segments, finalize."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from langgraph.graph import StateGraph
+
+from .config import TranscriptConfig
+from .nodes import draft_segments, finalize, plan_outline
+from .state import TranscriptState
+
+
+def build_transcript_graph():
+    workflow = StateGraph(TranscriptState, config_schema=TranscriptConfig)
+
+    workflow.add_node("plan_outline", plan_outline)
+    workflow.add_node("draft_segments", draft_segments)
+    workflow.add_node("finalize", finalize)
+
+    workflow.add_edge("__start__", "plan_outline")
+    workflow.add_edge("plan_outline", "draft_segments")
+    workflow.add_edge("draft_segments", "finalize")
+    workflow.add_edge("finalize", "__end__")
+
+    graph = workflow.compile()
+    graph.name = "Surfsense Podcast Transcript"
+    return graph
+
+
+graph = build_transcript_graph()
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/nodes.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/nodes.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b4a3e6541
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/nodes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+"""Transcript-drafting nodes: plan an outline, draft each beat, then assemble.
+
+Long-form is produced beat-by-beat: a single call plans the structure, then each
+segment is drafted on its own with a recap of what came before so the script
+stays coherent without holding the whole episode in one context window.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Any
+
+from langchain_core.messages import HumanMessage, SystemMessage
+from langchain_core.runnables import RunnableConfig
+
+from app.podcasts.schemas import PodcastSpec, Transcript, TranscriptTurn
+from app.services.llm_service import get_agent_llm
+
+from ..prompts import draft_segment_prompt, plan_outline_prompt
+from ..structured import invoke_json
+from .config import TranscriptConfig
+from .planning import Outline, OutlineSegment, SegmentDraft
+from .state import TranscriptState
+
+# Average speaking rate; converts target minutes to a target word count.
+_WORDS_PER_MINUTE = 150
+# Rough words per outline segment, used to suggest how many segments to plan.
+_WORDS_PER_SEGMENT = 250
+# Cap on source text sent per LLM call to bound tokens on large sources.
+_SOURCE_BUDGET_CHARS = 12000
+# How much prior dialogue to recap into each segment for continuity.
+_RECAP_CHARS = 800
+
+
+async def plan_outline(
+    state: TranscriptState, config: RunnableConfig
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Plan the segment structure sized to the spec's target duration."""
+    tc = TranscriptConfig.from_runnable_config(config)
+    llm = await _require_llm(state, tc)
+
+    target_words = round(tc.spec.duration.midpoint_minutes * _WORDS_PER_MINUTE)
+    suggested_segments = max(1, round(target_words / _WORDS_PER_SEGMENT))
+
+    messages = [
+        SystemMessage(
+            content=plan_outline_prompt(
+                spec=tc.spec,
+                target_words=target_words,
+                suggested_segments=suggested_segments,
+                focus=tc.focus,
+            )
+        ),
+        HumanMessage(content=_source_block(state.source_content)),
+    ]
+    outline = await invoke_json(llm, messages, Outline)
+    return {"outline": outline}
+
+
+async def draft_segments(
+    state: TranscriptState, config: RunnableConfig
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Draft each outline segment in order, carrying a running recap."""
+    tc = TranscriptConfig.from_runnable_config(config)
+    llm = await _require_llm(state, tc)
+    outline = state.outline
+    if outline is None:
+        raise RuntimeError("draft_segments requires an outline")
+
+    source_block = _source_block(state.source_content)
+    turns: list[TranscriptTurn] = []
+    total = len(outline.segments)
+
+    for index, segment in enumerate(outline.segments):
+        messages = [
+            SystemMessage(
+                content=draft_segment_prompt(
+                    spec=tc.spec,
+                    segment=segment,
+                    position=index + 1,
+                    total=total,
+                    recap=_recap(turns, tc.spec),
+                )
+            ),
+            HumanMessage(content=source_block),
+        ]
+        draft = await invoke_json(llm, messages, SegmentDraft)
+        turns.extend(_valid_turns(draft, tc.spec))
+
+    return {"drafted_turns": turns}
+
+
+def finalize(state: TranscriptState, config: RunnableConfig) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Assemble drafted turns into a validated transcript."""
+    if not state.drafted_turns:
+        raise RuntimeError("drafting produced no usable dialogue")
+    return {"transcript": Transcript(turns=state.drafted_turns)}
+
+
+async def _require_llm(state: TranscriptState, tc: TranscriptConfig):
+    llm = await get_agent_llm(state.db_session, tc.search_space_id)
+    if llm is None:
+        raise RuntimeError(
+            f"no agent LLM configured for search space {tc.search_space_id}"
+        )
+    return llm
+
+
+def _source_block(source_content: str) -> str:
+    sample = (source_content or "")[:_SOURCE_BUDGET_CHARS]
+    return f"<source_content>{sample}</source_content>"
+
+
+def _valid_turns(draft: SegmentDraft, spec: PodcastSpec) -> list[TranscriptTurn]:
+    # Drop any turn the model attributed to a slot the spec doesn't define, so a
+    # stray attribution can't break rendering downstream.
+    valid_slots = {speaker.slot for speaker in spec.speakers}
+    return [turn for turn in draft.turns if turn.speaker in valid_slots]
+
+
+def _recap(turns: list[TranscriptTurn], spec: PodcastSpec) -> str | None:
+    if not turns:
+        return None
+    names = {speaker.slot: speaker.name for speaker in spec.speakers}
+    rendered = "\n".join(
+        f"{names.get(turn.speaker, turn.speaker)}: {turn.text}" for turn in turns
+    )
+    return rendered[-_RECAP_CHARS:]
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/planning.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/planning.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3f6aeac9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/planning.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+"""Internal shapes the transcript graph passes between its nodes.
+
+These are generation-time artifacts (the outline and per-segment drafts), not
+persisted or API-facing. Segment drafts reuse :class:`TranscriptTurn` so the
+speaker-slot contract and turn validation are identical to the final transcript.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
+
+from app.podcasts.schemas import TranscriptTurn
+
+
+class OutlineSegment(BaseModel):
+    """One planned beat of the conversation, drafted independently."""
+
+    title: str = Field(..., min_length=1)
+    talking_points: list[str] = Field(default_factory=list)
+    target_words: int = Field(..., ge=1)
+
+
+class Outline(BaseModel):
+    """The full plan: ordered segments sized to the target duration."""
+
+    segments: list[OutlineSegment] = Field(..., min_length=1)
+
+
+class SegmentDraft(BaseModel):
+    """The dialogue a single segment produced."""
+
+    turns: list[TranscriptTurn] = Field(default_factory=list)
diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/state.py b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/state.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f11337471
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/podcasts/generation/transcript/state.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+"""Mutable state threaded through the transcript-drafting graph."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+
+from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
+
+from app.podcasts.schemas import Transcript, TranscriptTurn
+
+from .planning import Outline
+
+
+@dataclass
+class TranscriptState:
+    """Source content plus the intermediate and final drafting artifacts."""
+
+    db_session: AsyncSession
+    source_content: str
+    outline: Outline | None = None
+    drafted_turns: list[TranscriptTurn] = field(default_factory=list)
+    transcript: Transcript | None = None