diff --git a/src/services/storage.py b/src/services/storage.py
index 89fae10..1580a9c 100644
--- a/src/services/storage.py
+++ b/src/services/storage.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def upload_audio_to_gcs(self, tmp_audio_path: str, filename=str(uuid4())):
         """upload audio file to GCS"""
         blobname = f"{BLOB_BASE_URI}/{filename}"
         self.upload_to_gcs(
-            tmp_audio_path,
+            Path(tmp_audio_path),
             blobname,
             UploadItemParams(content_type="audio/mpeg"),
         )
diff --git a/src/utils/audio_synthesizer.py b/src/utils/audio_synthesizer.py
index 6150ab2..0c47dd6 100644
--- a/src/utils/audio_synthesizer.py
+++ b/src/utils/audio_synthesizer.py
@@ -62,7 +62,9 @@ def enhance_audio_minimal(
             audio = audio.speedup(playback_speed=speed_factor)
             # Only normalize if significant volume differences
             if abs(audio.dBFS + 18.0) > 3.0:  # +/- 3dB tolerance
-                audio = audio.normalize(target_level=-18.0)
+                # Calculate gain needed to reach target dBFS of -18.0
+                gain_needed = -18.0 - audio.dBFS
+                audio = audio.apply_gain(gain_needed)
 
             # Export with high quality
             audio.export(
diff --git a/src/utils/main_utils.py b/src/utils/main_utils.py
index 91b4f7a..ad5913a 100644
--- a/src/utils/main_utils.py
+++ b/src/utils/main_utils.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 
 import streamlit as st
 from pydantic import BaseModel
-from slugify import slugify
 
 from src.services.storage import StorageManager
 from src.utils.audio_manager import AudioManager
@@ -25,7 +24,6 @@ class GenerateAudioCastRequest(BaseModel):
 
 class GenerateAudioCastResponse(BaseModel):
     uuid: str
-    slug: str
     url: str
     script: str
     source_content: str
@@ -99,19 +97,21 @@ async def generate_audiocast(request: GenerateAudioCastRequest):
         AudioSynthesizer().enhance_audio_minimal(Path(output_file))
         print(f"output_file: {output_file}")
 
+    # unique ID for the audiocast
     uniq_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
 
     # TODO: Use a background service
     # STEP 4: Ingest audio file to a storage service (e.g., GCS, S3)
     with container.container():
-        container.info("Storing a copy of your audiocast...")
-        storage_manager = StorageManager()
-        storage_manager.upload_audio_to_gcs(output_file, uniq_id)
+        try:
+            container.info("Storing a copy of your audiocast...")
+            storage_manager = StorageManager()
+            storage_manager.upload_audio_to_gcs(output_file, uniq_id)
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Error while storing audiocast: {str(e)}")
 
     response = GenerateAudioCastResponse(
-        # unique ID for the audiocast
         uuid=uniq_id,
-        slug=slugify((category + summary)[:50]),
         url=output_file,
         script=audio_script,
         source_content=source_content,
diff --git a/src/utils/render_audiocast.py b/src/utils/render_audiocast.py
index f43e183..082aee4 100644
--- a/src/utils/render_audiocast.py
+++ b/src/utils/render_audiocast.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 
 class GenerateAudiocastDict(TypedDict):
     uuid: str
-    slug: str
     url: str
     script: str
     source_content: str
@@ -34,9 +33,7 @@ def render_audiocast():
     st.sidebar.subheader("Audiocast Source")
     st.sidebar.markdown(current_audiocast["source_content"])
 
-    share_url = (
-        f"{APP_URL}/audiocast/{current_audiocast['uuid']}/{current_audiocast['slug']}"
-    )
+    share_url = f"{APP_URL}/audiocast/{current_audiocast['uuid']}"
     st.text_input("Share this audiocast:", share_url)
 
     share_col, restart_row = st.columns(2, vertical_alignment="bottom")