diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AlertModal.tsx b/frontend/src/components/AlertModal.tsx
index 8184f15..9849965 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AlertModal.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AlertModal.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { X, AlertCircle, Info, CheckCircle2, AlertTriangle } from 'lucide-react';
+import { createPortal } from 'react-dom';
 
 export type AlertType = 'error' | 'info' | 'success' | 'warning';
 
@@ -52,8 +53,8 @@ export default function AlertModal({
 
   const { icon: StatusIcon, color, bg, border, glow } = config[type];
 
-  return (
-    <div className="fixed inset-0 z-[150] flex items-center justify-center p-4">
+  return createPortal(
+    <div className="fixed inset-0 z-[210] flex items-center justify-center p-4">
       {/* Backdrop */}
       <div 
         className="absolute inset-0 bg-black/60 backdrop-blur-md animate-fade-in"
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@ export default function AlertModal({
           </button>
         </div>
       </div>
-    </div>
+    </div>,
+    document.body
   );
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AudioPlayer.tsx b/frontend/src/components/AudioPlayer.tsx
index 947eb39..6daa544 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AudioPlayer.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AudioPlayer.tsx
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ export default function AudioPlayer({ episode, onClose, userId }: AudioPlayerPro
       isExpanded
         ? 'inset-0 rounded-none'
         : 'bottom-6 left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 w-[96%] max-w-5xl rounded-[2rem] h-[88px]'
-    } premium-glass border-[var(--border-color)] shadow-2xl overflow-hidden flex flex-col`}>
+    } ${theme === 'light' ? 'bg-gradient-to-r from-slate-800/95 to-slate-900/95 backdrop-blur-xl' : 'premium-glass'} border-[var(--border-color)] shadow-2xl overflow-hidden flex flex-col`}>
 
       <audio
         ref={audioRef}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/EpisodeDetails.tsx b/frontend/src/components/EpisodeDetails.tsx
index b561a3d..52b4e54 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/EpisodeDetails.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/EpisodeDetails.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import React from 'react';
+import { createPortal } from 'react-dom';
 import { X, Play, Clock, Calendar, BarChart2 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Episode } from '../services/episodeService';
 
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ export default function EpisodeDetails({ episode, isOpen, onClose, onPlay }: Epi
     year: 'numeric'
   });
 
-  return (
+  return createPortal(
     <>
       {/* Backdrop */}
       <div 
@@ -131,6 +132,7 @@ export default function EpisodeDetails({ episode, isOpen, onClose, onPlay }: Epi
            )}
         </div>
       </div>
-    </>
+    </>,
+    document.body
   );
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/SuccessModal.tsx b/frontend/src/components/SuccessModal.tsx
index 1caa0c7..e853af9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/SuccessModal.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/SuccessModal.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { CheckCircle2, ChevronRight, BookOpen, Sparkles, X } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom';
+import { createPortal } from 'react-dom';
 
 interface SuccessModalProps {
   isOpen: boolean;
@@ -20,8 +21,8 @@ export default function SuccessModal({
 }: SuccessModalProps) {
   if (!isOpen) return null;
 
-  return (
-    <div className="fixed inset-0 z-[110] flex items-center justify-center p-4">
+  return createPortal(
+    <div className="fixed inset-0 z-[200] flex items-center justify-center p-4">
       {/* Backdrop */}
       <div 
         className="absolute inset-0 bg-black/60 backdrop-blur-md animate-fade-in"
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ export default function SuccessModal({
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>
-    </div>
+    </div>,
+    document.body
   );
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Trending.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Trending.tsx
index 43ffba9..26ed263 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Trending.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Trending.tsx
@@ -164,15 +164,18 @@ export default function Trending() {
             </div>
           </div>
 
-          {/* Genre Pills */}
-          <div className="w-full min-w-0 overflow-hidden">
-            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-4 no-scrollbar -mx-4 px-4 sm:mx-0 sm:px-0 scroll-smooth">
-               <div className="flex items-center gap-2 flex-nowrap">
+          {/* Genre Pills with Scroll Indicators */}
+          <div className="relative w-full min-w-0 group/genres mb-14">
+            {/* Fade effect left */}
+            <div className="absolute left-0 top-0 bottom-4 w-12 bg-gradient-to-r from-[var(--bg-primary)] to-transparent z-10 pointer-events-none opacity-100 sm:hidden" />
+            
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-4 no-scrollbar scroll-smooth">
+               <div className="flex items-center gap-2 flex-nowrap px-4 sm:px-0">
                  {GENRES.map(genre => (
                    <button
                      key={genre.id}
                      onClick={() => setSelectedGenre(genre.id)}
-                     className={`px-4 py-2 rounded-xl text-[10px] font-black uppercase tracking-widest whitespace-nowrap transition-all border ${
+                     className={`px-5 py-2.5 rounded-xl text-[11px] font-black uppercase tracking-widest whitespace-nowrap transition-all border ${
                        selectedGenre === genre.id 
                         ? 'bg-[var(--accent-primary)] text-white border-[var(--accent-primary)] shadow-glow-indigo' 
                         : 'bg-[var(--bg-secondary)] text-[var(--text-secondary)] border-[var(--border-color)] hover:border-[var(--accent-primary)]'
@@ -183,6 +186,9 @@ export default function Trending() {
                  ))}
                </div>
             </div>
+
+            {/* Fade effect right */}
+            <div className="absolute right-0 top-0 bottom-4 w-12 bg-gradient-to-l from-[var(--bg-primary)] to-transparent z-10 pointer-events-none opacity-100 sm:hidden" />
           </div>
         </div>