diff --git a/app/(storybook)/index.tsx b/app/(storybook)/index.tsx
index 5a8897a..51cc72c 100644
--- a/app/(storybook)/index.tsx
+++ b/app/(storybook)/index.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { ComponentType } from 'react';
 import { Text, View } from 'react-native';
 
-import { FeatureFlag, logError } from '@/utils';
+import { FeatureFlag, logError } from '@/utils/log';
 
 const StorybookEnabled = process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_STORYBOOK_ENABLED === 'true';
 
diff --git a/app/_layout.tsx b/app/_layout.tsx
index 01a0c57..29cbaea 100644
--- a/app/_layout.tsx
+++ b/app/_layout.tsx
@@ -35,11 +35,13 @@ import {
 import { useTheme, useThemeStore } from '@/theme';
 import { FeatureFlag, logError } from '@/utils';
 
+const StorybookEnabled = process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_STORYBOOK_ENABLED === 'true';
+
 // Prevent the splash screen from auto-hiding before initialization completes
 SplashScreen.preventAutoHideAsync();
 
 // Register Android foreground service early (async, fire-and-forget)
-if (Platform.OS === 'android') {
+if (Platform.OS === 'android' && !StorybookEnabled) {
   registerForegroundService();
 }
 
@@ -47,7 +49,7 @@ declare const global: {
   ErrorUtils?: {
     getGlobalHandler: () => (error: Error, isFatal?: boolean) => void;
     setGlobalHandler: (
-      handler: (error: Error, isFatal?: boolean) => void
+      handler: (error: Error, isFatal?: boolean) => void,
     ) => void;
   };
 };
@@ -68,8 +70,6 @@ function installGlobalErrorHandler() {
   });
 }
 
-const StorybookEnabled = process.env.EXPO_PUBLIC_STORYBOOK_ENABLED === 'true';
-
 export const unstable_settings = {
   initialRouteName: StorybookEnabled ? '(storybook)/index' : '(pages)/index',
 };
@@ -247,16 +247,16 @@ export default function RootLayout() {
   useEffect(() => {
     async function initializeApp() {
       try {
-        // Initialize in parallel where possible
-        await Promise.all([
-          initTheme(),
-          initializeSettingsStore(),
-          initializeSessionStore(),
-          storageService.processPendingDeletes(),
-        ]);
-
-        // Initialize transcription store (depends on session store being ready)
-        await initializeTranscriptionStore();
+        await initTheme();
+
+        if (!StorybookEnabled) {
+          await Promise.all([
+            initializeSettingsStore(),
+            initializeSessionStore(),
+            storageService.processPendingDeletes(),
+          ]);
+          await initializeTranscriptionStore();
+        }
 
         setAppReady(true);
       } catch (error) {
@@ -264,8 +264,6 @@ export default function RootLayout() {
           flag: FeatureFlag.general,
           message: 'Failed to initialize app',
         });
-        // Still mark as ready to allow the app to render
-        // Individual stores handle their own error states
         setAppReady(true);
       }
     }
diff --git a/components/shared/recording-controls/RecordingControlsView.stories.tsx b/components/shared/recording-controls/RecordingControlsView.stories.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 62e9617..0000000
--- a/components/shared/recording-controls/RecordingControlsView.stories.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,152 +0,0 @@
-import type { Meta, StoryObj } from '@storybook/react-native';
-import { ComponentProps, ReactNode, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
-import { View } from 'react-native';
-
-import { RecordingControlsView } from '@/components';
-import { TranscriptionState } from '@/models';
-import { useTranscriptionStore } from '@/stores';
-import { useTheme } from '@/theme';
-
-const StoryContainer = ({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) => {
-  const { theme } = useTheme();
-  return (
-    <View
-      style={{
-        flex: 1,
-        justifyContent: 'flex-end',
-        backgroundColor: theme.colors.surfaceBackground,
-      }}
-    >
-      {children}
-    </View>
-  );
-};
-
-const RecordingControlsViewMeta: Meta<typeof RecordingControlsView> = {
-  title: 'Shared Components/RecordingControlsView',
-  component: RecordingControlsView,
-  argTypes: {
-    state: {
-      control: 'select',
-      options: [
-        TranscriptionState.READY,
-        TranscriptionState.RECORDING,
-        TranscriptionState.TRANSCRIBING,
-        TranscriptionState.LOADING,
-      ],
-    },
-    enabled: {
-      control: 'boolean',
-    },
-  },
-  decorators: [
-    (Story) => (
-      <StoryContainer>
-        <Story />
-      </StoryContainer>
-    ),
-  ],
-};
-
-export default RecordingControlsViewMeta;
-
-type Story = StoryObj<typeof RecordingControlsView>;
-
-const DynamicRecordingControlsView = (
-  props: Omit<ComponentProps<typeof RecordingControlsView>, 'colors'>
-) => {
-  const { theme } = useTheme();
-  return <RecordingControlsView {...props} colors={theme.colors} />;
-};
-
-export const Ready: Story = {
-  render: () => (
-    <DynamicRecordingControlsView
-      state={TranscriptionState.READY}
-      enabled={true}
-      onRecordingStart={() => console.log('Recording started')}
-    />
-  ),
-};
-
-export const Recording: Story = {
-  render: () => (
-    <DynamicRecordingControlsView
-      state={TranscriptionState.RECORDING}
-      enabled={true}
-      onRecordingStop={() => console.log('Recording stopped')}
-    />
-  ),
-};
-
-export const RecordingLowAudio: Story = {
-  render: () => (
-    <DynamicRecordingControlsView
-      state={TranscriptionState.RECORDING}
-      enabled={true}
-    />
-  ),
-};
-
-export const RecordingHighAudio: Story = {
-  render: () => (
-    <DynamicRecordingControlsView
-      state={TranscriptionState.RECORDING}
-      enabled={true}
-    />
-  ),
-};
-
-export const Transcribing: Story = {
-  render: () => (
-    <DynamicRecordingControlsView
-      state={TranscriptionState.TRANSCRIBING}
-      enabled={false}
-    />
-  ),
-};
-
-export const Interactive = () => {
-  const [state, setState] = useState(TranscriptionState.READY);
-  const { theme } = useTheme();
-  const updateAudioLevel = useTranscriptionStore((s) => s.updateAudioLevel);
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    let interval: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
-    if (state === TranscriptionState.RECORDING) {
-      interval = setInterval(() => {
-        updateAudioLevel(Math.random());
-      }, 100);
-    } else {
-      updateAudioLevel(0);
-    }
-    return () => {
-      if (interval) clearInterval(interval);
-    };
-  }, [state, updateAudioLevel]);
-
-  const handleStart = () => {
-    setState(TranscriptionState.RECORDING);
-    setTimeout(() => {
-      setState(TranscriptionState.TRANSCRIBING);
-      setTimeout(() => {
-        setState(TranscriptionState.READY);
-      }, 2000);
-    }, 5000);
-  };
-
-  return (
-    <StoryContainer>
-      <RecordingControlsView
-        state={state}
-        enabled={
-          state === TranscriptionState.READY ||
-          state === TranscriptionState.RECORDING
-        }
-        colors={theme.colors}
-        onRecordingStart={handleStart}
-        onRecordingStop={() => {}}
-      />
-    </StoryContainer>
-  );
-};
diff --git a/services/AudioService.ts b/services/AudioService.ts
index 1587a21..7ea16f2 100644
--- a/services/AudioService.ts
+++ b/services/AudioService.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { EventEmitter } from 'events';
 
-import AudioRecord from '@fugood/react-native-audio-pcm-stream';
 import {
   AudioModule,
   AudioRecorder,
@@ -22,6 +21,12 @@ import {
 
 import { permissionService } from './PermissionService';
 
+let AudioRecord: any;
+try {
+  // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-require-imports
+  AudioRecord = require('@fugood/react-native-audio-pcm-stream').default;
+} catch {}
+
 const RECORDING_OPTIONS: RecordingOptions = {
   extension: '.wav',
   sampleRate: AppConstants.AUDIO_SAMPLE_RATE,
diff --git a/services/EncryptionService.ts b/services/EncryptionService.ts
index 0931e53..5828f10 100644
--- a/services/EncryptionService.ts
+++ b/services/EncryptionService.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 import { fromByteArray } from 'base64-js';
 import * as Crypto from 'expo-crypto';
 import * as SecureStore from 'expo-secure-store';
-import AesGcmCrypto from 'react-native-aes-gcm-crypto';
+
+let AesGcmCrypto: any;
+try {
+  // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-require-imports
+  AesGcmCrypto = require('react-native-aes-gcm-crypto').default;
+} catch {}
 
 const KEY_STORAGE_KEY = 'aes_data_key';
 
@@ -20,7 +25,7 @@ const createEncryptionService = () => {
     } catch (error) {
       const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
       throw new Error(
-        `Failed to retrieve or generate encryption key: ${message}`
+        `Failed to retrieve or generate encryption key: ${message}`,
       );
     }
   };
@@ -43,7 +48,7 @@ const createEncryptionService = () => {
 
       if (parts.length !== 2) {
         throw new Error(
-          'Invalid cipher text format. Expected format: iv:contenttag'
+          'Invalid cipher text format. Expected format: iv:contenttag',
         );
       }
 
@@ -58,7 +63,7 @@ const createEncryptionService = () => {
         key,
         iv,
         tag,
-        false
+        false,
       );
 
       return decrypted;
diff --git a/services/WhisperService.ts b/services/WhisperService.ts
index f866b6d..84c3395 100644
--- a/services/WhisperService.ts
+++ b/services/WhisperService.ts
@@ -1,24 +1,42 @@
 import { Asset } from 'expo-asset';
 import { File } from 'expo-file-system';
 import { Platform } from 'react-native';
-import RNFS from 'react-native-fs';
-import {
-  initWhisper,
-  initWhisperVad,
-  type WhisperContext,
-  type WhisperVadContext,
-} from 'whisper.rn';
-import {
-  RealtimeTranscriber,
-  type AudioStreamData,
+import type { WhisperContext, WhisperVadContext } from 'whisper.rn';
+import type {
+  AudioStreamData,
+  RealtimeTranscriber as RealtimeTranscriberType,
 } from 'whisper.rn/src/realtime-transcription';
-import { AudioPcmStreamAdapter } from 'whisper.rn/src/realtime-transcription/adapters/AudioPcmStreamAdapter';
+import type { AudioPcmStreamAdapter as AudioPcmStreamAdapterType } from 'whisper.rn/src/realtime-transcription/adapters/AudioPcmStreamAdapter';
 
 import { FeatureFlag, logError, logWarn } from '@/utils';
 
 import { audioService } from './AudioService';
 import { audioSessionService } from './AudioSessionService';
 
+/* eslint-disable @typescript-eslint/no-require-imports */
+let RNFS: any;
+try {
+  RNFS = require('react-native-fs').default;
+} catch {}
+let initWhisper: any;
+try {
+  initWhisper = require('whisper.rn').initWhisper;
+} catch {}
+let initWhisperVad: any;
+try {
+  initWhisperVad = require('whisper.rn').initWhisperVad;
+} catch {}
+let RealtimeTranscriber: any;
+try {
+  RealtimeTranscriber =
+    require('whisper.rn/src/realtime-transcription').RealtimeTranscriber;
+} catch {}
+let AudioPcmStreamAdapter: any;
+try {
+  AudioPcmStreamAdapter =
+    require('whisper.rn/src/realtime-transcription/adapters/AudioPcmStreamAdapter').AudioPcmStreamAdapter;
+} catch {}
+
 const IOS_INIT_THREADS = 2;
 const IOS_VAD_THREADS = 1;
 
@@ -31,16 +49,14 @@ interface RealtimeTranscribeEvent {
   recordingTime: number;
 }
 
-// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-require-imports
 const modelAsset = require('@/assets/models/whisper/ggml-tiny.bin');
-// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-require-imports
 const vadModelAsset = require('@/assets/models/whisper/ggml-silero-v6.2.0.bin');
 
 interface WhisperServiceState {
   whisperContext: WhisperContext | null;
   vadContext: WhisperVadContext | null;
-  realtimeTranscriber: RealtimeTranscriber | null;
-  realtimeAudioStream: AudioPcmStreamAdapter | null;
+  realtimeTranscriber: RealtimeTranscriberType | null;
+  realtimeAudioStream: AudioPcmStreamAdapterType | null;
   isInitialized: boolean;
   isInitializing: boolean;
   isTranscribing: boolean;
@@ -116,7 +132,7 @@ const createWhisperService = () => {
     const baseAlpha = rising ? 0.92 : 0.7;
     const alpha = Math.max(
       0.6,
-      Math.min(rising ? 0.95 : 0.8, baseAlpha * (dtMs / 16.0))
+      Math.min(rising ? 0.95 : 0.8, baseAlpha * (dtMs / 16.0)),
     );
 
     smoothedLevel = smoothedLevel + (level - smoothedLevel) * alpha;
@@ -222,7 +238,7 @@ const createWhisperService = () => {
   const transcribeFile = async (
     audioPath: string,
     languageCode?: string,
-    prompt?: string
+    prompt?: string,
   ): Promise<string | null> => {
     if (!state.isInitialized || !state.whisperContext) {
       throw new Error('Whisper service not initialized');
@@ -260,7 +276,7 @@ const createWhisperService = () => {
 
   const startRealtimeTranscription = async (
     languageCode?: string,
-    prompt?: string
+    prompt?: string,
   ): Promise<boolean> => {
     if (!state.isInitialized || !state.whisperContext || !state.vadContext) {
       logError('Cannot start real-time: Whisper or VAD not initialized', {
@@ -292,7 +308,7 @@ const createWhisperService = () => {
       if (!warmUpSuccess) {
         logError(
           'iOS audio warm-up failed, cannot start real-time transcription',
-          { flag: FeatureFlag.transcription }
+          { flag: FeatureFlag.transcription },
         );
         return false;
       }
@@ -357,7 +373,7 @@ const createWhisperService = () => {
                       transcribeEvent,
                     }: {
                       transcribeEvent: RealtimeTranscribeEvent;
-                    }) => transcribeEvent.data?.result?.trim()
+                    }) => transcribeEvent.data?.result?.trim(),
                   )
                   .filter(Boolean)
                   .join(' ');
@@ -392,7 +408,7 @@ const createWhisperService = () => {
           onStatusChange: (isActive: boolean) => {
             state.isRealtimeRecording = isActive;
           },
-        }
+        },
       );
 
       state.realtimeTranscriber = transcriber;
@@ -428,7 +444,7 @@ const createWhisperService = () => {
       const finalText = allResults
         .map(
           ({ transcribeEvent }: { transcribeEvent: RealtimeTranscribeEvent }) =>
-            transcribeEvent.data?.result?.trim()
+            transcribeEvent.data?.result?.trim(),
         )
         .filter(Boolean)
         .join(' ');
@@ -472,7 +488,7 @@ const createWhisperService = () => {
   };
 
   const subscribeToPartialResults = (
-    callback: (text: string) => void
+    callback: (text: string) => void,
   ): (() => void) => {
     state.partialCallbacks.add(callback);
 
@@ -482,7 +498,7 @@ const createWhisperService = () => {
   };
 
   const subscribeToAudioLevel = (
-    callback: (level: number) => void
+    callback: (level: number) => void,
   ): (() => void) => {
     state.audioLevelCallbacks.add(callback);
 
diff --git a/utils/WavWriter.ts b/utils/WavWriter.ts
index e7c91df..00b4573 100644
--- a/utils/WavWriter.ts
+++ b/utils/WavWriter.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,18 @@
-import RNFS from 'react-native-fs';
-
 import { FeatureFlag, logError } from './log';
 
+let RNFS: any;
+try {
+  // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-require-imports
+  RNFS = require('react-native-fs').default;
+} catch {}
+
 const WAV_HEADER_SIZE = 44;
 
 const createWavHeaderBuffer = (
   dataLength: number,
   sampleRate: number,
   numChannels: number,
-  bitsPerSample: number
+  bitsPerSample: number,
 ): string => {
   const byteRate = (sampleRate * numChannels * bitsPerSample) / 8;
   const blockAlign = (numChannels * bitsPerSample) / 8;
@@ -67,7 +71,7 @@ export const createPcmStreamWriter = (
   outputPath: string,
   sampleRate: number,
   numChannels: number,
-  bitsPerSample: number = 16
+  bitsPerSample: number = 16,
 ): PcmStreamWriter => {
   const tempPath = `${outputPath}.pcm`;
   let totalBytes = 0;
@@ -125,7 +129,7 @@ export const createPcmStreamWriter = (
         totalBytes,
         sampleRate,
         numChannels,
-        bitsPerSample
+        bitsPerSample,
       );
       await RNFS.writeFile(outputPath, wavHeader, 'base64');
       const pcmData = await RNFS.readFile(tempPath, 'base64');