diff --git a/ui/src/lib/server/pocketbase.ts b/ui/src/lib/server/pocketbase.ts
index c0d8c39..15deb9f 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/server/pocketbase.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/server/pocketbase.ts
@@ -2287,10 +2287,17 @@ export async function getUserStats(
 
 // ─── AI Jobs ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
+const AI_JOBS_CACHE_KEY = 'admin:ai_jobs';
+const AI_JOBS_CACHE_TTL = 30; // 30 seconds — same as other admin job lists
+
 /**
  * List all AI jobs from PocketBase, sorted by started descending.
- * No caching — admin views always want fresh data.
+ * Short-lived cache (30s) to avoid hammering PocketBase on every navigation.
  */
 export async function listAIJobs(): Promise<AIJob[]> {
-	return listAll<AIJob>('ai_jobs', '', '-started');
+	const cached = await cache.get<AIJob[]>(AI_JOBS_CACHE_KEY);
+	if (cached) return cached;
+	const jobs = await listAll<AIJob>('ai_jobs', '', '-started');
+	await cache.set(AI_JOBS_CACHE_KEY, jobs, AI_JOBS_CACHE_TTL);
+	return jobs;
 }
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/admin/+layout.svelte b/ui/src/routes/admin/+layout.svelte
index 1eb75e0..a8495ef 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/admin/+layout.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/admin/+layout.svelte
@@ -28,21 +28,6 @@
 			label: () => m.admin_nav_image_gen(),
 			icon: `<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M4 16l4.586-4.586a2 2 0 012.828 0L16 16m-2-2l1.586-1.586a2 2 0 012.828 0L20 14m-6-6h.01M6 20h12a2 2 0 002-2V6a2 2 0 00-2-2H6a2 2 0 00-2 2v12a2 2 0 002 2z" />`
 		},
-		{
-			href: '/admin/audio',
-			label: () => m.admin_nav_audio(),
-			icon: `<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M9 19V6l12-3v13M9 19c0 1.105-1.343 2-3 2s-3-.895-3-2 1.343-2 3-2 3 .895 3 2zm12-3c0 1.105-1.343 2-3 2s-3-.895-3-2 1.343-2 3-2 3 .895 3 2zM9 10l12-3" />`
-		},
-		{
-			href: '/admin/translation',
-			label: () => m.admin_nav_translation(),
-			icon: `<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M3 5h12M9 3v2m1.048 9.5A18.022 18.022 0 016.412 9m6.088 9h7M11 21l5-10 5 10M12.751 5C11.783 10.77 8.07 15.61 3 18.129" />`
-		},
-		{
-			href: '/admin/image-gen',
-			label: () => m.admin_nav_image_gen(),
-			icon: `<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M4 16l4.586-4.586a2 2 0 012.828 0L16 16m-2-2l1.586-1.586a2 2 0 012.828 0L20 14m-6-6h.01M6 20h12a2 2 0 002-2V6a2 2 0 00-2-2H6a2 2 0 00-2 2v12a2 2 0 002 2z" />`
-		},
 		{
 			href: '/admin/text-gen',
 			label: () => m.admin_nav_text_gen(),
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/admin/ai-jobs/+page.server.ts b/ui/src/routes/admin/ai-jobs/+page.server.ts
index c37bff7..f0db9d1 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/admin/ai-jobs/+page.server.ts
+++ b/ui/src/routes/admin/ai-jobs/+page.server.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ export type { AIJob };
 
 export const load: PageServerLoad = async () => {
 	// Parent layout already guards admin role.
-	const jobs = await listAIJobs().catch((e): AIJob[] => {
+	// Stream jobs so navigation is instant; list populates a moment later.
+	const jobs = listAIJobs().catch((e): AIJob[] => {
 		log.warn('admin/ai-jobs', 'failed to load ai jobs', { err: String(e) });
 		return [];
 	});
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/admin/ai-jobs/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/admin/ai-jobs/+page.svelte
index fae1598..8fd17ae 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/admin/ai-jobs/+page.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/admin/ai-jobs/+page.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-	import { untrack } from 'svelte';
 	import { invalidateAll } from '$app/navigation';
 	import type { PageData } from './$types';
 	import type { AIJob } from '$lib/server/pocketbase';
@@ -8,11 +7,11 @@
 
 	let { data }: { data: PageData } = $props();
 
-	let jobs = $state<AIJob[]>(untrack(() => data.jobs));
+	let jobs = $state<AIJob[]>([]);
 
-	// Keep in sync on server reloads
+	// Resolve streamed promise on load and on server reloads (invalidateAll)
 	$effect(() => {
-		jobs = data.jobs;
+		data.jobs.then((resolved) => { jobs = resolved; });
 	});
 
 	// ── Live-poll while any job is in-flight ─────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/admin/changelog/+page.server.ts b/ui/src/routes/admin/changelog/+page.server.ts
index afaa7e3..84eeb26 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/admin/changelog/+page.server.ts
+++ b/ui/src/routes/admin/changelog/+page.server.ts
@@ -18,23 +18,27 @@ const CACHE_KEY = 'admin:changelog:releases';
 const CACHE_TTL = 5 * 60; // 5 minutes
 
 export const load: PageServerLoad = async ({ fetch }) => {
+	// Return cached data synchronously (no streaming needed — already fast).
 	const cached = await cache.get<Release[]>(CACHE_KEY);
 	if (cached) {
-		return { releases: cached };
+		return { releases: cached, error: undefined as string | undefined };
 	}
 
-	try {
-		const res = await fetch(GITEA_RELEASES_URL, {
-			headers: { Accept: 'application/json' }
-		});
-		if (!res.ok) {
-			return { releases: [], error: `Gitea API returned ${res.status}` };
+	// Cache miss: stream the external Gitea request so navigation isn't blocked.
+	const releasesPromise = (async () => {
+		try {
+			const res = await fetch(GITEA_RELEASES_URL, {
+				headers: { Accept: 'application/json' }
+			});
+			if (!res.ok) return [] as Release[];
+			const releases: Release[] = await res.json();
+			const filtered = releases.filter((r) => !r.draft);
+			await cache.set(CACHE_KEY, filtered, CACHE_TTL);
+			return filtered;
+		} catch {
+			return [] as Release[];
 		}
-		const releases: Release[] = await res.json();
-		const filtered = releases.filter((r) => !r.draft);
-		await cache.set(CACHE_KEY, filtered, CACHE_TTL);
-		return { releases: filtered };
-	} catch (e) {
-		return { releases: [], error: String(e) };
-	}
+	})();
+
+	return { releases: releasesPromise, error: undefined as string | undefined };
 };
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/admin/changelog/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/admin/changelog/+page.svelte
index 96b8a8e..e19ba5f 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/admin/changelog/+page.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/admin/changelog/+page.svelte
@@ -32,29 +32,33 @@
 		</a>
 	</div>
 
-	{#if data.error}
-		<p class="text-sm text-(--color-danger)">{m.admin_changelog_load_error({ error: data.error })}</p>
-	{:else if data.releases.length === 0}
-		<p class="text-sm text-(--color-muted) py-8 text-center">{m.admin_changelog_no_releases()}</p>
-	{:else}
-		<div class="space-y-0 divide-y divide-(--color-border) border border-(--color-border) rounded-xl overflow-hidden">
-			{#each data.releases as release}
-				<div class="px-5 py-4 bg-(--color-surface) space-y-2">
-					<div class="flex items-baseline gap-3 flex-wrap">
-						<span class="font-mono text-sm font-semibold text-(--color-brand)">{release.tag_name}</span>
-						{#if release.name && release.name !== release.tag_name}
-							<span class="text-sm text-(--color-text)">{release.name}</span>
+	{#await data.releases}
+		<p class="text-sm text-(--color-muted) py-8 text-center">Loading releases…</p>
+	{:then releases}
+		{#if releases.length === 0}
+			<p class="text-sm text-(--color-muted) py-8 text-center">{m.admin_changelog_no_releases()}</p>
+		{:else}
+			<div class="space-y-0 divide-y divide-(--color-border) border border-(--color-border) rounded-xl overflow-hidden">
+				{#each releases as release}
+					<div class="px-5 py-4 bg-(--color-surface) space-y-2">
+						<div class="flex items-baseline gap-3 flex-wrap">
+							<span class="font-mono text-sm font-semibold text-(--color-brand)">{release.tag_name}</span>
+							{#if release.name && release.name !== release.tag_name}
+								<span class="text-sm text-(--color-text)">{release.name}</span>
+							{/if}
+							{#if release.prerelease}
+								<span class="text-xs px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded bg-(--color-surface-3) text-(--color-muted)">pre-release</span>
+							{/if}
+							<span class="text-xs text-(--color-muted) ml-auto">{fmtDate(release.published_at)}</span>
+						</div>
+						{#if release.body.trim()}
+							<p class="text-sm text-(--color-muted) leading-relaxed whitespace-pre-wrap">{release.body.trim()}</p>
 						{/if}
-						{#if release.prerelease}
-							<span class="text-xs px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded bg-(--color-surface-3) text-(--color-muted)">pre-release</span>
-						{/if}
-						<span class="text-xs text-(--color-muted) ml-auto">{fmtDate(release.published_at)}</span>
 					</div>
-					{#if release.body.trim()}
-						<p class="text-sm text-(--color-muted) leading-relaxed whitespace-pre-wrap">{release.body.trim()}</p>
-					{/if}
-				</div>
-			{/each}
-		</div>
-	{/if}
+				{/each}
+			</div>
+		{/if}
+	{:catch}
+		<p class="text-sm text-(--color-danger)">{m.admin_changelog_load_error({ error: 'Failed to load releases' })}</p>
+	{/await}
 </div>
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/admin/image-gen/+page.server.ts b/ui/src/routes/admin/image-gen/+page.server.ts
index 11996e3..7c2dba4 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/admin/image-gen/+page.server.ts
+++ b/ui/src/routes/admin/image-gen/+page.server.ts
@@ -20,23 +20,29 @@ export interface BookSummary {
 }
 
 export const load: PageServerLoad = async () => {
-	// parent layout already guards admin role
-	const [models, booksResult] = await Promise.allSettled([
-		listImageModels<ImageModelInfo>(),
-		listBooks()
-	]);
+	// Await models immediately — the page is unusable without them and the
+	// backend returns this list instantly (in-memory, no I/O).
+	// Books are streamed: the page renders at once and the book selector
+	// populates a moment later without blocking navigation.
+	const modelsResult = await listImageModels<ImageModelInfo>().catch((e) => {
+		log.warn('admin/image-gen', 'failed to load models', { err: String(e) });
+		return [] as ImageModelInfo[];
+	});
 
-	if (models.status === 'rejected') {
-		log.warn('admin/image-gen', 'failed to load models', { err: String(models.reason) });
-	}
+	const booksPromise = listBooks()
+		.then((all) =>
+			all.map((b) => ({
+				slug: b.slug,
+				title: b.title,
+				summary: b.summary ?? '',
+				cover: b.cover ?? ''
+			})) as BookSummary[]
+		)
+		.catch(() => [] as BookSummary[]);
 
 	return {
-		models: models.status === 'fulfilled' ? models.value : ([] as ImageModelInfo[]),
-		books: (booksResult.status === 'fulfilled' ? booksResult.value : []).map((b) => ({
-			slug: b.slug,
-			title: b.title,
-			summary: b.summary ?? '',
-			cover: b.cover ?? ''
-		})) as BookSummary[]
+		models: modelsResult,
+		// Streamed — SvelteKit resolves this after the initial HTML is sent.
+		books: booksPromise
 	};
 };
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/admin/image-gen/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/admin/image-gen/+page.svelte
index 2a56d9e..849cf0f 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/admin/image-gen/+page.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/admin/image-gen/+page.svelte
@@ -62,8 +62,11 @@
 	});
 
 	// ── Book autocomplete ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-	// svelte-ignore state_referenced_locally
-	const books: BookSummary[] = data.books ?? [];
+	// Books arrive as a streamed promise — start empty and populate on resolve.
+	let books = $state<BookSummary[]>([]);
+	$effect(() => {
+		data.books.then((resolved) => { books = resolved; });
+	});
 	let slugInput = $state('');
 	let slugFocused = $state(false);
 	let selectedBook = $state<BookSummary | null>(null);
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/admin/text-gen/+page.server.ts b/ui/src/routes/admin/text-gen/+page.server.ts
index cc04677..af3a0b6 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/admin/text-gen/+page.server.ts
+++ b/ui/src/routes/admin/text-gen/+page.server.ts
@@ -17,21 +17,23 @@ export interface TextModelInfo {
 }
 
 export const load: PageServerLoad = async () => {
-	// Parent layout already guards admin role.
-	const [models, booksResult] = await Promise.allSettled([
-		listTextModels<TextModelInfo>(),
-		listBooks()
-	]);
+	// Await models immediately — in-memory list, no I/O, returns instantly.
+	// Books are streamed so the page renders at once and the selector
+	// populates a moment later without blocking navigation.
+	const modelsResult = await listTextModels<TextModelInfo>().catch((e) => {
+		log.warn('admin/text-gen', 'failed to load models', { err: String(e) });
+		return [] as TextModelInfo[];
+	});
 
-	if (models.status === 'rejected') {
-		log.warn('admin/text-gen', 'failed to load models', { err: String(models.reason) });
-	}
+	const booksPromise = listBooks()
+		.then((all) =>
+			all.map((b) => ({ slug: b.slug, title: b.title })) as BookSummary[]
+		)
+		.catch(() => [] as BookSummary[]);
 
 	return {
-		models: models.status === 'fulfilled' ? models.value : ([] as TextModelInfo[]),
-		books: (booksResult.status === 'fulfilled' ? booksResult.value : []).map((b) => ({
-			slug: b.slug,
-			title: b.title
-		})) as BookSummary[]
+		models: modelsResult,
+		// Streamed — SvelteKit resolves this after the initial HTML is sent.
+		books: booksPromise
 	};
 };
diff --git a/ui/src/routes/admin/text-gen/+page.svelte b/ui/src/routes/admin/text-gen/+page.svelte
index 99d8bf1..6d9262c 100644
--- a/ui/src/routes/admin/text-gen/+page.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/routes/admin/text-gen/+page.svelte
@@ -9,8 +9,11 @@
 	// Server data is static per page load — intentional one-time snapshot.
 	// svelte-ignore state_referenced_locally
 	const models: TextModelInfo[] = data.models ?? [];
-	// svelte-ignore state_referenced_locally
-	const books: BookSummary[] = data.books ?? [];
+	// Books arrive as a streamed promise — start empty and populate on resolve.
+	let books = $state<BookSummary[]>([]);
+	$effect(() => {
+		data.books.then((resolved) => { books = resolved; });
+	});
 
 	// ── Config persistence ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 	const CONFIG_KEY = 'admin_text_gen_config_v2';