diff --git a/bot/bot.py b/bot/bot.py
index ad2b29b..1c90610 100644
--- a/bot/bot.py
+++ b/bot/bot.py
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ import signal
 import atexit
 from api import app
 
+# Import new configuration system
+from config import CONFIG, SECRETS, validate_config, print_config_summary
+
 from server_manager import server_manager
 from utils.scheduled import (
     send_monday_video
@@ -36,7 +39,7 @@ from utils.media import(
 )
 from utils.llm import query_llama
 from utils.autonomous import (
-    setup_autonomous_speaking, 
+    setup_autonomous_speaking,
     load_last_sent_tweets,
     # V2 imports
     on_message_event,
@@ -47,12 +50,26 @@ from utils.autonomous import (
 from utils.dm_logger import dm_logger
 from utils.dm_interaction_analyzer import init_dm_analyzer
 from utils.logger import get_logger
+from utils.task_tracker import create_tracked_task
 
 import globals
 
 # Initialize bot logger
 logger = get_logger('bot')
 
+# Validate configuration on startup
+is_valid, validation_errors = validate_config()
+if not is_valid:
+    logger.error("❌ Configuration validation failed!")
+    for error in validation_errors:
+        logger.error(f"   - {error}")
+    logger.error("Please check your .env file and restart.")
+    sys.exit(1)
+
+# Print configuration summary for debugging
+if CONFIG.autonomous.debug_mode:
+    print_config_summary()
+
 logging.basicConfig(
     level=logging.INFO,
     format="%(asctime)s %(levelname)s: %(message)s",
@@ -281,7 +298,7 @@ async def on_message(message):
                             try:
                                 from utils.persona_dialogue import check_for_interjection
                                 current_persona = "evil" if globals.EVIL_MODE else "miku"
-                                asyncio.create_task(check_for_interjection(response_message, current_persona))
+                                create_tracked_task(check_for_interjection(response_message, current_persona), task_name="interjection_check")
                             except Exception as e:
                                 logger.error(f"Error checking for persona interjection: {e}")
                         
@@ -353,7 +370,7 @@ async def on_message(message):
                             try:
                                 from utils.persona_dialogue import check_for_interjection
                                 current_persona = "evil" if globals.EVIL_MODE else "miku"
-                                asyncio.create_task(check_for_interjection(response_message, current_persona))
+                                create_tracked_task(check_for_interjection(response_message, current_persona), task_name="interjection_check")
                             except Exception as e:
                                 logger.error(f"Error checking for persona interjection: {e}")
                         
@@ -435,7 +452,7 @@ async def on_message(message):
                             try:
                                 from utils.persona_dialogue import check_for_interjection
                                 current_persona = "evil" if globals.EVIL_MODE else "miku"
-                                asyncio.create_task(check_for_interjection(response_message, current_persona))
+                                create_tracked_task(check_for_interjection(response_message, current_persona), task_name="interjection_check")
                             except Exception as e:
                                 logger.error(f"Error checking for persona interjection: {e}")
                         
@@ -557,7 +574,7 @@ async def on_message(message):
                                 try:
                                     from utils.persona_dialogue import check_for_interjection
                                     current_persona = "evil" if globals.EVIL_MODE else "miku"
-                                    asyncio.create_task(check_for_interjection(response_message, current_persona))
+                                    create_tracked_task(check_for_interjection(response_message, current_persona), task_name="interjection_check")
                                 except Exception as e:
                                     logger.error(f"Error checking for persona interjection: {e}")
                             
@@ -650,7 +667,7 @@ async def on_message(message):
                     current_persona = "evil" if globals.EVIL_MODE else "miku"
                     logger.debug(f"Creating interjection check task for persona: {current_persona}")
                     # Pass the bot's response message for analysis
-                    asyncio.create_task(check_for_interjection(response_message, current_persona))
+                    create_tracked_task(check_for_interjection(response_message, current_persona), task_name="interjection_check")
                 except Exception as e:
                     logger.error(f"Error checking for persona interjection: {e}")
                     import traceback
diff --git a/bot/commands/uno.py b/bot/commands/uno.py
index e2ec97b..c7dd66e 100644
--- a/bot/commands/uno.py
+++ b/bot/commands/uno.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import json
 import logging
 from typing import Optional, Dict, Any
 from utils.logger import get_logger
+from utils.task_tracker import create_tracked_task
 
 logger = get_logger('uno')
 
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ async def join_uno_game(message: discord.Message, room_code: str):
             await message.channel.send(f"✅ Joined room **{room_code}**! Waiting for Player 1 to start the game... 🎮")
             
             # Start the game loop
-            asyncio.create_task(player.play_game())
+            create_tracked_task(player.play_game(), task_name=f"uno_game_{room_code}")
         else:
             await message.channel.send(f"❌ Couldn't join room **{room_code}**. Make sure the room exists and has space!")
             
diff --git a/bot/utils/autonomous.py b/bot/utils/autonomous.py
index 499d606..f51a8e4 100644
--- a/bot/utils/autonomous.py
+++ b/bot/utils/autonomous.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from utils.autonomous_engine import autonomous_engine
 from server_manager import server_manager
 import globals
 from utils.logger import get_logger
+from utils.task_tracker import create_tracked_task
 
 logger = get_logger('autonomous')
 
@@ -166,10 +167,10 @@ def on_message_event(message):
     
     # Check if we should act (async, non-blocking)
     if not message.author.bot:  # Only check for human messages
-        asyncio.create_task(_check_and_act(guild_id))
+        create_tracked_task(_check_and_act(guild_id), task_name="autonomous_check_act")
         
         # Also check if we should react to this specific message
-        asyncio.create_task(_check_and_react(guild_id, message))
+        create_tracked_task(_check_and_react(guild_id, message), task_name="autonomous_check_react")
 
 
 async def _check_and_react(guild_id: int, message):
diff --git a/bot/utils/bipolar_mode.py b/bot/utils/bipolar_mode.py
index a4ba5ce..d8c51a9 100644
--- a/bot/utils/bipolar_mode.py
+++ b/bot/utils/bipolar_mode.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import asyncio
 import discord
 import globals
 from utils.logger import get_logger
+from utils.task_tracker import create_tracked_task
 
 logger = get_logger('persona')
 
@@ -1113,7 +1114,7 @@ async def maybe_trigger_argument(channel: discord.TextChannel, client, context:
     
     if should_trigger_argument():
         # Run argument in background
-        asyncio.create_task(run_argument(channel, client, context))
+        create_tracked_task(run_argument(channel, client, context), task_name="bipolar_argument")
         return True
     
     return False
@@ -1136,7 +1137,7 @@ async def force_trigger_argument(channel: discord.TextChannel, client, context:
         logger.warning("Argument already in progress in this channel")
         return False
     
-    asyncio.create_task(run_argument(channel, client, context, starting_message))
+    create_tracked_task(run_argument(channel, client, context, starting_message), task_name="bipolar_argument_forced")
     return True
 
 
@@ -1174,5 +1175,5 @@ async def force_trigger_argument_from_message_id(channel_id: int, message_id: in
         return False, f"Failed to fetch message: {str(e)}"
     
     # Trigger the argument with this message as starting point
-    asyncio.create_task(run_argument(channel, client, context, message))
+    create_tracked_task(run_argument(channel, client, context, message), task_name="bipolar_argument_from_msg")
     return True, None
diff --git a/bot/utils/persona_dialogue.py b/bot/utils/persona_dialogue.py
index 78cc7da..3fa02bc 100644
--- a/bot/utils/persona_dialogue.py
+++ b/bot/utils/persona_dialogue.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import asyncio
 import time
 import globals
 from utils.logger import get_logger
+from utils.task_tracker import create_tracked_task
 
 logger = get_logger('persona')
 
@@ -668,15 +669,16 @@ You can use emojis naturally! ✨💙"""
         opposite = "evil" if responding_persona == "miku" else "miku"
         
         if should_continue and confidence in ["HIGH", "MEDIUM"]:
-            asyncio.create_task(self._next_turn(channel, opposite))
+            create_tracked_task(self._next_turn(channel, opposite), task_name="persona_next_turn")
             
         elif should_continue and confidence == "LOW":
-            asyncio.create_task(self._next_turn(channel, opposite))
+            create_tracked_task(self._next_turn(channel, opposite), task_name="persona_next_turn")
             
         elif not should_continue and confidence == "LOW":
             # Offer opposite persona the last word
-            asyncio.create_task(
-                self._offer_last_word(channel, opposite, context + f"\n{responding_persona}: {response_text}")
+            create_tracked_task(
+                self._offer_last_word(channel, opposite, context + f"\n{responding_persona}: {response_text}"),
+                task_name="persona_last_word"
             )
         else:
             # Clear signal to end
@@ -788,7 +790,7 @@ Don't force a response if you have nothing meaningful to contribute."""
             logger.info(f"Dialogue ended after last word, {state['turn_count']} turns total")
             self.end_dialogue(channel.id)
         else:
-            asyncio.create_task(self._next_turn(channel, opposite))
+            create_tracked_task(self._next_turn(channel, opposite), task_name="persona_next_turn")
     
     # ========================================================================
     # ARGUMENT ESCALATION
@@ -953,8 +955,9 @@ async def check_for_interjection(message: discord.Message, current_persona: str)
         
         # Start dialogue with the opposite persona responding first
         dialogue_manager.start_dialogue(message.channel.id)
-        asyncio.create_task(
-            dialogue_manager.handle_dialogue_turn(message.channel, opposite_persona, trigger_reason=reason)
+        create_tracked_task(
+            dialogue_manager.handle_dialogue_turn(message.channel, opposite_persona, trigger_reason=reason),
+            task_name="persona_dialogue_turn"
         )
         return True
     
diff --git a/bot/utils/task_tracker.py b/bot/utils/task_tracker.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b171b00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bot/utils/task_tracker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+# utils/task_tracker.py
+"""
+Tracked asyncio task creation utility.
+
+Replaces fire-and-forget asyncio.create_task() calls with error-logging wrappers
+so that exceptions in background tasks are never silently swallowed.
+"""
+
+import asyncio
+from typing import Optional, Coroutine, Set
+from utils.logger import get_logger
+
+logger = get_logger("task_tracker")
+
+# Keep references to running tasks so they aren't garbage-collected
+_active_tasks: Set[asyncio.Task] = set()
+
+
+def create_tracked_task(
+    coro: Coroutine,
+    task_name: Optional[str] = None,
+) -> asyncio.Task:
+    """
+    Create an asyncio task with automatic error logging.
+
+    Unlike bare asyncio.create_task(), this wrapper:
+    - Names the task for easier debugging
+    - Logs any unhandled exception (with full traceback) instead of swallowing it
+    - Keeps a strong reference so the task isn't garbage-collected mid-flight
+    - Auto-cleans the reference set when the task finishes
+
+    Args:
+        coro: The coroutine to schedule.
+        task_name: Human-readable name for log messages.
+                   Defaults to the coroutine's __qualname__.
+
+    Returns:
+        The created asyncio.Task (tracked internally).
+    """
+    name = task_name or getattr(coro, "__qualname__", str(coro))
+
+    async def _wrapped():
+        try:
+            await coro
+        except asyncio.CancelledError:
+            logger.debug(f"Task '{name}' was cancelled")
+            raise  # re-raise so Task.cancelled() works correctly
+        except Exception:
+            logger.error(f"Background task '{name}' failed", exc_info=True)
+
+    task = asyncio.create_task(_wrapped(), name=name)
+    _active_tasks.add(task)
+    task.add_done_callback(_active_tasks.discard)
+    return task
diff --git a/bot/utils/voice_receiver.py b/bot/utils/voice_receiver.py
index d688480..6fc30a6 100644
--- a/bot/utils/voice_receiver.py
+++ b/bot/utils/voice_receiver.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import discord
 from discord.ext import voice_recv
 
 from utils.stt_client import STTClient
+from utils.task_tracker import create_tracked_task
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('voice_receiver')
 
@@ -256,11 +257,11 @@ class VoiceReceiverSink(voice_recv.AudioSink):
         stt_client = STTClient(
             user_id=user_id,
             stt_url=self.stt_url,
-            on_partial_transcript=lambda text, timestamp: asyncio.create_task(
-                self._on_partial_transcript(user_id, text)
+            on_partial_transcript=lambda text, timestamp: create_tracked_task(
+                self._on_partial_transcript(user_id, text), task_name="stt_partial_transcript"
             ),
-            on_final_transcript=lambda text, timestamp: asyncio.create_task(
-                self._on_final_transcript(user_id, text, user)
+            on_final_transcript=lambda text, timestamp: create_tracked_task(
+                self._on_final_transcript(user_id, text, user), task_name="stt_final_transcript"
             ),
         )
         
@@ -421,8 +422,9 @@ class VoiceReceiverSink(voice_recv.AudioSink):
                             self.interruption_audio_count.pop(user_id, None)
                             
                             # Call interruption handler (this sets miku_speaking=False)
-                            asyncio.create_task(
-                                self.voice_manager.on_user_interruption(user_id)
+                            create_tracked_task(
+                                self.voice_manager.on_user_interruption(user_id),
+                                task_name="voice_user_interruption"
                             )
                     else:
                         # Audio below RMS threshold (silence) - reset interruption tracking