diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index 1332136fa17..f32605870b8 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ importers:
       '@coinbase/coinbase-sdk':
         specifier: 0.10.0
         version: 0.10.0(bufferutil@4.0.8)(typescript@5.6.3)(utf-8-validate@5.0.10)(zod@3.23.8)
+      '@deepgram/sdk':
+        specifier: ^3.9.0
+        version: 3.9.0(bufferutil@4.0.8)(encoding@0.1.13)(utf-8-validate@5.0.10)
       '@vitest/eslint-plugin':
         specifier: 1.0.1
         version: 1.0.1(@typescript-eslint/utils@8.16.0(eslint@9.16.0(jiti@2.4.0))(typescript@5.6.3))(eslint@9.16.0(jiti@2.4.0))(typescript@5.6.3)(vitest@2.1.5(@types/node@22.8.4)(jsdom@25.0.1(bufferutil@4.0.8)(canvas@2.11.2(encoding@0.1.13))(utf-8-validate@5.0.10))(terser@5.37.0))
@@ -3026,6 +3029,14 @@ packages:
     peerDependencies:
       postcss: ^8.4
 
+  '@deepgram/captions@1.2.0':
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-8B1C/oTxTxyHlSFubAhNRgCbQ2SQ5wwvtlByn8sDYZvdDtdn/VE2yEPZ4BvUnrKWmsbTQY6/ooLV+9Ka2qmDSQ==}
+    engines: {node: '>=18.0.0'}
+
+  '@deepgram/sdk@3.9.0':
+    resolution: {integrity: sha512-X/7JzoYjCObyEaPb2Dgnkwk2LwRe4bw0FJJCLdkjpnFfJCFgA9IWgRD8FEUI6/hp8dW/CqqXkGPA2Q3DIsVG8A==}
+    engines: {node: '>=18.0.0'}
+
   '@derhuerst/http-basic@8.2.4':
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-F9rL9k9Xjf5blCz8HsJRO4diy111cayL2vkY2XE4r4t3n0yPXVYy3KD3nJ1qbrSn9743UWSXH4IwuCa/HWlGFw==}
     engines: {node: '>=6.0.0'}
@@ -3088,6 +3099,7 @@ packages:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-hArn9FF5ZYi1IkxdJEVnJi+OxlwLV0NJYWpKXsmNOojtGtAZHxmsELA+MZlu2KW1F/K1/nt7lFOfcMXNYweq9w==}
     version: 0.17.0
     engines: {node: '>=16.11.0'}
+    deprecated: This version uses deprecated encryption modes. Please use a newer version.
 
   '@discordjs/ws@1.1.1':
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-PZ+vLpxGCRtmr2RMkqh8Zp+BenUaJqlS6xhgWKEZcgC/vfHLEzpHtKkB0sl3nZWpwtcKk6YWy+pU3okL2I97FA==}
@@ -19268,6 +19280,23 @@ snapshots:
     dependencies:
       postcss: 8.4.49
 
+  '@deepgram/captions@1.2.0':
+    dependencies:
+      dayjs: 1.11.13
+
+  '@deepgram/sdk@3.9.0(bufferutil@4.0.8)(encoding@0.1.13)(utf-8-validate@5.0.10)':
+    dependencies:
+      '@deepgram/captions': 1.2.0
+      '@types/node': 18.19.68
+      cross-fetch: 3.1.8(encoding@0.1.13)
+      deepmerge: 4.3.1
+      events: 3.3.0
+      ws: 8.18.0(bufferutil@4.0.8)(utf-8-validate@5.0.10)
+    transitivePeerDependencies:
+      - bufferutil
+      - encoding
+      - utf-8-validate
+
   '@derhuerst/http-basic@8.2.4':
     dependencies:
       caseless: 0.12.0
@@ -37044,4 +37073,4 @@ snapshots:
   zx@8.2.4:
     optionalDependencies:
       '@types/fs-extra': 11.0.4
-      '@types/node': 20.17.9
\ No newline at end of file
+      '@types/node': 20.17.9
diff --git a/scripts/smokeTests.sh b/scripts/smokeTests.sh
index fcce311fe1d..fb05946897f 100755
--- a/scripts/smokeTests.sh
+++ b/scripts/smokeTests.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+# Strict mode, exit on error, undefined variables, and pipe failures
+set -euo pipefail
+
 # Print some information about the environment to aid in case of troubleshooting
 
 echo "node version:"
@@ -27,20 +30,9 @@ if (( CURRENT_NODE_VERSION < REQUIRED_NODE_VERSION )); then
 fi
 
 # Autodetect project directory relative to this script's path
-PROJECT_DIR="$0"
-while [ -h "$PROJECT_DIR" ]; do
-    ls=$(ls -ld "$PROJECT_DIR")
-    link=$(expr "$ls" : '.*-> \(.*\)$')
-    if expr "$link" : '/.*' > /dev/null; then
-        PROJECT_DIR="$link"
-    else
-        PROJECT_DIR="$(dirname "$PROJECT_DIR")/$link"
-    fi
-done
-PROJECT_DIR="$(dirname "$PROJECT_DIR")/.."
-PROJECT_DIR="$(cd "$PROJECT_DIR"; pwd)"
+PROJECT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
 
-cd $PROJECT_DIR
+cd "$PROJECT_DIR"
 
 cp .env.example .env
 
@@ -48,39 +40,53 @@ pnpm install -r
 
 pnpm build
 
+# Create temp file and ensure cleanup
 OUTFILE="$(mktemp)"
-echo $OUTFILE
+trap 'rm -f "$OUTFILE"' EXIT
+echo "Using temporary output file: $OUTFILE"
+
+# Add timeout configuration
+TIMEOUT=30
+INTERVAL=0.5
+TIMER=0
+
 (
-  # Wait for the ready message
+  # Wait for the ready message with timeout
   while true; do
+    if [[ $TIMER -ge $TIMEOUT ]]; then
+      echo "Error: Timeout waiting for application to start after $TIMEOUT seconds"
+      kill $$
+      exit 1
+    fi
+
     if grep -q "Chat started" "$OUTFILE"; then
       echo "exit"; sleep 2
       break
     fi
-    sleep 0.5
+
+    sleep $INTERVAL
+    TIMER=$(echo "$TIMER + $INTERVAL" | bc)
   done
 ) | pnpm start --character=characters/trump.character.json > "$OUTFILE" &
 
 # Wait for process to finish
 wait $!
 RESULT=$?
+
 echo "----- OUTPUT START -----"
 cat "$OUTFILE"
 echo "----- OUTPUT END -----"
 
 # Check the exit code of the last command
 if [[ $RESULT -ne 0 ]]; then
-    echo "Error: 'start' command exited with an error."
+    echo "Error: 'start' command exited with an error (code: $RESULT)"
     exit 1
 fi
 
-# Check if output.txt contains "Terminating and cleaning up resources..."
+# Check if output contains expected termination message
 if grep -q "Terminating and cleaning up resources..." "$OUTFILE"; then
     echo "Script completed successfully."
 else
-    echo "Error: The output does not contain the expected string."
+    echo "Error: The output does not contain the expected termination message."
     exit 1
-fi
-
-# Clean up
-rm "$OUTFILE"
+fi
\ No newline at end of file