diff --git a/catalog/book/models.py b/catalog/book/models.py
index 916e8881..d39dfb01 100644
--- a/catalog/book/models.py
+++ b/catalog/book/models.py
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ class Edition(Item):
     )
     language = LanguageListField()
     pub_house = jsondata.CharField(
-        _("publishing house"), null=True, blank=False, max_length=500
+        _("publishing house"), null=True, blank=True, max_length=500
     )
     pub_year = jsondata.IntegerField(
         _("publication year"),
diff --git a/catalog/common/models.py b/catalog/common/models.py
index 7965c6ac..c6259d59 100644
--- a/catalog/common/models.py
+++ b/catalog/common/models.py
@@ -419,6 +419,14 @@ class Item(PolymorphicModel):
             ]
         ]
 
+    def can_soft_delete(self):
+        return (
+            not self.is_deleted
+            and not self.merged_to_item_id
+            and not self.merged_from_items.exists()
+            and not self.child_items.exists()
+        )
+
     def delete(
         self,
         using: Any = None,
diff --git a/catalog/podcast/models.py b/catalog/podcast/models.py
index f2dc9ab6..5ead99c8 100644
--- a/catalog/podcast/models.py
+++ b/catalog/podcast/models.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from catalog.common import (
     PrimaryLookupIdDescriptor,
     jsondata,
 )
-from catalog.common.models import LanguageListField
+from catalog.common.models import LIST_OF_ONE_PLUS_STR_SCHEMA, LanguageListField
 
 
 class PodcastInSchema(ItemInSchema):
@@ -52,10 +52,12 @@ class Podcast(Item):
 
     language = LanguageListField()
 
-    host = jsondata.ArrayField(
+    host = jsondata.JSONField(
         verbose_name=_("host"),
-        base_field=models.CharField(blank=True, default="", max_length=200),
+        null=False,
+        blank=False,
         default=list,
+        schema=LIST_OF_ONE_PLUS_STR_SCHEMA,
     )
 
     official_site = jsondata.CharField(
@@ -97,6 +99,14 @@ class Podcast(Item):
     def child_items(self):
         return self.episodes.filter(is_deleted=False, merged_to_item=None)
 
+    def can_soft_delete(self):
+        # override can_soft_delete() and allow delete podcast with episodes
+        return (
+            not self.is_deleted
+            and not self.merged_to_item_id
+            and not self.merged_from_items.exists()
+        )
+
 
 class PodcastEpisode(Item):
     category = ItemCategory.Podcast
diff --git a/catalog/templates/_sidebar_edit.html b/catalog/templates/_sidebar_edit.html
index 53129333..a70ad3c5 100644
--- a/catalog/templates/_sidebar_edit.html
+++ b/catalog/templates/_sidebar_edit.html
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@
     {% endif %}
     {% if item.class_name == "tvseason" or item.class_name == "performanceproduction" %}
       <details>
-        <summary>{% trans "link to parent item" %}</summary>
+        <summary>{% trans "Link to parent item" %}</summary>
         <form method="post"
               action="{% url 'catalog:assign_parent' item.url_path item.uuid %}"
               onsubmit="return confirm('{% trans "Sure to link?" %}');">
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@
     {% endif %}
     {% if item.class_name == "tvshow" %}
       <details>
-        <summary>{% trans "cleanup seasons" %}</summary>
+        <summary>{% trans "Cleanup seasons" %}</summary>
         <form method="post"
               action="{% url 'catalog:remove_unused_seasons' item.url_path item.uuid %}"
               onsubmit="return confirm('{% trans "This operation cannot be undone. Sure to delete?" %}');">
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
     {% endif %}
     {% if not item.journal_exists or request.user.is_staff %}
       <details>
-        <summary>{% trans 'merge' %}</summary>
+        <summary>{% trans 'Merge' %}</summary>
         <form method="post"
               action="{% url 'catalog:merge' item.url_path item.uuid %}">
           {% csrf_token %}
@@ -201,20 +201,13 @@
                  value="{% trans 'merge to another item' %}">
         </form>
       </details>
-      {% if item.child_items %}
-        <!-- contains child items -->
-      {% elif item.merged_from_items.all %}
-        <!-- merged from other items -->
-      {% else %}
+      {% if item.can_soft_delete %}
         <details>
           <summary>{% trans 'Delete' %}</summary>
           <form method="post"
                 action="{% url 'catalog:delete' item.url_path item.uuid %}">
             {% csrf_token %}
-            <input class="contrast"
-                   type="submit"
-                   {% if item.is_deleted or item.merged_to_item %}disabled{% endif %}
-                   value="{% trans 'delete' %}">
+            <input class="contrast" type="submit" value="{% trans 'delete' %}">
           </form>
         </details>
       {% endif %}
diff --git a/catalog/views_edit.py b/catalog/views_edit.py
index 3c98cb42..8630e9e2 100644
--- a/catalog/views_edit.py
+++ b/catalog/views_edit.py
@@ -119,7 +119,9 @@ def edit(request, item_path, item_uuid):
 def delete(request, item_path, item_uuid):
     item = get_object_or_404(Item, uid=get_uuid_or_404(item_uuid))
     if not request.user.is_staff and item.journal_exists():
-        raise PermissionDenied(_("Insufficient permission"))
+        raise PermissionDenied(_("Item in use."))
+    if not item.can_soft_delete():
+        raise PermissionDenied(_("Item cannot be deleted."))
     if request.POST.get("sure", 0) != "1":
         return render(request, "catalog_delete.html", {"item": item})
     else: