diff --git a/.custodian-brief.md b/.custodian-brief.md
index ce05f98..73567e6 100644
--- a/.custodian-brief.md
+++ b/.custodian-brief.md
@@ -2,12 +2,21 @@
 # Custodian Brief — soul-frame
 
 **Domain:** agents  
-**Last synced:** 2026-09-28 12:31 UTC  
+**Last synced:** 2026-09-28 12:45 UTC  
 **State Hub:** http://127.0.0.1:8000 *(adjust if running on a remote machine)*
 
 ## Active Workstreams
 
-*(none — repo may need first-session setup)*
+### Phase VIII — Paper research agenda and external review pathway
+Progress: 0/6 done  |  workplan_id: `bc67f839-43f9-5586-8213-469cda37d8b3`
+
+**Open tasks:**
+- · T01 — Soul naming decision (RQ4)  `3daca5cd`
+- · T02 — Continuity dimension weighting  `7acfed9e`
+- · T03 — Recognition's seat: Being vs. Social Being  `223e14d8`
+- · T04 — Empirical/operational metrics scoping  `81a4c87d`
+- · T05 — Moral/legal personhood companion line (explicitly separate)  `42f2de8a`
+- · T06 — External review / publication pathway decision  `38aa9a5a`
 
 ## Inbox Hygiene