diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9b74731..97caa4a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,4 +16,13 @@ video ideas:
   - using elixir langchain for tool definitions
 
 
-real time blog: <https://seanmoriarity.com/2024/02/25/implementing-natural-conversational-agents-with-elixir/>
\ No newline at end of file
+real time blog: <https://seanmoriarity.com/2024/02/25/implementing-natural-conversational-agents-with-elixir/>
+
+
+
+
+elixir clustering examples and architecture: <https://oneuptime.com/blog/post/2026-01-26-elixir-distributed-systems/view>
+
+
+process groups for distributing workers across cluster: <https://memo.d.foundation/topics/elixir/pg-in-elixir>
+
diff --git a/lib/elixir_ai/conversation_manager.ex b/lib/elixir_ai/conversation_manager.ex
index 39cf077..4b39182 100644
--- a/lib/elixir_ai/conversation_manager.ex
+++ b/lib/elixir_ai/conversation_manager.ex
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 defmodule ElixirAi.ConversationManager do
   use GenServer
   alias ElixirAi.{Conversation, Message}
+  require Logger
 
   @name {:via, Horde.Registry, {ElixirAi.ChatRegistry, __MODULE__}}
 
@@ -17,8 +18,19 @@ defmodule ElixirAi.ConversationManager do
   end
 
   def init(_) do
+    Logger.info("ConversationManager initializing...")
     conversation_list = Conversation.all_names()
+    Logger.info("Loaded #{length(conversation_list)} conversations from DB")
+
+    # Log each conversation and check for UTF-8 issues
+    Enum.each(conversation_list, fn conv ->
+      Logger.info(
+        "Conversation: #{inspect(conv, limit: :infinity, printable_limit: :infinity, binaries: :as_binaries)}"
+      )
+    end)
+
     conversations = Map.new(conversation_list, fn %{name: name} -> {name, []} end)
+    Logger.info("Conversation map keys: #{inspect(Map.keys(conversations))}")
     {:ok, conversations}
   end
 
@@ -67,7 +79,13 @@ defmodule ElixirAi.ConversationManager do
   end
 
   def handle_call(:list, _from, conversations) do
-    {:reply, Map.keys(conversations), conversations}
+    keys = Map.keys(conversations)
+
+    Logger.debug(
+      "list_conversations returning: #{inspect(keys, limit: :infinity, printable_limit: :infinity, binaries: :as_binaries)}"
+    )
+
+    {:reply, keys, conversations}
   end
 
   def handle_call({:get_messages, name}, _from, conversations) do
diff --git a/lib/elixir_ai/data/ai_provider.ex b/lib/elixir_ai/data/ai_provider.ex
index 05e6a46..14a5d37 100644
--- a/lib/elixir_ai/data/ai_provider.ex
+++ b/lib/elixir_ai/data/ai_provider.ex
@@ -1,21 +1,34 @@
 defmodule ElixirAi.AiProvider do
   import Ecto.Query
   alias ElixirAi.Repo
+  alias ElixirAi.Data.AiProviderSchema
+  require Logger
 
   def all do
-    Repo.all(
-      from(p in "ai_providers",
-        select: %{
-          id: p.id,
-          name: p.name,
-          model_name: p.model_name,
-          api_token: p.api_token,
-          completions_url: p.completions_url
-        }
+    results =
+      Repo.all(
+        from(p in AiProviderSchema,
+          select: %{
+            id: p.id,
+            name: p.name,
+            model_name: p.model_name
+          }
+        )
       )
-    )
+      |> Enum.map(&convert_id_to_string/1)
+
+    Logger.debug("AiProvider.all() returning: #{inspect(results)}")
+
+    results
   end
 
+  # Convert binary UUID to string for frontend
+  defp convert_id_to_string(%{id: id} = provider) when is_binary(id) do
+    %{provider | id: Ecto.UUID.cast!(id)}
+  end
+
+  defp convert_id_to_string(provider), do: provider
+
   def create(attrs) do
     now = DateTime.truncate(DateTime.utc_now(), :second)
 
@@ -62,7 +75,7 @@ defmodule ElixirAi.AiProvider do
            )
          ) do
       nil -> {:error, :not_found}
-      provider -> {:ok, provider}
+      provider -> {:ok, convert_id_to_string(provider)}
     end
   end
 
@@ -70,14 +83,10 @@ defmodule ElixirAi.AiProvider do
     case Repo.aggregate(from(p in "ai_providers"), :count) do
       0 ->
         attrs = %{
-          name: System.get_env("DEFAULT_PROVIDER_NAME", "default_provider"),
-          model_name: System.get_env("DEFAULT_MODEL_NAME", "gpt-4"),
-          api_token: System.get_env("DEFAULT_API_TOKEN", ""),
-          completions_url:
-            System.get_env(
-              "DEFAULT_COMPLETIONS_URL",
-              "https://api.openai.com/v1/chat/completions"
-            )
+          name: "default",
+          model_name: Application.fetch_env!(:elixir_ai, :ai_model),
+          api_token: Application.fetch_env!(:elixir_ai, :ai_token),
+          completions_url: Application.fetch_env!(:elixir_ai, :ai_endpoint)
         }
 
         create(attrs)
diff --git a/lib/elixir_ai/data/conversation.ex b/lib/elixir_ai/data/conversation.ex
index e0e97c4..d8c4baa 100644
--- a/lib/elixir_ai/data/conversation.ex
+++ b/lib/elixir_ai/data/conversation.ex
@@ -1,31 +1,91 @@
 defmodule ElixirAi.Conversation do
   import Ecto.Query
   alias ElixirAi.Repo
+  alias ElixirAi.Data.ConversationSchema
+  alias ElixirAi.Data.AiProviderSchema
+  require Logger
 
-  def all_names do
-    Repo.all(
-      from(c in "conversations",
-        left_join: p in "ai_providers",
-        on: c.ai_provider_id == p.id,
-        select: %{
-          name: c.name,
-          provider: %{
-            name: p.name,
-            model_name: p.model_name,
-            api_token: p.api_token,
-            completions_url: p.completions_url
-          }
-        }
-      )
-    )
+  defmodule Provider do
+    use Ecto.Schema
+    import Ecto.Changeset
+
+    @primary_key false
+    embedded_schema do
+      field(:name, :string)
+      field(:model_name, :string)
+      field(:api_token, :string)
+      field(:completions_url, :string)
+    end
+
+    def changeset(provider, attrs) do
+      provider
+      |> cast(attrs, [:name, :model_name, :api_token, :completions_url])
+      |> validate_required([:name, :model_name, :api_token, :completions_url])
+    end
   end
 
-  def create(name, ai_provider_id) do
-    case Repo.insert_all("conversations", [
-           [name: name, ai_provider_id: ai_provider_id, inserted_at: now(), updated_at: now()]
-         ]) do
-      {1, _} -> :ok
-      _ -> {:error, :db_error}
+  defmodule ConversationInfo do
+    use Ecto.Schema
+    import Ecto.Changeset
+
+    @primary_key false
+    embedded_schema do
+      field(:name, :string)
+      embeds_one(:provider, Provider)
+    end
+
+    def changeset(conversation, attrs) do
+      conversation
+      |> cast(attrs, [:name])
+      |> validate_required([:name])
+      |> cast_embed(:provider, with: &Provider.changeset/2, required: true)
+    end
+  end
+
+  def all_names do
+    results =
+      Repo.all(
+        from(c in ConversationSchema,
+          left_join: p in AiProviderSchema,
+          on: c.ai_provider_id == p.id,
+          select: %{
+            name: c.name,
+            provider: %{
+              name: p.name,
+              model_name: p.model_name,
+              api_token: p.api_token,
+              completions_url: p.completions_url
+            }
+          }
+        )
+      )
+
+    Enum.map(results, fn attrs ->
+      changeset = ConversationInfo.changeset(%ConversationInfo{}, attrs)
+
+      if changeset.valid? do
+        Ecto.Changeset.apply_changes(changeset)
+      else
+        Logger.error("Invalid conversation data: #{inspect(changeset.errors)}")
+        raise ArgumentError, "Invalid conversation data: #{inspect(changeset.errors)}"
+      end
+    end)
+  end
+
+  def create(name, ai_provider_id) when is_binary(ai_provider_id) do
+    # Convert string UUID from frontend to binary UUID for database
+    case Ecto.UUID.dump(ai_provider_id) do
+      {:ok, binary_id} ->
+        Repo.insert_all("conversations", [
+          [name: name, ai_provider_id: binary_id, inserted_at: now(), updated_at: now()]
+        ])
+        |> case do
+          {1, _} -> :ok
+          _ -> {:error, :db_error}
+        end
+
+      :error ->
+        {:error, :invalid_uuid}
     end
   rescue
     e in Ecto.ConstraintError ->
@@ -35,7 +95,7 @@ defmodule ElixirAi.Conversation do
   end
 
   def find_id(name) do
-    case Repo.one(from(c in "conversations", where: c.name == ^name, select: c.id)) do
+    case Repo.one(from(c in ConversationSchema, where: c.name == ^name, select: c.id)) do
       nil -> {:error, :not_found}
       id -> {:ok, id}
     end
diff --git a/lib/elixir_ai/data/message.ex b/lib/elixir_ai/data/message.ex
index d54e884..385dcbd 100644
--- a/lib/elixir_ai/data/message.ex
+++ b/lib/elixir_ai/data/message.ex
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 defmodule ElixirAi.Message do
   import Ecto.Query
   alias ElixirAi.Repo
+  alias ElixirAi.Data.MessageSchema
 
   def load_for_conversation(conversation_id) do
     Repo.all(
-      from m in "messages",
+      from m in MessageSchema,
         where: m.conversation_id == ^conversation_id,
         order_by: m.id,
         select: %{
diff --git a/lib/elixir_ai/data/schemas/ai_provider_schema.ex b/lib/elixir_ai/data/schemas/ai_provider_schema.ex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfc1a83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/elixir_ai/data/schemas/ai_provider_schema.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+defmodule ElixirAi.Data.AiProviderSchema do
+  use Ecto.Schema
+
+  @primary_key {:id, :binary_id, autogenerate: true}
+  @foreign_key_type :binary_id
+
+  schema "ai_providers" do
+    field(:name, :string)
+    field(:model_name, :string)
+    field(:api_token, :string)
+    field(:completions_url, :string)
+
+    timestamps(type: :utc_datetime)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/elixir_ai/data/schemas/conversation_schema.ex b/lib/elixir_ai/data/schemas/conversation_schema.ex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d43743
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/elixir_ai/data/schemas/conversation_schema.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+defmodule ElixirAi.Data.ConversationSchema do
+  use Ecto.Schema
+
+  @primary_key {:id, :binary_id, autogenerate: true}
+  @foreign_key_type :binary_id
+
+  schema "conversations" do
+    field(:name, :string)
+    belongs_to(:ai_provider, ElixirAi.Data.AiProviderSchema, type: :binary_id)
+
+    timestamps(type: :utc_datetime)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/elixir_ai/data/schemas/message_schema.ex b/lib/elixir_ai/data/schemas/message_schema.ex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f6dded3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/elixir_ai/data/schemas/message_schema.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+defmodule ElixirAi.Data.MessageSchema do
+  use Ecto.Schema
+
+  @primary_key {:id, :id, autogenerate: true}
+
+  schema "messages" do
+    belongs_to(:conversation, ElixirAi.Data.ConversationSchema, type: :binary_id)
+    field(:role, :string)
+    field(:content, :string)
+    field(:reasoning_content, :string)
+    field(:tool_calls, :map)
+    field(:tool_call_id, :string)
+
+    timestamps(inserted_at: :inserted_at, updated_at: false, type: :utc_datetime)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/elixir_ai_web/live/ai_providers_live.ex b/lib/elixir_ai_web/live/ai_providers_live.ex
index 4312b16..346d379 100644
--- a/lib/elixir_ai_web/live/ai_providers_live.ex
+++ b/lib/elixir_ai_web/live/ai_providers_live.ex
@@ -79,12 +79,6 @@ defmodule ElixirAiWeb.AiProvidersLive do
               <div class="flex-1">
                 <h3 class="text-sm font-medium text-cyan-300">{provider.name}</h3>
                 <p class="text-xs text-cyan-500 mt-1">Model: {provider.model_name}</p>
-                <p class="text-xs text-cyan-600 mt-1 truncate">
-                  Endpoint: {provider.completions_url}
-                </p>
-                <p class="text-xs text-cyan-600 mt-1">
-                  Token: {String.slice(provider.api_token || "", 0..7)}***
-                </p>
               </div>
             </div>
           </li>
diff --git a/lib/elixir_ai_web/live/home_live.ex b/lib/elixir_ai_web/live/home_live.ex
index 0be16e0..b117d95 100644
--- a/lib/elixir_ai_web/live/home_live.ex
+++ b/lib/elixir_ai_web/live/home_live.ex
@@ -2,16 +2,29 @@ defmodule ElixirAiWeb.HomeLive do
   use ElixirAiWeb, :live_view
   import ElixirAiWeb.FormComponents
   alias ElixirAi.{ConversationManager, AiProvider}
+  require Logger
 
   def mount(_params, _session, socket) do
     if connected?(socket) do
       Phoenix.PubSub.subscribe(ElixirAi.PubSub, "ai_providers")
     end
 
+    conversations = ConversationManager.list_conversations()
+
+    Logger.debug(
+      "Conversations: #{inspect(conversations, limit: :infinity, printable_limit: :infinity)}"
+    )
+
+    ai_providers = AiProvider.all()
+
+    Logger.debug(
+      "AI Providers: #{inspect(ai_providers, limit: :infinity, printable_limit: :infinity)}"
+    )
+
     {:ok,
      socket
-     |> assign(conversations: ConversationManager.list_conversations())
-     |> assign(ai_providers: AiProvider.all())
+     |> assign(conversations: conversations)
+     |> assign(ai_providers: ai_providers)
      |> assign(new_name: "")
      |> assign(error: nil)}
   end
@@ -62,9 +75,9 @@ defmodule ElixirAiWeb.HomeLive do
         <% end %>
       </div>
 
-      <div>
+      <%!-- <div>
         <.live_component module={ElixirAiWeb.AiProvidersLive} id="ai-providers" />
-      </div>
+      </div> --%>
     </div>
     """
   end