  We study the finite-temperature properties of the Randall-Sundrum model in
the presence of brane-localized curvature. At high temperature, as dictated by
AdS/CFT, the theory is in a confined phase dual to the planar AdS black hole.
When the radion is stabilized, \`a la Goldberger-Wise, a holographic
first-order phase transition proceeds. The brane-localized curvature
contributes to the radion kinetic energy, substantially decreasing the critical
bubble energy. Contrary to previous results, the phase transition completes at
much larger values of $N$, the number of degrees of freedom in the CFT.
Moreover, the field value of the bulk scalar on the TeV-brane is allowed to
become large, while remaining consistent with back-reaction constraints.
Assisted by this fact, we find that for a wide region in the parameter space
tunneling happens rather quickly, i.e. the nucleation temperature becomes of
the order of the critical temperature. At zero temperature, the most important
signature of brane-localized curvature is the reduction of spin-2 Kaluza-Klein
graviton masses and a heavier radion.
