diff --git a/Shared/Audio/AudioPlayer.swift b/Shared/Audio/AudioPlayer.swift
index e32faae..1049c31 100644
--- a/Shared/Audio/AudioPlayer.swift
+++ b/Shared/Audio/AudioPlayer.swift
@@ -134,7 +134,9 @@ class AudioPlayer: NSObject, ObservableObject {
         vDSP_hann_window(&fftWindow, 1024, Int32(vDSP_HANN_NORM))
 
         super.init()
-        configureAudioSession()
+        // Audio session is configured lazily on first play — not here.
+        // Setting .playback category on init interrupts whatever audio is
+        // already playing (podcasts, other music apps).
         setupRemoteControls()
         
         #if os(iOS)
@@ -245,15 +247,6 @@ class AudioPlayer: NSObject, ObservableObject {
     }
 
     private func resumeVisTimers() {
-        // Re-activate the audio session — another app may have taken it while we
-        // were in the background (e.g. a game or Spotify). Without this, player.play()
-        // silently fails and isPlaying shows true with no audio output.
-        do {
-            try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(true)
-        } catch {
-            alog("Foreground: session reactivation failed: \(error)")
-        }
-
         // Pick up any widget commands that arrived while the process was suspended.
         // Darwin notifications can't wake suspended processes, so commands written
         // by widget intents sit in App Group UserDefaults until we check here.
@@ -278,9 +271,19 @@ class AudioPlayer: NSObject, ObservableObject {
         if isUsingCrossfade {
             SmartCrossfadeManager.shared.resumeFromBackground()
         }
-        // Only restart vis timers if actually playing
+        // Only restart vis timers + reclaim audio session if actually playing.
+        // If nothing is playing, don't touch the session — let podcasts/other apps keep it.
         guard isPlaying else { return }
 
+        // Re-activate the audio session — another app may have taken it while we
+        // were in the background (e.g. a game or Spotify). Without this, player.play()
+        // silently fails and isPlaying shows true with no audio output.
+        do {
+            try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(true)
+        } catch {
+            alog("Foreground: session reactivation failed: \(error)")
+        }
+
         // Restart Now Playing sync timer — keeps Lock Screen / Dynamic Island
         // seek bar accurate. Created in playWithAVPlayer but never restarted
         // after background cycle; without this the system seek bar drifts.
@@ -414,6 +417,10 @@ class AudioPlayer: NSObject, ObservableObject {
                 stopAll()
                 isUsingCrossfade = true
                 
+                // Claim audio session — deferred from init() to first play
+                configureAudioSession()
+                activateAudioSession()
+                
                 // Wire callbacks
                 crossfade.timeUpdate = { [weak self] time, dur in
                     self?.currentTime = time
@@ -886,6 +893,7 @@ class AudioPlayer: NSObject, ObservableObject {
     private func playLocalWithEngine(_ url: URL) {
         #if os(iOS)
         alog("Engine path: \(url.lastPathComponent)")
+        configureAudioSession()
         activateAudioSession()
         stopAll()