Podcast speed keeps changing when iPhone is in my pocket
I have an iPhone 12 Pro Max with the latest iOS. I like to listen to podcasts while doing yard work, which means my iPhone is in my pants pocket and I listen using Apple earphones with a Lightning connection.
I listen to most podcasts at 1.75x speed. Today the speed must have switched to 0.75x speed at least 40 times in a couple of hours. Often it would happen when I bent over. Before putting the phone in my pocket I turned the display off so that the various controls wouldn't be accidentally touched. I had to keep stopping what I was doing, take the phone out of my pocket, put it back to 1.75x speed, turn off the screen and put it back in my pocket. I eventually gave up and stopped listening entirely.
I also notice that other apps randomly open on my phone when it is in my pocket.
Is there any way to stop podcasts from randomly changing speeds?
Thanks.
iPhone 12 Pro Max