Zoom & Garageband simultaneously; mic cutting out

I'm having a problem using Zoom and Garageband at the same time....let me explain....

First: I have a condenser mic running through a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd gen AI into the USB C port on my new Macbook Pro. (Ventura) & I'm listening through headphones out of the 2i2.

I'll be on a Zoom call with my voiceover mentor and everything works perfect, we hear each other perfect, levels are great. When I open a new project in Garageband during the Zoom call it's not picking up the microphone, even though input/output settings in GB are set to the 2i2.

I close and reopen GB and that makes the microphone start working again, BUT then the mic starts cutting out on my Zoom call.

What am I missing? I am assuming there is a setting somewhere I'm not finding? I don't see why the mic should stop working and should be able to work simultaneously? HELP!!??