Here are some steps to help with the issue of episodes automatically marking as played in Apple Podcasts:
Disable Automatic Playback: Go to Settings > Podcasts and ensure that Continuous Playback is turned off. This can prevent the app from automatically queuing up another episode after you finish one.
Reset Episode Sync: Sometimes, a syncing issue can cause episodes to misbehave. Try going to Settings > [Your Apple ID] > iCloud, then toggle Podcasts syncing off and on again.
Clear Played History: In the Podcasts app, go to Library > Shows > Edit, then select Clear Played on any affected shows. This can help refresh the play status on episodes.
Reinstall the App: Delete and reinstalling the Podcasts app can resolve persistent bugs by resetting its settings and cache.
Report the Issue: If the problem persists, Apple support can review this. Visit feedback.apple.com to submit the bug, which can help their team provide a fix in future updates.