How to turn off AirPods Auto On/Off Audio Detection on Mac

I haven't had my AirPods for very long so I literally cannot figure out what terminology I should Google search for to help with my issue.

I use a Mac at work and I recently started connecting my AirPods to it. The issue I am running into is when I am interrupted by a coworker, I have to take the AirPods in and out which turns the autoplay on and off. What I am listening to keeps pausing which REPLAYS AN AD EVERY TIME I PUSH PLAY. It's driving me absolutely insane. How do I turn this setting off? As a reminder, this is for Mac exclusively, not iPhone.

I have looked under Bluetooth/settings/etc. and nothing is showing this as an option to turn off.

Last note, if this setting can't be turned off, I might as well just say screw it and go back to wired headphones because I literally can't see the benefit here (just saying).

Thanks!!