Apple Podcasts app crashing on iOS 26

I have had a couple of repeating issues with the apple podcast app since updating to IOS 26.

issue 1: while finished listening to a podcast on airpods. I close the podcast app, remove my airpods and then a random podcast starts.

following issues 1: if I have had previously swiped up to close the podcast app, I have no controls on the lock screen to stop the podcast.

I have to reopen the podcast app to stop the podcast.

issue 2: a podcast is playing, but I am unable to control the podcast app, the app does not respond. I have to swipe up to close the podcast app to gain control the podcast again.

I have exactly the same problem and even reducing the downloaded podcasts to free up memory has not solved the problem.

At the end of EVERY podcast when I try and select a new one, it crashes. Never experienced this until going to ios26 and 26.1.

Extremely frustrated

Sliding the podcast app screen to different parts of it freezes the screen. The podcast continues to play but is not controllable.

Seems like very poor pre-release testing by Apple. For such a basic operation like closing a podcast to brick the app is pretty lame IMO.