I've been warming up to switching to GrapheneOS for months. Last month I bought a Pixel 8 (which is the buggiest effing phone I've ever owned, good job Google). I've just been waiting to have the bandwidth.
But with Google sunsetting Google Podcasts, I've decided to make time next week. Podcasts are a MAJOR part of my daily functioning.
I have Podcast Addict, I think its free but I paid a few dollars because of the great selection of settings and options I never knew I needed.
(For example I have it configured so that after 5pm the Sleeptimer automatically makes the podcast fade down and pausing after 10' of listening, unless I move/shake the phone during the fade down-part, then it extends for another 10'. Perfect for using it in public transport or in bed and dozing off.)
I also have been using podcast addict, probably for over 10 years now. You can autodownload new episodes (mine checks daily at 7a and 7p), create custom playlists for juggling multiple podcasts at once, has android auto support, and you don't have to deal with the bs of Spotify.
I'm sure there are a 100 other features I don't know about, but that's what I use.
I like the ability to adjust playback speed. I listen to everything at 1.1 and it just feels like everyone tightened up their delivery a little bit and took out dead air. There was one podcast where the subject was interesting but the delivery was agonizingly slow, so I turned it all the way up to 1.5.