diff --git a/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/AudioPlayer/MiniPlayer.swift b/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/AudioPlayer/MiniPlayer.swift
index e29f62ff0..5081ed0d1 100644
--- a/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/AudioPlayer/MiniPlayer.swift
+++ b/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/AudioPlayer/MiniPlayer.swift
@@ -348,15 +348,20 @@ public struct MiniPlayer: View {
   public var body: some View {
     ZStack(alignment: .center) {
       presentingView
-      VStack {
-        Spacer(minLength: 0)
-        if let itemAudioProperties = self.audioController.itemAudioProperties, isPresented {
-          playerContent(itemAudioProperties)
-            .offset(y: offset)
-            .frame(maxHeight: expanded ? .infinity : 88)
-            .tint(.appGrayTextContrast)
-            .gesture(DragGesture().onEnded(onDragEnded(value:)).onChanged(onDragChanged(value:)))
-            .background(expanded ? .clear : .systemBackground)
+      if let itemAudioProperties = self.audioController.itemAudioProperties, isPresented {
+        ZStack(alignment: .bottom) {
+          Color.systemBackground.edgesIgnoringSafeArea(.bottom)
+            .frame(height: 88, alignment: .bottom)
+
+          VStack {
+            Spacer(minLength: 0)
+            playerContent(itemAudioProperties)
+              .offset(y: offset)
+              .frame(maxHeight: expanded ? .infinity : 88)
+              .tint(.appGrayTextContrast)
+              .gesture(DragGesture().onEnded(onDragEnded(value:)).onChanged(onDragChanged(value:)))
+              .background(expanded ? .clear : .systemBackground)
+          }
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/Home/HomeFeedViewModel.swift b/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/Home/HomeFeedViewModel.swift
index a06d06fdc..264cbbcb5 100644
--- a/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/Home/HomeFeedViewModel.swift
+++ b/apple/OmnivoreKit/Sources/App/Views/Home/HomeFeedViewModel.swift
@@ -36,8 +36,26 @@ import Views
   )
 
   func handleReaderItemNotification(objectID: NSManagedObjectID, dataService: DataService) {
-    selectedItem = dataService.viewContext.object(with: objectID) as? LinkedItem
-    linkIsActive = true
+    // Pop the current selected item if needed
+    if selectedItem != nil, selectedItem?.objectID != objectID {
+      // Temporarily disable animation to avoid excessive animations
+      UIView.setAnimationsEnabled(false)
+
+      linkIsActive = false
+      selectedItem = nil
+
+      DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + .milliseconds(100)) {
+        self.selectedItem = dataService.viewContext.object(with: objectID) as? LinkedItem
+        self.linkIsActive = true
+      }
+
+      DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + .milliseconds(200)) {
+        UIView.setAnimationsEnabled(true)
+      }
+    } else {
+      selectedItem = dataService.viewContext.object(with: objectID) as? LinkedItem
+      linkIsActive = true
+    }
   }
 
   var cursor: String?