diff --git a/src/components/layout/PlayerBar.tsx b/src/components/layout/PlayerBar.tsx
index a5efc21..204dc4d 100644
--- a/src/components/layout/PlayerBar.tsx
+++ b/src/components/layout/PlayerBar.tsx
@@ -1,82 +1,32 @@
-import { useState } from 'react'
-import { Play, Pause, Volume2, VolumeX, SkipBack, SkipForward, Maximize2, Minimize2 } from 'lucide-react'
+import { Play, Pause, Volume2, VolumeX, SkipBack, SkipForward } from 'lucide-react'
 import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/player'
 import { formatDuration } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { getEmbedInfo } from '@/lib/embed'
 import { Avatar } from '@/components/ui/Avatar'
 
 export function PlayerBar() {
   const { current, isPlaying, isExternal, progress, duration, volume, toggle, seek, setVolume } = usePlayerStore()
-  const [expanded, setExpanded] = useState(false)
 
   if (!current) return null
 
-  const embedInfo = isExternal ? getEmbedInfo(current.audio_url) : null
-
-  // External content: show expandable embed player
-  if (isExternal && embedInfo && isPlaying) {
-    return (
-      <div className={`fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 z-50 glass border-t border-border/60 shadow-[0_-4px_30px_rgba(30,27,51,0.08)] transition-all duration-300 ${expanded ? 'h-[70vh]' : 'h-[4.75rem]'}`}>
-        {expanded && (
-          <div className="w-full h-[calc(100%-4.75rem)] bg-black/95">
-            <iframe
-              src={embedInfo.embedUrl}
-              className="w-full h-full"
-              allow="autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture"
-              allowFullScreen
-              title={current.title}
-            />
-          </div>
-        )}
-        <div className="max-w-6xl mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6 h-[4.75rem] flex items-center gap-4">
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-3 min-w-0 flex-1">
-            <div className="relative shrink-0">
-              {current.cover_url ? (
-                <img src={current.cover_url} alt="" className="w-11 h-11 rounded-xl object-cover shadow-organic-sm" />
-              ) : (
-                <Avatar name={current.title} size="md" className="!rounded-xl" />
-              )}
-              <div className="absolute -bottom-0.5 -right-0.5 flex items-end gap-[2px] h-3 p-[2px] bg-surface rounded-md">
-                <div className="wave-bar" /><div className="wave-bar" /><div className="wave-bar" />
-              </div>
-            </div>
-            <div className="min-w-0">
-              <p className="text-[13px] font-semibold truncate">{current.title}</p>
-              <p className="text-[11px] text-text-secondary truncate">
-                {current.creator?.username} · via {embedInfo.platform === 'youtube' ? 'YouTube' : embedInfo.platform === 'dailymotion' ? 'Dailymotion' : 'SoundCloud'}
-              </p>
-            </div>
-          </div>
-
-          <button
-            onClick={() => setExpanded(!expanded)}
-            className="w-11 h-11 rounded-full bg-gradient-to-br from-primary to-[#7B6AEF] text-white flex items-center justify-center hover:shadow-[0_2px_20px_rgba(91,76,219,0.4)] transition-all active:scale-95 cursor-pointer"
-          >
-            {expanded ? <Minimize2 size={17} /> : <Maximize2 size={17} />}
-          </button>
-        </div>
-      </div>
-    )
-  }
-
-  // Native audio player
   return (
     <div className="fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 z-50 glass border-t border-border/60 shadow-[0_-4px_30px_rgba(30,27,51,0.08)]">
-      {/* Progress bar */}
-      <div className="relative h-[3px] bg-border-light cursor-pointer group" onClick={(e) => {
-        const rect = e.currentTarget.getBoundingClientRect()
-        const pct = (e.clientX - rect.left) / rect.width
-        seek(pct * duration)
-      }}>
-        <div
-          className="absolute inset-y-0 left-0 bg-gradient-to-r from-primary to-[#7B6AEF] transition-all rounded-full"
-          style={{ width: `${duration ? (progress / duration) * 100 : 0}%` }}
-        />
-        <div
-          className="absolute top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 w-3 h-3 rounded-full bg-primary shadow-[0_0_0_3px_rgba(91,76,219,0.2)] opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity"
-          style={{ left: `${duration ? (progress / duration) * 100 : 0}%`, marginLeft: '-6px' }}
-        />
-      </div>
+      {/* Progress bar (native audio only) */}
+      {!isExternal && (
+        <div className="relative h-[3px] bg-border-light cursor-pointer group" onClick={(e) => {
+          const rect = e.currentTarget.getBoundingClientRect()
+          const pct = (e.clientX - rect.left) / rect.width
+          seek(pct * duration)
+        }}>
+          <div
+            className="absolute inset-y-0 left-0 bg-gradient-to-r from-primary to-[#7B6AEF] transition-all rounded-full"
+            style={{ width: `${duration ? (progress / duration) * 100 : 0}%` }}
+          />
+          <div
+            className="absolute top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 w-3 h-3 rounded-full bg-primary shadow-[0_0_0_3px_rgba(91,76,219,0.2)] opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity"
+            style={{ left: `${duration ? (progress / duration) * 100 : 0}%`, marginLeft: '-6px' }}
+          />
+        </div>
+      )}
 
       <div className="max-w-6xl mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6 h-[4.25rem] flex items-center gap-4">
         {/* Track info */}
@@ -101,37 +51,49 @@ export function PlayerBar() {
 
         {/* Controls */}
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2.5">
-          <button className="text-text-secondary hover:text-primary transition-colors cursor-pointer p-1" onClick={() => seek(Math.max(0, progress - 15))}>
-            <SkipBack size={17} />
-          </button>
+          {!isExternal && (
+            <button className="text-text-secondary hover:text-primary transition-colors cursor-pointer p-1" onClick={() => seek(Math.max(0, progress - 15))}>
+              <SkipBack size={17} />
+            </button>
+          )}
           <button
             onClick={toggle}
             className="w-11 h-11 rounded-full bg-gradient-to-br from-primary to-[#7B6AEF] text-white flex items-center justify-center hover:shadow-[0_2px_20px_rgba(91,76,219,0.4)] transition-all active:scale-95 cursor-pointer"
           >
             {isPlaying ? <Pause size={17} /> : <Play size={17} className="ml-0.5" />}
           </button>
-          <button className="text-text-secondary hover:text-primary transition-colors cursor-pointer p-1" onClick={() => seek(Math.min(duration, progress + 15))}>
-            <SkipForward size={17} />
-          </button>
+          {!isExternal && (
+            <button className="text-text-secondary hover:text-primary transition-colors cursor-pointer p-1" onClick={() => seek(Math.min(duration, progress + 15))}>
+              <SkipForward size={17} />
+            </button>
+          )}
         </div>
 
         {/* Volume & time */}
         <div className="hidden sm:flex items-center gap-3 flex-1 justify-end">
-          <span className="text-[11px] text-text-secondary tabular-nums font-medium">
-            {formatDuration(progress)} / {formatDuration(duration)}
-          </span>
-          <button onClick={() => setVolume(volume === 0 ? 0.8 : 0)} className="text-text-secondary hover:text-primary transition-colors cursor-pointer">
-            {volume === 0 ? <VolumeX size={15} /> : <Volume2 size={15} />}
-          </button>
-          <input
-            type="range"
-            min={0}
-            max={1}
-            step={0.01}
-            value={volume}
-            onChange={(e) => setVolume(parseFloat(e.target.value))}
-            className="w-20"
-          />
+          {!isExternal ? (
+            <>
+              <span className="text-[11px] text-text-secondary tabular-nums font-medium">
+                {formatDuration(progress)} / {formatDuration(duration)}
+              </span>
+              <button onClick={() => setVolume(volume === 0 ? 0.8 : 0)} className="text-text-secondary hover:text-primary transition-colors cursor-pointer">
+                {volume === 0 ? <VolumeX size={15} /> : <Volume2 size={15} />}
+              </button>
+              <input
+                type="range"
+                min={0}
+                max={1}
+                step={0.01}
+                value={volume}
+                onChange={(e) => setVolume(parseFloat(e.target.value))}
+                className="w-20"
+              />
+            </>
+          ) : (
+            <span className="text-[11px] text-text-secondary font-medium">
+              {duration > 0 && formatDuration(duration)}
+            </span>
+          )}
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/src/pages/PodcastDetail.tsx b/src/pages/PodcastDetail.tsx
index 604d104..c5df1c0 100644
--- a/src/pages/PodcastDetail.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/PodcastDetail.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import { Play, Pause, Heart, MessageCircle, Clock, Share2 } from 'lucide-react'
 import { supabase } from '@/lib/supabase'
 import { useAuthStore } from '@/stores/auth'
 import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/player'
-import { getEmbedInfo } from '@/lib/embed'
 import type { Podcast, Comment } from '@/types'
 import { formatDuration, timeAgo } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { Avatar } from '@/components/ui/Avatar'
@@ -164,23 +163,6 @@ export function PodcastDetail() {
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Embedded player for external content */}
-      {(() => {
-        const embed = getEmbedInfo(podcast.audio_url)
-        if (!embed) return null
-        return (
-          <div className="rounded-2xl overflow-hidden shadow-md border border-border/50 aspect-video">
-            <iframe
-              src={embed.embedUrl.replace('autoplay=1', 'autoplay=0')}
-              className="w-full h-full"
-              allow="autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture"
-              allowFullScreen
-              title={podcast.title}
-            />
-          </div>
-        )
-      })()}
-
       {podcast.description && (
         <div>
           <h2 className="text-lg font-heading font-bold mb-2">Description</h2>
diff --git a/src/stores/player.ts b/src/stores/player.ts
index 516f1bf..a3a94cc 100644
--- a/src/stores/player.ts
+++ b/src/stores/player.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,26 @@
 import { create } from 'zustand'
 import type { Podcast } from '@/types'
-import { isExternalUrl } from '@/lib/embed'
+import { isExternalUrl, getEmbedInfo } from '@/lib/embed'
+
+// Hidden iframe manager for external content
+let hiddenIframe: HTMLIFrameElement | null = null
+
+function destroyIframe() {
+  if (hiddenIframe) {
+    hiddenIframe.remove()
+    hiddenIframe = null
+  }
+}
+
+function createHiddenIframe(embedUrl: string) {
+  destroyIframe()
+  const iframe = document.createElement('iframe')
+  iframe.src = embedUrl
+  iframe.allow = 'autoplay; encrypted-media'
+  iframe.style.cssText = 'position:fixed;width:1px;height:1px;left:-10px;top:-10px;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;'
+  document.body.appendChild(iframe)
+  hiddenIframe = iframe
+}
 
 interface PlayerState {
   current: Podcast | null
@@ -33,8 +53,11 @@ export const usePlayerStore = create<PlayerState>((set, get) => ({
     const { audio, current } = get()
     const external = isExternalUrl(podcast.audio_url)
 
+    // Resume same podcast
     if (current?.id === podcast.id) {
       if (external) {
+        const embed = getEmbedInfo(podcast.audio_url)
+        if (embed) createHiddenIframe(embed.embedUrl)
         set({ isPlaying: true })
         return
       }
@@ -45,13 +68,17 @@ export const usePlayerStore = create<PlayerState>((set, get) => ({
       }
     }
 
+    // Stop previous
     if (audio) {
       audio.pause()
       audio.removeAttribute('src')
     }
+    destroyIframe()
 
-    // External URLs are handled by embed iframe, not HTMLAudioElement
+    // External: play via hidden iframe
     if (external) {
+      const embed = getEmbedInfo(podcast.audio_url)
+      if (embed) createHiddenIframe(embed.embedUrl)
       set({ audio: null, current: podcast, isPlaying: true, isExternal: true, progress: 0, duration: podcast.duration_seconds || 0 })
       return
     }
@@ -74,7 +101,17 @@ export const usePlayerStore = create<PlayerState>((set, get) => ({
   },
 
   toggle: () => {
-    const { audio, isPlaying } = get()
+    const { audio, isPlaying, isExternal, current } = get()
+    if (isExternal) {
+      if (isPlaying) {
+        destroyIframe()
+      } else {
+        const embed = current ? getEmbedInfo(current.audio_url) : null
+        if (embed) createHiddenIframe(embed.embedUrl)
+      }
+      set({ isPlaying: !isPlaying })
+      return
+    }
     if (!audio) return
     if (isPlaying) {
       audio.pause()
@@ -85,6 +122,8 @@ export const usePlayerStore = create<PlayerState>((set, get) => ({
   },
 
   pause: () => {
+    const { isExternal } = get()
+    if (isExternal) destroyIframe()
     get().audio?.pause()
     set({ isPlaying: false })
   },