Hahahaha I got a pixel7a TODAY and when i was setting it up it tried to install Google Podcasts, but I noped out for Antennapod. I did momentarily wonder if I should give GP a go since I've only just this week started using antennapod.
Anyway I'm glad I made the right decision.
It's a good replacement tbh. Pocketcasts kept crashing on me so I uninstalled it in a rage. The only thing that's annoying me about Antennapod is that I only want one episode of the BBC news podcast but when I open it up there's 3 there waiting for me, not a massive issue and I'm sure there's a way around it somewhere in the settings, way better than a crashed app.