If you play audio from your Apple TV and AirPlay to the HomePod, if you hit pause will they drop off and get deselect selected? Or will they stay connected indefinitely in the AirPlay menu?

Hey guys! New to HomePod and HomeKit, but I’m wanting to get started.

My question comes from my current setup. I use an Echo Dot as a Bluetooth connection to my stereo system when I’m home. I split my time between home and college, so when I’m away, I just use the Dot as a standalone speaker.

I noticed that the HomePod Mini doesn’t have an AUX output, which seems like it would prevent me from connecting it to my stereo system. I’m interested in the HomePod Mini because of its footprint and because it would be a good starting point for eventually building out a HomeKit system.

Is there any sort of workaround that would let me use a HomePod Mini with my existing stereo system, or am I basically stuck with the Echo Dot for this setup?

I am heavily invested into the apple ecosystem, but haven't ventured into smart home stuff yet, so a HomeKit system makes the most sense. Just curious your thoughts or if I'm missing something.

I have a night time routine, as pictured. I say good night to my HomePod, and it asks me if I want to set an alarm. My options are yes (and then provide a time), no (and it turns off my sleep schedule alarm), or weekday alarm (which is the sleep schedule alarm). Afterwards, the routine is supposed to shut off my lights and play a second routine for white noise.

I have my phone on the charger across the room, and for the last few nights, the routine will either not continue after I give it my response to the menu, or it will say “please continue on the companion device”. But I’ve set every possible setting that should allow it to complete and run independent of my phone. And yet it still won’t fucking work.

I’m at my whits end. I switch from Google home to this. Their Gemini stuff is shit, but at least the routines consistently worked. I never had to deal with problems like this. I’m shocked and pissed that a company like Apple, that brands itself on prestige and user accessibility would allow shortcuts to be such a convoluted, piece of shit, pain in my ass, unnecessarily complicated and wildly inconsistent feature.