Exports keep stalling!

Media Encoder is really struggling to render videos for a project I am trying to finish. All short videos (30 secs - 2 mins) and have some dynamic linked AE comps in the sequences for lower thirds and end cards (nothing too intense!). It'll get a couple of mins in and then stall - the time elapsed stops moving, as well as the time remaining.

I have tried clearing the cache from PP, AE and ME, which has worked before, but not this time. I have also tried restarting apps and computer, etc. but this is an ongoing issue every time I try to export. 

I am using my Macbook M1 Max 2021 64GB. Monterey 12.6. Adobe CC apps are all up to date.

It works better exporting directly from Premiere, but I have 21 videos to export, and I really should be able to queue them up in the software designed for it... What have I missed? Thanks!