"Preparing Audio" is taking too long-- claims to be processing hundreds of audio clips

On and off for months now I have been faced with the exporting bug "Preparing Audio (X of XXXX)." Adobe Media Encoder claims to be processing a range of hundreds to thousands of audio files when I have, at max, 7 audio tracks. I have found many other posts here and on Reddit with the same problem with no answer from Adobe. I'm hoping they will see this and help!

I'm going to break down my sequences, troubleshooting, fixes, and failures. All of these projects are for a remote video podcast whose workflow has evolved and grown more complicated but maintains the same bug.

May 2023:

• I begin the podcast editing process.
• I'm using Adobe Premiere 2022.
• My timeline has one video source (export from OBS), another video track for nested graphics and After Effects animations, 4 podcast audio tracks, one audio track for sound effects, and 1-2 audio tracks for music
• The "preparing audio" bug begins. Takes hours to process THOUSANDS of audio files, then it takes another hour or 2 to process the video.
• When I try exporting in Premiere, it still takes a very long time. I believe the only difference is Premiere doesn't show what it's processing, just the status bar. Meanwhile, Media Encoder gives me a breakdown of what it's doing.

June 2023:

• I update to Premiere 2023.
• We upgrade the podcast production from OBS to Riverside.fm.
• I evolve into a multi-cam workflow. My multi-cam sequence contains 2 other sequences that have 6 video tracks, then I add in the 4 individual video tracks and a timecode adjustment layer. 
• Upon a final export, I'm exporting: one multi-cam track, a track with nested graphics and After Effects animations, 4 podcast audio tracks, one audio track for sound effects, and 1-2 audio tracks for music--  on average, 9 tracks in total
• The "preparing audio" bug persists.
• My CPU fans start degrading.

July 2023:

• I call in reinforcements from a friend who works in IT. I replace my CPU cooling system and update my CPU and GPU drivers.
• I find a YouTube tutorial with this same issue. They recommend creating sequences by dragging footage into the "new item" button at the bottom of the project window in order to maintain the video file's settings. The goal is to minimize processing errors by remaining true to the footage. This was never an issue in the past, but I'm willing to try anything.
• I find a forum tip that recommends disabling the setting that creates waveforms. I can't seem to get Premiere to stop processing waveforms. 
• I follow another forum tip to remove user settings every time I open Premiere. Now every time I open Premiere it removes the multicam button at the bottom of the preview window. A minor inconvenience, but fine.
• After doing all of this in one weekend, when I start editing a new episode of the podcast on Monday, it starts running smoothly! My IT friend and I guess that the culprit was likely an overheating CPU and outdated drivers.
• The bug is no longer!

August 2023:

• My workflow remains the same.
• I make sure both Premiere and Media Encoder are up-to-date.
• I update my drivers every time one is available.
• 08/20/23, the bug has returned! It's doing the same thing as before, but running a liiiiittle faster because of my upgraded hardware. But it's processing HUNDREDS of audio files (note: far less than the bug's previous iteration, but a bug nonetheless)! 
• Based on this forum post, I try flattening my multicam files, deleting files I am not using in my timeline, and experimenting with different export settings. 
• The bug persists.

I am at a loss for what else I could possibly do. This seems to be entirely an Adobe problem and now my workflow is taking longer which is interfering with my deadlines!

ADOBE HELP ME

Specs:

Adobe Media Encoder 23.2.1

in conjunction with Adobe Premiere Pro 23.2

Windows 10