diff --git a/packages/app/src/app/agent/[id].tsx b/packages/app/src/app/agent/[id].tsx
index 1cd3a6347..c45e39b84 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/app/agent/[id].tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/app/agent/[id].tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import { useEffect, useMemo } from "react";
-import { View, Text } from "react-native";
+import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react";
+import { View, Text, ActivityIndicator } from "react-native";
 import { useLocalSearchParams } from "expo-router";
 import { useSafeAreaInsets } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
 import { useReanimatedKeyboardAnimation } from "react-native-keyboard-controller";
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export default function AgentScreen() {
   const { id } = useLocalSearchParams<{ id: string }>();
   const { agents, agentStreamState, pendingPermissions, respondToPermission } = useSession();
   const { registerFooterControls, unregisterFooterControls } = useFooterControls();
+  const [isContentReady, setIsContentReady] = useState(false);
 
   // Keyboard animation
   const { height: keyboardHeight } = useReanimatedKeyboardAnimation();
@@ -42,8 +43,39 @@ export default function AgentScreen() {
     return <AgentInputArea agentId={id} />;
   }, [id]);
 
+  // Defer heavy rendering to next frame for faster initial paint
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!agentControls || !agent) {
+    let isMounted = true;
+    let frameId: number | null = null;
+    let timeoutId: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+
+    const markReady = () => {
+      if (isMounted) {
+        setIsContentReady(true);
+      }
+    };
+
+    if (typeof requestAnimationFrame === "function") {
+      frameId = requestAnimationFrame(markReady);
+    } else {
+      timeoutId = setTimeout(markReady, 0);
+    }
+
+    return () => {
+      isMounted = false;
+
+      if (frameId !== null && typeof cancelAnimationFrame === "function") {
+        cancelAnimationFrame(frameId);
+      }
+
+      if (timeoutId !== null) {
+        clearTimeout(timeoutId);
+      }
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!agentControls || !agent || !isContentReady) {
       unregisterFooterControls();
       return;
     }
@@ -53,7 +85,7 @@ export default function AgentScreen() {
     return () => {
       unregisterFooterControls();
     };
-  }, [agentControls, agent, registerFooterControls, unregisterFooterControls]);
+  }, [agentControls, agent, isContentReady, registerFooterControls, unregisterFooterControls]);
 
   if (!agent) {
     return (
@@ -73,20 +105,28 @@ export default function AgentScreen() {
 
       {/* Content Area with Keyboard Animation */}
       <ReanimatedAnimated.View style={[styles.content, animatedKeyboardStyle]}>
-        <AgentStreamView
-          agentId={id!}
-          agent={agent}
-          streamItems={streamItems}
-          pendingPermissions={agentPermissions}
-          onPermissionResponse={(requestId, optionId) =>
-            respondToPermission(requestId, id!, agent.sessionId || "", [optionId])
-          }
-        />
+        {isContentReady ? (
+          <>
+            <AgentStreamView
+              agentId={id!}
+              agent={agent}
+              streamItems={streamItems}
+              pendingPermissions={agentPermissions}
+              onPermissionResponse={(requestId, optionId) =>
+                respondToPermission(requestId, id!, agent.sessionId || "", [optionId])
+              }
+            />
 
-        {/* Footer area - status bar pinned within screen */}
-        <View style={styles.footerContainer}>
-          <AgentStatusBar agentId={id!} />
-        </View>
+            {/* Footer area - status bar pinned within screen */}
+            <View style={styles.footerContainer}>
+              <AgentStatusBar agentId={id!} />
+            </View>
+          </>
+        ) : (
+          <View style={styles.loadingContainer}>
+            <ActivityIndicator size="large" color={theme.colors.primary} />
+          </View>
+        )}
       </ReanimatedAnimated.View>
     </View>
   );
@@ -103,6 +143,11 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
   footerContainer: {
     backgroundColor: theme.colors.background,
   },
+  loadingContainer: {
+    flex: 1,
+    alignItems: "center",
+    justifyContent: "center",
+  },
   errorContainer: {
     flex: 1,
     alignItems: "center",
diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/agent-list.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/agent-list.tsx
index 5eaaef888..ff95dd669 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/agent-list.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/agent-list.tsx
@@ -63,7 +63,10 @@ export function AgentList({ agents }: AgentListProps) {
         return (
           <Pressable
             key={agent.id}
-            style={styles.agentItem}
+            style={({ pressed }) => [
+              styles.agentItem,
+              pressed && styles.agentItemPressed,
+            ]}
             onPress={() => handleAgentPress(agent.id)}
           >
             <View style={styles.agentContent}>
@@ -112,6 +115,10 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
     marginBottom: theme.spacing[2],
     backgroundColor: theme.colors.muted,
   },
+  agentItemPressed: {
+    opacity: 0.7,
+    backgroundColor: theme.colors.accent,
+  },
   agentContent: {
     flex: 1,
   },
diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/message.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/message.tsx
index dee45a5a0..24f63f74f 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/message.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/message.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { View, Text, Pressable, Animated } from "react-native";
-import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from "react";
+import { useState, useEffect, useRef, memo } from "react";
 import Markdown from "react-native-markdown-display";
 import {
   Circle,
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ const userMessageStylesheet = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
   },
 }));
 
-export function UserMessage({ message, timestamp }: UserMessageProps) {
+export const UserMessage = memo(function UserMessage({ message, timestamp }: UserMessageProps) {
   return (
     <View style={userMessageStylesheet.container}>
       <View style={userMessageStylesheet.bubble}>
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ export function UserMessage({ message, timestamp }: UserMessageProps) {
       </View>
     </View>
   );
-}
+});
 
 interface AssistantMessageProps {
   message: string;
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ const assistantMessageStylesheet = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
   },
 }));
 
-export function AssistantMessage({
+export const AssistantMessage = memo(function AssistantMessage({
   message,
   timestamp,
   isStreaming = false,
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ export function AssistantMessage({
       )}
     </View>
   );
-}
+});
 
 interface ActivityLogProps {
   type: "system" | "info" | "success" | "error" | "artifact";
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ const activityLogStylesheet = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
   },
 }));
 
-export function ActivityLog({
+export const ActivityLog = memo(function ActivityLog({
   type,
   message,
   timestamp,
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ export function ActivityLog({
       </View>
     </Pressable>
   );
-}
+});
 
 interface ToolCallProps {
   toolName: string;
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ const toolKindIcons: Record<string, any> = {
   // Add more mappings as needed
 };
 
-export function ToolCall({
+export const ToolCall = memo(function ToolCall({
   toolName,
   kind,
   args,
@@ -584,4 +584,4 @@ export function ToolCall({
       </View>
     </Pressable>
   );
-}
+});
diff --git a/packages/app/src/contexts/realtime-context.tsx b/packages/app/src/contexts/realtime-context.tsx
index c530d6880..c05f8ad84 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/contexts/realtime-context.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/contexts/realtime-context.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { createContext, useContext, useState, ReactNode, useCallback } from "react";
+import { createContext, useContext, useState, ReactNode, useCallback, useEffect } from "react";
 import { useSpeechmaticsAudio } from "@/hooks/use-speechmatics-audio";
 import { useSession } from "./session-context";
 import { generateMessageId } from "@/types/stream";
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ interface RealtimeProviderProps {
 }
 
 export function RealtimeProvider({ children }: RealtimeProviderProps) {
-  const { ws, audioPlayer, isPlayingAudio, setMessages } = useSession();
+  const { ws, audioPlayer, isPlayingAudio, setMessages, setVoiceDetectionFlags } = useSession();
   const [isRealtimeMode, setIsRealtimeMode] = useState(false);
 
   const realtimeAudio = useSpeechmaticsAudio({
@@ -82,6 +82,11 @@ export function RealtimeProvider({ children }: RealtimeProviderProps) {
     detectionGracePeriod: 200,
   });
 
+  // Update voice detection flags whenever they change
+  useEffect(() => {
+    setVoiceDetectionFlags(realtimeAudio.isDetecting, realtimeAudio.isSpeaking);
+  }, [realtimeAudio.isDetecting, realtimeAudio.isSpeaking, setVoiceDetectionFlags]);
+
   const startRealtime = useCallback(async () => {
     try {
       await realtimeAudio.start();
diff --git a/packages/app/src/contexts/session-context.tsx b/packages/app/src/contexts/session-context.tsx
index c8e1941a5..aa14d3f6d 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/contexts/session-context.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/contexts/session-context.tsx
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ interface SessionContextValue {
   audioPlayer: ReturnType<typeof useAudioPlayer>;
   isPlayingAudio: boolean;
   setIsPlayingAudio: (playing: boolean) => void;
+  
+  // Voice detection flags (updated by RealtimeContext)
+  setVoiceDetectionFlags: (isDetecting: boolean, isSpeaking: boolean) => void;
 
   // Messages and stream state
   messages: MessageEntry[];
@@ -133,7 +136,15 @@ interface SessionProviderProps {
 
 export function SessionProvider({ children, serverUrl }: SessionProviderProps) {
   const ws = useWebSocket(serverUrl);
-  const audioPlayer = useAudioPlayer();
+  
+  // State for voice detection flags (will be set by RealtimeContext)
+  const isDetectingRef = useRef(false);
+  const isSpeakingRef = useRef(false);
+  
+  const audioPlayer = useAudioPlayer({
+    isDetecting: () => isDetectingRef.current,
+    isSpeaking: () => isSpeakingRef.current,
+  });
 
   const [isPlayingAudio, setIsPlayingAudio] = useState(false);
   const [messages, setMessages] = useState<MessageEntry[]>([]);
@@ -250,6 +261,20 @@ export function SessionProvider({ children, serverUrl }: SessionProviderProps) {
       }));
     });
 
+    // Permission resolved - remove from pending
+    const unsubPermissionResolved = ws.on("agent_permission_resolved", (message) => {
+      if (message.type !== "agent_permission_resolved") return;
+      const { requestId, agentId, optionId } = message.payload;
+
+      console.log("[Session] Permission resolved:", requestId, "for agent:", agentId, "with option:", optionId);
+
+      setPendingPermissions((prev) => {
+        const next = new Map(prev);
+        next.delete(requestId);
+        return next;
+      });
+    });
+
     // Audio output
     const unsubAudioOutput = ws.on("audio_output", async (message) => {
       if (message.type !== "audio_output") return;
@@ -458,6 +483,7 @@ export function SessionProvider({ children, serverUrl }: SessionProviderProps) {
       unsubAgentStatus();
       unsubAgentUpdate();
       unsubPermissionRequest();
+      unsubPermissionResolved();
       unsubAudioOutput();
       unsubActivity();
       unsubChunk();
@@ -581,19 +607,21 @@ export function SessionProvider({ children, serverUrl }: SessionProviderProps) {
     };
     ws.send(msg);
 
-    // Remove from pending
-    setPendingPermissions((prev) => {
-      const next = new Map(prev);
-      next.delete(requestId);
-      return next;
-    });
+    // Don't remove from pending here - wait for server confirmation via agent_permission_resolved
+    // This ensures UI stays in sync whether permission is accepted via UI or MCP
   }, [ws]);
 
+  const setVoiceDetectionFlags = useCallback((isDetecting: boolean, isSpeaking: boolean) => {
+    isDetectingRef.current = isDetecting;
+    isSpeakingRef.current = isSpeaking;
+  }, []);
+
   const value: SessionContextValue = {
     ws,
     audioPlayer,
     isPlayingAudio,
     setIsPlayingAudio,
+    setVoiceDetectionFlags,
     messages,
     setMessages,
     currentAssistantMessage,
diff --git a/packages/app/src/hooks/use-audio-player.ts b/packages/app/src/hooks/use-audio-player.ts
index 5e7be1f98..5775cd604 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/hooks/use-audio-player.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/hooks/use-audio-player.ts
@@ -42,18 +42,40 @@ function resamplePcm24kTo16k(pcm24k: Uint8Array): Uint8Array {
   return pcm16k;
 }
 
+export interface AudioPlayerOptions {
+  isDetecting?: () => boolean;
+  isSpeaking?: () => boolean;
+}
+
 /**
  * Hook for audio playback using Speechmatics two-way audio with echo cancellation
  */
-export function useAudioPlayer() {
+export function useAudioPlayer(options?: AudioPlayerOptions) {
   const [isPlaying, setIsPlaying] = useState(false);
   const [audioInitialized, setAudioInitialized] = useState(false);
   const queueRef = useRef<QueuedAudio[]>([]);
+  const suppressedQueueRef = useRef<QueuedAudio[]>([]);
   const isProcessingQueueRef = useRef(false);
   const playbackTimeoutRef = useRef<number | null>(null);
+  const checkIntervalRef = useRef<number | null>(null);
 
   async function play(audioData: Blob): Promise<number> {
     return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+      // Check if we should suppress playback due to voice detection/speaking
+      const shouldSuppress = 
+        (options?.isDetecting && options.isDetecting()) ||
+        (options?.isSpeaking && options.isSpeaking());
+
+      if (shouldSuppress) {
+        console.log("[AudioPlayer] Suppressing playback - voice detection/speaking active");
+        // Add to suppressed queue instead
+        suppressedQueueRef.current.push({ audioData, resolve, reject });
+        
+        // Start checking for when flags clear
+        startCheckingForClearFlags();
+        return;
+      }
+
       // Add to queue with its promise handlers
       queueRef.current.push({ audioData, resolve, reject });
 
@@ -64,6 +86,49 @@ export function useAudioPlayer() {
     });
   }
 
+  function startCheckingForClearFlags(): void {
+    // Already checking
+    if (checkIntervalRef.current !== null) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    console.log("[AudioPlayer] Starting to check for clear flags");
+    
+    checkIntervalRef.current = setInterval(() => {
+      const isStillBlocked = 
+        (options?.isDetecting && options.isDetecting()) ||
+        (options?.isSpeaking && options.isSpeaking());
+
+      if (!isStillBlocked && suppressedQueueRef.current.length > 0) {
+        console.log("[AudioPlayer] Flags cleared - moving suppressed queue to main queue");
+        
+        // Move all suppressed items to main queue
+        const suppressedItems = [...suppressedQueueRef.current];
+        suppressedQueueRef.current = [];
+        
+        // Add to front of main queue (they were waiting)
+        queueRef.current = [...suppressedItems, ...queueRef.current];
+        
+        // Stop checking
+        if (checkIntervalRef.current !== null) {
+          clearInterval(checkIntervalRef.current);
+          checkIntervalRef.current = null;
+        }
+        
+        // Start processing if not already
+        if (!isProcessingQueueRef.current) {
+          processQueue();
+        }
+      } else if (!isStillBlocked && suppressedQueueRef.current.length === 0) {
+        // No more suppressed items and flags are clear - stop checking
+        if (checkIntervalRef.current !== null) {
+          clearInterval(checkIntervalRef.current);
+          checkIntervalRef.current = null;
+        }
+      }
+    }, 100); // Check every 100ms
+  }
+
   async function processQueue(): Promise<void> {
     if (isProcessingQueueRef.current || queueRef.current.length === 0) {
       return;
@@ -72,6 +137,20 @@ export function useAudioPlayer() {
     isProcessingQueueRef.current = true;
 
     while (queueRef.current.length > 0) {
+      // Before processing each item, check if flags became active
+      const shouldSuppress = 
+        (options?.isDetecting && options.isDetecting()) ||
+        (options?.isSpeaking && options.isSpeaking());
+
+      if (shouldSuppress) {
+        console.log("[AudioPlayer] Flags became active during processing - moving remaining queue to suppressed");
+        // Move remaining queue to suppressed
+        suppressedQueueRef.current = [...queueRef.current, ...suppressedQueueRef.current];
+        queueRef.current = [];
+        startCheckingForClearFlags();
+        break;
+      }
+
       const item = queueRef.current.shift()!;
       try {
         const duration = await playAudio(item.audioData);
@@ -188,21 +267,45 @@ export function useAudioPlayer() {
 
     setIsPlaying(false);
 
-    // Reject all pending promises in the queue
+    // Reject all pending promises in the main queue
     while (queueRef.current.length > 0) {
       const item = queueRef.current.shift()!;
       item.reject(new Error("Playback stopped"));
     }
 
+    // Reject all pending promises in the suppressed queue
+    while (suppressedQueueRef.current.length > 0) {
+      const item = suppressedQueueRef.current.shift()!;
+      item.reject(new Error("Playback stopped"));
+    }
+
+    // Clear check interval
+    if (checkIntervalRef.current !== null) {
+      clearInterval(checkIntervalRef.current);
+      checkIntervalRef.current = null;
+    }
+
     isProcessingQueueRef.current = false;
   }
 
   function clearQueue(): void {
-    // Reject all pending promises in the queue
+    // Reject all pending promises in the main queue
     while (queueRef.current.length > 0) {
       const item = queueRef.current.shift()!;
       item.reject(new Error("Queue cleared"));
     }
+
+    // Reject all pending promises in the suppressed queue
+    while (suppressedQueueRef.current.length > 0) {
+      const item = suppressedQueueRef.current.shift()!;
+      item.reject(new Error("Queue cleared"));
+    }
+
+    // Clear check interval
+    if (checkIntervalRef.current !== null) {
+      clearInterval(checkIntervalRef.current);
+      checkIntervalRef.current = null;
+    }
   }
 
   return {