Removing or inactivating Podcast app on Catalina

For a while I have been experiencing issues with unwanted background activation of the Podcast application on my Mac mini running Catalina. I realize that the app is "on" when the Mac suddenly slows down and RAM issues start. The app is not displayed as open in the Dock but I can see it as running when I open the Force Quit window. Once I click Force Quit the Mac goes back to normal. It happens with no apparent reason, sometimes after boot up, and at other times while browsing, once every week, and not apparently induced by sort clicking some "podcast-associated" link/web. Ive never used the app so it has no podcasts listed.