diff --git a/hugvey/client.py b/hugvey/client.py
index 3b5a6ef..fb3ce96 100644
--- a/hugvey/client.py
+++ b/hugvey/client.py
@@ -158,9 +158,9 @@ class VoiceServer(object):
                 in_data, 2, 1, self.input_rate, self.target_rate, self.laststate)
 
         try:
-            if self.hugvey.cmd_server.playPopen is not None:
+            if self.hugvey.cmd_server.muteMic:
                 logger.debug('block recording {}' .format(
-                    self.hugvey.cmd_server.playPopen))
+                    self.hugvey.cmd_server.muteMic))
                 
                 # if recording is blocked, store the latest n frames. So we can release
                 # this buffer to the mic stream
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ class VoiceServer(object):
                 logger.info('used buffer, len now {}'.format(len(f)))
                 
 
-            self.loop.call_soon_threadsafe(self.voice_socket.send, f)
+            self.loop.call_soon_threadsafe(self.voice_socket.send, f) 
         except Exception as e:
             logger.warn("Error sending to {}".format(e))
             pass
@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@ class CommandHandler(object):
         self.hugvey_id = hugvey_id
         self.cmd_address = cmd_address
         self.publish_address = publish_address
+        self.muteMic = False
         self.playPopen = None
         self.file_address = file_address
         self.playingMsgId = None
@@ -272,12 +273,16 @@ class CommandHandler(object):
         logger.info("Received {}".format(cmd))
         if cmd['action'] == 'show_yourself':
             self.showMyself()
+        if cmd['action'] == 'prepare':
+            self.muteMic = True
         if cmd['action'] == 'play':
             self.cmdPlay(cmd)
         if cmd['action'] == 'stop':
             self.cmdPlay(cmd, cmd['id'])
 
     def cmdPlay(self, cmd):
+        self.muteMic = True
+        
         msgId = cmd['id']
         pitch = cmd['pitch'] if 'pitch' in cmd else 50
         file = cmd['file'] if 'file' in cmd else None
@@ -308,7 +313,10 @@ class CommandHandler(object):
                 logger.debug(playCmd)
                 self.playPopen = subprocess.Popen(
                     playCmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, env=environment_vars)
-                
+                self.sendMessage({
+                    'event': 'playbackStart',
+                    'msgId': msgId
+                })
                 returnCode = self.playPopen.wait()
                 logger.debug('finished')
                 self.playPopen = None
@@ -326,6 +334,7 @@ class CommandHandler(object):
                     "Finished playback. Return code: {}".format(returnCode))
 
         self.playingMsgId = None
+        self.muteMic = False
         self.sendMessage({
             'event': 'playbackFinish',
             'msgId': msgId
diff --git a/hugvey/speech/google.py b/hugvey/speech/google.py
index 62dede9..f976fee 100644
--- a/hugvey/speech/google.py
+++ b/hugvey/speech/google.py
@@ -190,7 +190,8 @@ class GoogleVoiceClient(object):
                 self.logger.info("Pause muted stream!")
                 self.pause()
             return
-
+        
+        self.subsequentMutedFrames = 0
 #         self.logger.debug("We have mic!")
         if not self.isRunning.is_set():
             self.logger.info("Resume voice")
diff --git a/hugvey/story.py b/hugvey/story.py
index 64c5451..c0fa675 100644
--- a/hugvey/story.py
+++ b/hugvey/story.py
@@ -745,7 +745,14 @@ class Story(object):
                 # that is, until we have a 'reset' or 'start' event.
                 # reinitiate current message
                 await self.setCurrentMessage(self.currentMessage)
-
+                
+            if e['event'] == "playbackStart":
+                if e['msgId'] != self.currentMessage.id:
+                    continue
+                self.lastMsgStartTime = self.timer.getElapsed()
+                self.logger.debug("Start playback")
+                
+                    
             if e['event'] == "playbackFinish":
                 if e['msgId'] == self.currentMessage.id:
                     #TODO: migrate value to Messagage instead of Story
@@ -771,6 +778,16 @@ class Story(object):
                 # participants speaks, reset counter
                 self.stats['consecutiveSilentTimeouts'] = 0
                 
+#                 if self.currentMessage and not self.lastMsgStartTime:
+                if self.currentMessage and not self.lastMsgFinishTime:
+                    # Ignore incoming speech events until we receive a 'playbackStart' event.
+                    # After that moment the mic will be muted, so nothing should come in _anyway_
+                    # unless google is really slow on us. But by taking the start time we don't ignore
+                    # messages that come in, in the case google is faster than our playbackFinish event.
+                    # (if this setup doesn't work, try to test on self.lastMsgFinish time anyway)
+                    # it keeps tricky with all these run conditions
+                    continue
+                
 #                 message is still playing:
                 if self.currentMessage and not self.lastMsgFinishTime and self.previousReply and self.previousReply.forMessage.interruptCount < 4:
                     timeDiff = self.timer.getElapsed() - self.previousReply.forMessage.getFinishedTime()
@@ -883,10 +900,18 @@ class Story(object):
         self.currentMessage = message
         self.lastMsgTime = time.time()
         self.lastMsgFinishTime = None  # to be filled in by the event
+        self.lastMsgStartTime = None  # to be filled in by the event
         
 #         if not reset:
         self.previousReply = self.currentReply # we can use this for interrptions
         self.currentReply = useReply #self.currentMessage.reply
+        
+        # send command to already mute mic
+        self.hugvey.sendCommand({
+            'action': 'prepare',
+            'id': message.id
+        })
+        
 #         else:
 #             # if we press 'save & play', it should not remember it's last reply to that msg
 #             self.previousReply = self.currentReply # we can use this for interrptions
@@ -901,6 +926,7 @@ class Story(object):
         
         # TODO: prep events & timer etc.
         fn = await message.getAudioFilePath()
+#         self.hugvey.google.pause() # pause STT to avoid text events while decision is made
         self.hugvey.sendCommand({
             'action': 'play',
             'file': fn,