diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 3c343a5..99d34e1 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ services:
       - ./configs:/configs
       - /dev:/dev
       - ./op25-container/app:/app
+      - pulse_socket:/run/pulse
     depends_on:
       - icecast
 
@@ -29,6 +30,12 @@ services:
       - ./configs:/configs
       - ./recordings:/recordings
       - ./drb-edge-node/app:/app/app
+      - pulse_socket:/run/pulse
+    environment:
+      PULSE_SERVER: unix:/run/pulse/native
     depends_on:
       - icecast
       - op25
+
+volumes:
+  pulse_socket:
diff --git a/drb-edge-node/app/internal/discord_radio.py b/drb-edge-node/app/internal/discord_radio.py
index 15530e5..ca17cf5 100644
--- a/drb-edge-node/app/internal/discord_radio.py
+++ b/drb-edge-node/app/internal/discord_radio.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import asyncio
 from typing import Optional
 import discord
 from discord.ext import commands
-from app.config import settings
 from app.internal.logger import logger
 
 BOT_READY_TIMEOUT = 15   # seconds to wait for Discord bot to become ready
@@ -18,9 +17,6 @@ class RadioBot:
         self._watchdog_task: Optional[asyncio.Task] = None
         self._ready_event: Optional[asyncio.Event] = None
         self._current_token: Optional[str] = None
-        self._icecast_url = (
-            f"http://{settings.icecast_host}:{settings.icecast_port}{settings.icecast_mount}"
-        )
 
         # Remembered so we can rejoin after an unexpected disconnect
         self._guild_id: Optional[int] = None
@@ -114,9 +110,11 @@ class RadioBot:
     def _play_stream(self):
         if not self._voice_client:
             return
+        # Read directly from PulseAudio monitor (zero-delay, no Icecast buffer).
+        # PULSE_SERVER is set in the container environment to the shared socket.
         source = discord.FFmpegPCMAudio(
-            self._icecast_url,
-            before_options="-reconnect 1 -reconnect_streamed 1 -reconnect_delay_max 5",
+            "default.monitor",
+            before_options="-f pulse",
         )
         self._voice_client.play(
             discord.PCMVolumeTransformer(source, volume=1.0),
diff --git a/drb-edge-node/app/internal/mqtt_manager.py b/drb-edge-node/app/internal/mqtt_manager.py
index a3d0a24..941eeb1 100644
--- a/drb-edge-node/app/internal/mqtt_manager.py
+++ b/drb-edge-node/app/internal/mqtt_manager.py
@@ -141,11 +141,13 @@ class MQTTManager:
             self._publish(self._t_key_request, {}, qos=1)
 
     async def _publish_checkin(self):
+        from app.internal.discord_radio import radio_bot
         payload = {
             "node_id": settings.node_id,
             "name": settings.node_name,
             "lat": settings.node_lat,
             "lon": settings.node_lon,
+            "discord_connected": radio_bot.is_connected,
             "timestamp": datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat(),
         }
         self._publish(self._t_checkin, payload, qos=1)