diff --git a/fastlane/Fastfile b/fastlane/Fastfile
index b74dd9d5e88..d5ad76d2393 100644
--- a/fastlane/Fastfile
+++ b/fastlane/Fastfile
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ SUPPORTED_LOCALES = [
 Dotenv.load(USER_ENV_FILE_PATH)
 DEFAULT_BRANCH = 'main'
 ENV['SUPPLY_UPLOAD_MAX_RETRIES'] = '5'
-GH_REPOSITORY = 'automattic/pocket-casts-android'
+GITHUB_REPO = 'automattic/pocket-casts-android'
 APPS_APP = 'app'
 APPS_AUTOMOTIVE = 'automotive'
 APPS_WEAR = 'wear'
@@ -144,12 +144,12 @@ platform :android do
     # We cannot use the `copy_branch_protection` action here as it would create a branch protection rule with the same
     # restrictions we have in `main`, and the release managers wouldn't be able to push due to permissions.
     # This should be changed only when we have PC Android releases done on CI, when the CI bot is the one running `git push`.
-    set_branch_protection(repository: GH_REPOSITORY, branch: "release/#{new_version}")
+    set_branch_protection(repository: GITHUB_REPO, branch: "release/#{new_version}")
 
     begin
       # Move PRs to next milestone
       moved_prs = update_assigned_milestone(
-        repository: GH_REPOSITORY,
+        repository: GITHUB_REPO,
         from_milestone: new_version,
         to_milestone: release_version_next,
         comment: "Version `#{new_version}` has now entered code-freeze, so the milestone of this PR has been updated to `#{release_version_next}`."
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ platform :android do
 
       # Add ❄️ marker to milestone title to indicate we entered code-freeze
       set_milestone_frozen_marker(
-        repository: GH_REPOSITORY,
+        repository: GITHUB_REPO,
         milestone: new_version
       )
     rescue StandardError => e
@@ -290,75 +290,6 @@ platform :android do
     create_backmerge_pr
   end
 
-  # @param branch_to_build [String] The branch to build. Defaults to the current git branch.
-  #
-  lane :trigger_release_build do |branch_to_build: git_branch|
-    buildkite_trigger_build(
-      buildkite_organization: 'automattic',
-      buildkite_pipeline: 'pocket-casts-android',
-      branch: branch_to_build,
-      pipeline_file: 'release-builds.yml'
-    )
-  end
-
-  # Builds and uploads a new build to Google Play (without releasing it)
-  #
-  # - Uses the current version to decide if this is a beta or production build
-  # - Builds the apps for external distribution
-  # - Uploads the builds to 'beta' or 'production' Play Store channel (but does not release it)
-  # - Creates draft Github release
-  #
-  # @param skip_confirm [Boolean] If true, avoids any interactive prompt
-  # @param skip_prechecks [Boolean] If true, skips android_build_preflight
-  # @param create_gh_release [Boolean] If true, creates a draft GitHub release
-  #
-  lane :build_and_upload_to_play_store do |skip_prechecks: false, skip_confirm: false, create_gh_release: false|
-    version = version_name_current
-    build_code = build_code_current
-    is_beta = beta_version?(version)
-    unless skip_prechecks
-      # Match branch names that begin with `release/`
-      ensure_git_branch(branch: '^release/') unless is_ci
-
-      UI.important("Building version #{version_name_current} (#{build_code_current}) for upload to Google Play Console")
-      UI.user_error!("Terminating as requested. Don't forget to run the remainder of this automation manually.") unless skip_confirm || UI.confirm('Do you want to continue?')
-
-      # Check local repo status
-      ensure_git_status_clean unless is_ci
-
-      android_build_preflight
-    end
-
-    release_assets = []
-
-    APPS.each do |app|
-      build_bundle(app: app, version: version, build_code: build_code)
-
-      aab_artifact_path = aab_artifact_path(app, version)
-      UI.error("Unable to find a build artifact at #{aab_artifact_path}") unless File.exist? aab_artifact_path
-
-      track = play_store_track(app: app, is_beta: is_beta)
-      upload_to_play_store(
-        **UPLOAD_TO_PLAY_STORE_COMMON_OPTIONS,
-        aab: aab_artifact_path,
-        track: track,
-        release_status: 'draft'
-      )
-      release_assets << aab_artifact_path
-
-      signed_apk_artifact_path = signed_apk_artifact_path(app, version)
-      download_universal_apk_from_google_play(
-        package_name: APP_PACKAGE_NAME,
-        version_code: version_code_for_app(app: app, version_code: build_code),
-        destination: signed_apk_artifact_path,
-        json_key: UPLOAD_TO_PLAY_STORE_JSON_KEY
-      )
-      release_assets << signed_apk_artifact_path
-    end
-
-    create_gh_release(version: version, prerelease: is_beta, release_assets: release_assets.compact) if create_gh_release
-  end
-
   # Update the rollout of all 3 variants (app, automotive, wear) of the current version to the given value
   #
   # @param percent [Float] The rollout percentage, between 0 and 1
@@ -424,16 +355,125 @@ platform :android do
     version = release_version_current
 
     # Wrap up
-    remove_branch_protection(repository: GH_REPOSITORY, branch: "release/#{version}")
-    set_milestone_frozen_marker(repository: GH_REPOSITORY, milestone: version, freeze: false)
-    create_new_milestone(repository: GH_REPOSITORY, need_appstore_submission: true)
-    close_milestone(repository: GH_REPOSITORY, milestone: version)
+    remove_branch_protection(repository: GITHUB_REPO, branch: "release/#{version}")
+    set_milestone_frozen_marker(repository: GITHUB_REPO, milestone: version, freeze: false)
+    create_new_milestone(repository: GITHUB_REPO, need_appstore_submission: true)
+    close_milestone(repository: GITHUB_REPO, milestone: version)
 
     push_to_git_remote(tags: false)
     trigger_release_build(branch_to_build: "release/#{version}")
     create_backmerge_pr
   end
 
+  # This lane publishes a release on GitHub and creates a PR to backmerge the current release branch into the next release/ branch
+  #
+  # @param [Boolean] skip_confirm (default: false) If set, will skip the confirmation prompt before running the rest of the lane
+  #
+  lane :publish_release do |skip_confirm: false|
+    ensure_git_status_clean
+    ensure_git_branch(branch: '^release/')
+
+    version_number = release_version_current
+
+    current_branch = "release/#{version_number}"
+    next_release_branch = "release/#{release_version_next}"
+
+    UI.important <<~PROMPT
+      Publish the #{version_number} release. This will:
+      - Publish the existing draft `#{version_number}` release on GitHub
+      - Which will also have GitHub create the associated git tag, pointing to the tip of the branch
+      - If the release branch for the next version `#{next_release_branch}` already exists, backmerge `#{current_branch}` into it
+      - If needed, backmerge `#{current_branch}` back into `#{DEFAULT_BRANCH}`
+      - Delete the `#{current_branch}` branch
+    PROMPT
+    UI.user_error!("Terminating as requested. Don't forget to run the remainder of this automation manually.") unless skip_confirm || UI.confirm('Do you want to continue?')
+
+    UI.important "Publishing release #{version_number} on GitHub"
+
+    publish_github_release(
+      repository: GITHUB_REPO,
+      name: version_number
+    )
+
+    create_backmerge_pr
+
+    # At this point, an intermediate branch has been created by creating a backmerge PR to a hotfix or the next version release branch.
+    # This allows us to safely delete the `release/*` remote branch.
+    remove_branch_protection(repository: GITHUB_REPO, branch: current_branch)
+    Fastlane::Helper::GitHelper.delete_remote_branch_if_exists!(current_branch)
+    Fastlane::Helper::GitHelper.checkout_and_pull(DEFAULT_BRANCH)
+    Fastlane::Helper::GitHelper.delete_local_branch_if_exists!(current_branch)
+  end
+
+  # @param branch_to_build [String] The branch to build. Defaults to the current git branch.
+  #
+  lane :trigger_release_build do |branch_to_build: git_branch|
+    buildkite_trigger_build(
+      buildkite_organization: 'automattic',
+      buildkite_pipeline: 'pocket-casts-android',
+      branch: branch_to_build,
+      pipeline_file: 'release-builds.yml'
+    )
+  end
+
+  # Builds and uploads a new build to Google Play (without releasing it)
+  #
+  # - Uses the current version to decide if this is a beta or production build
+  # - Builds the apps for external distribution
+  # - Uploads the builds to 'beta' or 'production' Play Store channel (but does not release it)
+  # - Creates draft Github release
+  #
+  # @param skip_confirm [Boolean] If true, avoids any interactive prompt
+  # @param skip_prechecks [Boolean] If true, skips android_build_preflight
+  # @param create_gh_release [Boolean] If true, creates a draft GitHub release
+  #
+  lane :build_and_upload_to_play_store do |skip_prechecks: false, skip_confirm: false, create_gh_release: false|
+    version = version_name_current
+    build_code = build_code_current
+    is_beta = beta_version?(version)
+    unless skip_prechecks
+      # Match branch names that begin with `release/`
+      ensure_git_branch(branch: '^release/') unless is_ci
+
+      UI.important("Building version #{version_name_current} (#{build_code_current}) for upload to Google Play Console")
+      UI.user_error!("Terminating as requested. Don't forget to run the remainder of this automation manually.") unless skip_confirm || UI.confirm('Do you want to continue?')
+
+      # Check local repo status
+      ensure_git_status_clean unless is_ci
+
+      android_build_preflight
+    end
+
+    release_assets = []
+
+    APPS.each do |app|
+      build_bundle(app: app, version: version, build_code: build_code)
+
+      aab_artifact_path = aab_artifact_path(app, version)
+      UI.error("Unable to find a build artifact at #{aab_artifact_path}") unless File.exist? aab_artifact_path
+
+      track = play_store_track(app: app, is_beta: is_beta)
+      upload_to_play_store(
+        **UPLOAD_TO_PLAY_STORE_COMMON_OPTIONS,
+        aab: aab_artifact_path,
+        track: track,
+        release_status: 'draft'
+      )
+      release_assets << aab_artifact_path
+
+      signed_apk_artifact_path = signed_apk_artifact_path(app, version)
+      download_universal_apk_from_google_play(
+        package_name: APP_PACKAGE_NAME,
+        version_code: version_code_for_app(app: app, version_code: build_code),
+        destination: signed_apk_artifact_path,
+        json_key: UPLOAD_TO_PLAY_STORE_JSON_KEY
+      )
+      release_assets << signed_apk_artifact_path
+    end
+
+    create_gh_release(version: version, prerelease: is_beta, release_assets: release_assets.compact) if create_gh_release
+  end
+
   # Builds and bundles the given app
   #
   # @param version [String] The version to create
@@ -572,7 +612,7 @@ platform :android do
   #
   private_lane :create_gh_release do |version:, prerelease: false, release_assets: []|
     create_github_release(
-      repository: GH_REPOSITORY,
+      repository: GITHUB_REPO,
       version: version,
       release_notes_file_path: EXTRACTED_RELEASE_NOTES_PATH,
       prerelease: prerelease,
@@ -583,7 +623,7 @@ platform :android do
 
   lane :create_backmerge_pr do |version: release_version_current|
     create_release_backmerge_pull_request(
-      repository: GH_REPOSITORY,
+      repository: GITHUB_REPO,
       source_branch: "release/#{version}",
       default_branch: DEFAULT_BRANCH,
       labels: ['Releases'],