diff --git a/homeassistant/components/cast/media_player.py b/homeassistant/components/cast/media_player.py
index e966e98c3f1..6cca4cfa20b 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/cast/media_player.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/cast/media_player.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import asyncio
 from contextlib import suppress
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
-import functools as ft
 import json
 import logging
 from urllib.parse import quote
@@ -461,33 +460,10 @@ class CastDevice(MediaPlayerEntity):
         media_controller = self._media_controller()
         media_controller.seek(position)
 
-    async def async_browse_media(self, media_content_type=None, media_content_id=None):
-        """Implement the websocket media browsing helper."""
-        kwargs = {}
+    async def _async_root_payload(self, content_filter):
+        """Generate root node."""
         children = []
-
-        if self._chromecast.cast_type == pychromecast.const.CAST_TYPE_AUDIO:
-            kwargs["content_filter"] = lambda item: item.media_content_type.startswith(
-                "audio/"
-            )
-
-        if media_content_id is not None:
-            if plex.is_plex_media_id(media_content_id):
-                return await plex.async_browse_media(
-                    self.hass,
-                    media_content_type,
-                    media_content_id,
-                    platform=CAST_DOMAIN,
-                )
-            return await media_source.async_browse_media(
-                self.hass, media_content_id, **kwargs
-            )
-
-        if media_content_type == "plex":
-            return await plex.async_browse_media(
-                self.hass, None, None, platform=CAST_DOMAIN
-            )
-
+        # Add external sources
         if "plex" in self.hass.config.components:
             children.append(
                 BrowseMedia(
@@ -501,15 +477,17 @@ class CastDevice(MediaPlayerEntity):
                 )
             )
 
+        # Add local media source
         try:
             result = await media_source.async_browse_media(
-                self.hass, media_content_id, **kwargs
+                self.hass, None, content_filter=content_filter
             )
             children.append(result)
         except BrowseError:
             if not children:
                 raise
 
+        # If there's only one media source, resolve it
         if len(children) == 1:
             return await self.async_browse_media(
                 children[0].media_content_type,
@@ -526,6 +504,34 @@ class CastDevice(MediaPlayerEntity):
             children=children,
         )
 
+    async def async_browse_media(self, media_content_type=None, media_content_id=None):
+        """Implement the websocket media browsing helper."""
+        content_filter = None
+
+        if self._chromecast.cast_type == pychromecast.const.CAST_TYPE_AUDIO:
+
+            def audio_content_filter(item):
+                """Filter non audio content."""
+                return item.media_content_type.startswith("audio/")
+
+            content_filter = audio_content_filter
+
+        if media_content_id is None:
+            return await self._async_root_payload(content_filter)
+
+        if plex.is_plex_media_id(media_content_id):
+            return await plex.async_browse_media(
+                self.hass, media_content_type, media_content_id, platform=CAST_DOMAIN
+            )
+        if media_content_type == "plex":
+            return await plex.async_browse_media(
+                self.hass, None, None, platform=CAST_DOMAIN
+            )
+
+        return await media_source.async_browse_media(
+            self.hass, media_content_id, content_filter=content_filter
+        )
+
     async def async_play_media(self, media_type, media_id, **kwargs):
         """Play a piece of media."""
         # Handle media_source
@@ -547,12 +553,6 @@ class CastDevice(MediaPlayerEntity):
             hass_url = get_url(self.hass, prefer_external=True)
             media_id = f"{hass_url}{media_id}"
 
-        await self.hass.async_add_executor_job(
-            ft.partial(self.play_media, media_type, media_id, **kwargs)
-        )
-
-    def play_media(self, media_type, media_id, **kwargs):
-        """Play media from a URL."""
         extra = kwargs.get(ATTR_MEDIA_EXTRA, {})
         metadata = extra.get("metadata")
 
@@ -571,7 +571,9 @@ class CastDevice(MediaPlayerEntity):
             if "app_id" in app_data:
                 app_id = app_data.pop("app_id")
                 _LOGGER.info("Starting Cast app by ID %s", app_id)
-                self._chromecast.start_app(app_id)
+                await self.hass.async_add_executor_job(
+                    self._chromecast.start_app, app_id
+                )
                 if app_data:
                     _LOGGER.warning(
                         "Extra keys %s were ignored. Please use app_name to cast media",
@@ -581,21 +583,28 @@ class CastDevice(MediaPlayerEntity):
 
             app_name = app_data.pop("app_name")
             try:
-                quick_play(self._chromecast, app_name, app_data)
+                await self.hass.async_add_executor_job(
+                    quick_play, self._chromecast, app_name, app_data
+                )
             except NotImplementedError:
                 _LOGGER.error("App %s not supported", app_name)
+
         # Handle plex
         elif media_id and media_id.startswith(PLEX_URI_SCHEME):
             media_id = media_id[len(PLEX_URI_SCHEME) :]
-            media = lookup_plex_media(self.hass, media_type, media_id)
+            media = await self.hass.async_add_executor_job(
+                lookup_plex_media, self.hass, media_type, media_id
+            )
             if media is None:
                 return
             controller = PlexController()
             self._chromecast.register_handler(controller)
-            controller.play_media(media)
+            await self.hass.async_add_executor_job(controller.play_media, media)
         else:
             app_data = {"media_id": media_id, "media_type": media_type, **extra}
-            quick_play(self._chromecast, "default_media_receiver", app_data)
+            await self.hass.async_add_executor_job(
+                quick_play, self._chromecast, "default_media_receiver", app_data
+            )
 
     def _media_status(self):
         """