How can I fix audio and intermittent internet on a 2017 MacBook Pro running Linux?

First, check the exact MacBook Pro model identifier and whether it has a T2 chip. The T2Linux project has hardware-specific guidance and kernel patches, but don't assume its T2 instructions apply to a 2017 model without checking.

Look for instructions for the actual audio hardware and your current distro before installing another custom kernel or driver. A package meant for a different model or kernel could make troubleshooting harder.

I'd separate the two problems for now. Note exactly which driver you installed and how, then check whether Wi-Fi works again after removing it using that project's removal instructions. That would help narrow down whether the install is related to the network problem, though it won't prove the cause on its own.

Before changing anything, save a copy of the installation instructions and any error messages somewhere you can reach without internet.

Post the exact model identifier, distro version, kernel version and any errors from a boot where the internet fails. For audio, say whether headphones and internal speakers both fail, and whether an output device appears in the sound settings. Those details should make it easier to tell if this is a missing device, a driver issue or just the wrong output selected.

Switching to a lightweight distro is worth considering for performance, but it isn't necessarily a fix for the audio hardware. Since the problem has followed you across different distros, I'd focus on model-specific support rather than keep swapping desktops.