How do I download podcasts in 2024?

May 29, 2024 7:14 AM

I'm running macOS Ventura. All I want is to download the complete run of a podcast in MP3 format with as few clicks as possible, and save the episodes to my hard drive with human-readable, alphabetized file names and complete ID3 tags so I can put them into a playlist with Apple Music and then load them onto my 2009-vintage 5th-generation iPod Nano, which I can then listen to in my 2008 Toyota via the AUX jack.

I used to be able to do this, but ever since I had to replace my trusty old iMac with a 2023 Mac Mini (and Apple destroyed iTunes and replaced it with Music and Podcasts) the functionality has been broken. I don't want to individually download, rename, and edit the tags for 100+ episodes just to listen to a show. Getting my phone involved or streaming audio in my car is not an acceptable option. I want downloaded and organized audio only. Help!

posted by Faint of Butt to Technology (5 answers total)

If they're on Libsyn, you could try this script. Otherwise, there seem to be a few tools that can be found by searching for "rss podcast downloader" - basically, you'll want to do this outside of Apple Music, and go directly to the source.
posted by sagc at 7:50 AM on May 29 [1 favorite]

I've found podbean to be the place to find podcasts and download episodes as .mp3 - each episode is a tuthree clicks but proportionately small effort for 30-40-50m edutainment.
posted by BobTheScientist at 8:48 AM on May 29

Best answer: I do this with Doughnut, which is very user-friendly as well as being free/open source. I don't really use the player (although it seems fine), I mostly just use it to get organized folders of archivable mp3s. You do need to find the podcast feeds yourself, but assuming you have a list of podcasts and access to the web that part is pretty trivial.
posted by bcwinters at 8:50 AM on May 29 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Doughnut seems to work! Thanks, bcwinters!
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:21 PM on May 29

r/DataHoarder likes gpodder.
posted by flabdablet at 8:35 AM on May 30 [1 favorite]