Table of Contents

- Table of Contents -

Podcast Downloader: A Simple, Open-Source RSS Podcast Fetcher

Key Features

Usage

Conclusion

Podcast Downloader: A Simple, Open-Source RSS Podcast Fetcher

Jan. 27, 2025

Tired of being constantly nudged toward "more relevant content", I built a script to break free from commercial or closed-source podcast apps. I just wanted a tool that quietly grabs my favorite shows—no fuss, no tracking, no extras. Read this post to learn more; it's free/libre software under GPLv3.

Left: Apple Podcasts, Right: Apple iBooks—both screens dedicate around half the interface to content I didn't request

Modern apps are optimised for engagement, with patterns to keep you tapping into more content you might like - I hate this. They push recommendations, promotions, or what the app developer wants discovered, overshadowing my own library and nudging me away from my original choices.

So I wrote podcast-downloader, a small Bash script under the GPLv3 license. It uses common GNU/Linux utilities to fetch podcasts from an RSS feed and optionally tag metadata.

Key Features

RSS-based: Provide any valid RSS feed URL; the script downloads audio files specified in enclosure-tags.

Simple Usage: Just run one command; no extra packages needed (optional id3v2 for tagging).

Cron-Friendly: Perfect for adding to your crontab—automated daily or weekly downloads.

Open-Source: Available as free software under GPLv3. Fork it, modify it, and share improvements.

Usage

You can find the code, full instructions, and more details here: https://source.willem.com/podcast-downloader/ In a nutshell:

Download the script from https://source.willem.com/podcast-downloader/podcast-downloader.sh

Make it executable: chmod +x podcast-downloader.sh

Specify your feed, download directory, and optional album name: ./podcast-downloader.sh -u "https://example.com/podcast.rss" -d "/path/to/download" -a "My Podcast Album"

Schedule in crontab if you want regular downloads.

Conclusion

Enjoy an ad-free, suggestion-free, and completely free-as-in-freedom podcast experience! Feedback and contributions are welcome.

Downloaded podcasts on my A&K audio player—modern Apple nudges ironically sent me back to the old iPod-like design (o sweet irony)