[criddell]

Some podcast companies are inserting user targeted ads into the file.

[tehwebguy]

At the point of download?

[kalleboo]

Yes.

Stuff like this https://podads.podbean.com

[criddell]

When 37Signals found out their podcast host was doing listener tracking they dumped them and put out a podcast about it:

https://podbay.fm/podcast/1264193508/e/1572350400