A 'podcast' is (or was!) a media file located at the 'url' of an RSS feed item 'enclosure'.
When a podcasting downloading application (aka:'podcatcher') 'subscribes' to the RSS feed, it gets notified (actually via a 'pull' or 'ping') that a new latest item is available. The application then automatically downloads the media file and places it in a playlist in your media player for offline use.
At least that's how it always used to be when we started building these things years ago. ;)
When a podcasting downloading application (aka:'podcatcher') 'subscribes' to the RSS feed, it gets notified (actually via a 'pull' or 'ping') that a new latest item is available. The application then automatically downloads the media file and places it in a playlist in your media player for offline use.
At least that's how it always used to be when we started building these things years ago. ;)
Hope this helps.