[ourcat]

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. ;)

Hope this helps.

[ourcat]

The term has been somewhat evolved to mean an 'episodic' series of media files (audio or video). Which is why so many places call them a podcast now.

Rather like when people online post a big blurb of text anywhere and just call it a 'blog'. it diminishes the true meaning of the term.