Downloading Protected Podcast Episode

Overview

For example, the Alan Watts podcast does this thing that prevents the Apple Podcast App from playing the episodes. If you attempt to load the mp3 of an episode directly in a browser, a redirect happens that leads to the mp3 host's homepage.

Process

Retrieve the mp3 url

• Go to the podcast page on Apple podcasts, e.g. Alan Watts podcast.
  • Alternatively, go to the feed in a feed reader and copy the link to the episode there.
  • An advantage to using a feed reader is that "muted" episodes can still be accessed.
  • N.B. URLs using "http" protocol may not work. If the URL in the feed is using "http://" and the mp3 fails to download, manually adjust the URL to use "https://".
• Play the episode.
• Open Chrome developer tools.
• Network tab.
  • Search for "mp3"
  • Click on the matching mp3 resource.
  • In the Headers tab on the right, copy the Request URL value.

Download the mp3

• Open command line prompt.
• curl https://host.com/podcast-episode.mp3 --output destination.mp3