podsnort is a python script that automates the downloading of podcasts.
Put the binary somewhere in your path and then run it. It will automatically create a .podsnort directory in your home directory, and create a feeds file with a single default feed, which it will then download. You can add further podcast feeds to this file (one per line).
Downloaded podcasts will be placed in $HOME/.podsnort/downloads/
Running podsnort with the '-c' option will catch-up on all feeds, marking all podcasts as read without actually downloading any of them. Handy if you've been away for a while and don't want to suck down ten gigabytes worth of audio that you'll never listen to. '-j' will download only the most recent podcast in each feed.