Can't get podcasts to download

Question

I'm having a horrible time getting podcasts to download (from ESPN and NPR publishers). They'll get about 1/4 of the way through and then just stop. I did a speed test and can download at 35 mbs/sec. itunes diagnostics said I passed all network connectivity tests (details below). This is driving me nuts. Please help.
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (Build 2600)
Dell Inc. Inspiron 9300
iTunes 10.0.1.22
QuickTime 7.6.8
FairPlay 1.9.16
Apple Application Support 1.3.2
iPod Updater Library 10.0d2
CD Driver 2.2.0.1
CD Driver DLL 2.1.1.1
Apple Mobile Device 3.2.0.47
Apple Mobile Device Driver 1.49.0.0
Bonjour 2.0.3.0 (214.3)
Gracenote SDK 1.7.1.420
Gracenote MusicID 1.7.1.78
Gracenote Submit 1.7.1.106
iTunes Serial Number 3CF6C60650974FDB
Current user is an administrator.
The current local date and time is 2010-11-09 22:06:25.
iTunes is not running in safe mode.
WebKit accelerated compositing is enabled.
HDCP is not supported.
Video Display Information
NVIDIA GeForce Go 6800
** External Plug-ins Information **
No external plug-ins installed.
iPodService 10.0.1.22 is currently running.
iTunesHelper 10.0.1.22 is currently running.
Apple Mobile Device service 3.2.0.0 is currently running.
** Network Connectivity Tests **
Network Adapter Information
Adapter Name: {19C3708F-FE35-4449-8910-F31C128CA70E}
Description: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Network Connection - Packet Scheduler Miniport
IP Address: 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1
DHCP Enabled: Yes
DHCP Server: 192.168.0.1
Lease Obtained: Tue Nov 09 21:34:14 2010
Lease Expires: Wed Nov 10 17:50:54 2010
DNS Servers: 192.168.0.1
Adapter Name: {6C5DEECD-0C1E-4679-9568-4E16B0AF93F9}
Description: Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller - Packet Scheduler Miniport
IP Address: 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask: 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway:
DHCP Enabled: Yes
DHCP Server: 140.142.5.93
Lease Obtained: Sun Oct 24 19:21:02 2010
Lease Expires: Sun Oct 24 20:21:02 2010
DNS Servers:
Adapter Name: {FDDE073B-EECF-4F2D-8B04-01EA5EC70D3C}
Description: Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
IP Address: 0.0.0.0
Subnet Mask: 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway:
DHCP Enabled: Yes
DHCP Server:
Lease Obtained: Sun Oct 24 20:21:02 2010
Lease Expires: Sun Oct 24 20:21:02 2010
DNS Servers:
Active Connection: LAN Connection
Connected: Yes
Online: Yes
Using Modem: No
Using LAN: Yes
Using Proxy: No
SSL 3.0 Support: Enabled
TLS 1.0 Support: Enabled
Firewall Information
Windows Firewall is off.
Connection attempt to Apple web site was successful.
Connection attempt to browsing iTunes Store was successful.
Connection attempt to purchasing from iTunes Store was successful.
Connection attempt to iPhone activation server was successful.
Connection attempt to firmware update server was successful.
Last successful store access was 2010-11-09 21:18:49.

Answer 1

Podcasts don't come from the itunes store - they come from the podcast producer's website.
You might try downloading them directly from the ESPN or NPR websites. That's all I can think of. My NPR podcasts seem fine, for whatever that's worth.