downloaded Podcast won't play without Network (cellular) connection

I have the same issue. It's not intermittent for me, it fails every time I try to start a podcast when I'm in an area without good cell reception. I regularly drive to work in a particular rural area that doesn't have good reception. In other words, when I start the drive, I'm in a good cell area and start my podcast fine. Because the podcast has already been started, I can then drive out of the good cell area and into the bad cell area and the podcast will continue to play fine. However, when I'm done with work, and get back into my car, I fire up Apple Car Play and cannot play any podcast. Its almost like it has to ping a server first before playing, even when it's a podcast that's downloaded to the phone. It is so frustrating, and seems to defeat the purpose of what podcasts are meant to be. All the podcasts I'm referring to are podcasts that I have subscribed to through the native Apple Podcasts app. They automatically download (supposedly) and they show up on their own. So why the heck can't I play them without a solid cell signal?

I sometimes get that too, but when I reattempt, it usually plays fine. A couple times, I played another one for a second or two and then go back to the one I want and it suddenly plays fine.

I think that Podcasts in 17 is just broken on a number of levels.

If you've downloaded a podcast but it won't play without a cellular network connection, there are a few possible reasons and solutions you can try:

1. Check Storage Space: Ensure that you have enough storage space on your device for the downloaded podcast. If your device is running out of storage, it may have trouble playing downloaded content.
2. App Permissions: Make sure the podcast app has the necessary permissions to access storage and play downloaded content. Check the app settings on your device to confirm this.
3. Offline Mode: Some podcast apps have an offline mode or a specific setting to enable playback of downloaded content without a network connection. Check the app settings to see if there's an option to enable offline playback.
4. Playback Settings: Confirm that the playback settings within the podcast app are configured to allow offline playback. Look for options related to offline or downloaded content in the app settings.
5. Network Restrictions: Check if your device has any network restrictions or data-saving settings that may be preventing the podcast app from accessing the downloaded content without a network connection.
6. App Update: Ensure that your podcast app is updated to the latest version. Developers often release updates to address bugs and improve app functionality.
7. Re-download the Podcast: Try deleting the downloaded podcast and re-download it. Sometimes, the download may be corrupted or incomplete, causing playback issues.
8. Clear App Cache: Clearing the app cache may resolve any temporary issues. This option is usually available in the app settings.
9. Restart Your Device: Sometimes, simply restarting your device can help resolve playback issues.
10. Contact App Support: If none of the above solutions work, reach out to the support team of the podcast app. They may be able to provide specific assistance or be aware of any issues with the app.

Update: My problem was caused by the Background App Refresh setting for podcasts. It had been turned off at some point, so even though I was subscribed to podcasts, they weren't downloading for off-line play. After switching it on, my podcasts are now downloading on their own without intervention, and when I'm in rural areas using CarPlay, my podcasts now work great without any cellular reception. One fine note: I'm not sure how frequently the Podcasts app checks for new episodes in the background. Sometimes there's a podcast that hasn't been downloaded despite it's being released. So opening the Podcasts app manually seems to kick it in the rear and grab everything available. But all in all, I'm very happy to have this issue resolved. I hope it helps someone else!

PS: Apple should create a prompt that displays when you open the Podcasts app if Background App Refresh is turned off for the app. It should alert you that even subscribed podcasts will not download with that switched off.