diff --git a/client/components/modals/podcast/EditEpisode.vue b/client/components/modals/podcast/EditEpisode.vue
index b87f89c7..9702ce38 100644
--- a/client/components/modals/podcast/EditEpisode.vue
+++ b/client/components/modals/podcast/EditEpisode.vue
@@ -170,6 +170,12 @@ export default {
         this.show = false
       }
     },
+    libraryItemUpdated(libraryItem) {
+      const episode = libraryItem.media.episodes.find((e) => e.id === this.selectedEpisodeId)
+      if (episode) {
+        this.episodeItem = episode
+      }
+    },
     hotkey(action) {
       if (action === this.$hotkeys.Modal.NEXT_PAGE) {
         this.goNextEpisode()
@@ -178,9 +184,15 @@ export default {
       }
     },
     registerListeners() {
+      if (this.libraryItem) {
+        this.$eventBus.$on(`${this.libraryItem.id}_updated`, this.libraryItemUpdated)
+      }
       this.$eventBus.$on('modal-hotkey', this.hotkey)
     },
     unregisterListeners() {
+      if (this.libraryItem) {
+        this.$eventBus.$on(`${this.libraryItem.id}_updated`, this.libraryItemUpdated)
+      }
       this.$eventBus.$off('modal-hotkey', this.hotkey)
     }
   },
diff --git a/client/components/modals/podcast/tabs/EpisodeDetails.vue b/client/components/modals/podcast/tabs/EpisodeDetails.vue
index 2084ddee..85cfb4ff 100644
--- a/client/components/modals/podcast/tabs/EpisodeDetails.vue
+++ b/client/components/modals/podcast/tabs/EpisodeDetails.vue
@@ -163,13 +163,10 @@ export default {
 
       this.isProcessing = false
       if (updateResult) {
-        if (updateResult) {
-          this.$toast.success(this.$strings.ToastItemUpdateSuccess)
-          return true
-        } else {
-          this.$toast.info(this.$strings.MessageNoUpdatesWereNecessary)
-        }
+        this.$toast.success(this.$strings.ToastItemUpdateSuccess)
+        return true
       }
+
       return false
     }
   },
diff --git a/server/controllers/PodcastController.js b/server/controllers/PodcastController.js
index 3610c2ea..c62742a5 100644
--- a/server/controllers/PodcastController.js
+++ b/server/controllers/PodcastController.js
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ const LibraryItem = require('../objects/LibraryItem')
  * @property {import('../models/User')} user
  *
  * @typedef {Request & RequestUserObject} RequestWithUser
+ *
+ * @typedef RequestEntityObject
+ * @property {import('../models/LibraryItem')} libraryItem
+ *
+ * @typedef {RequestWithUser & RequestEntityObject} RequestWithLibraryItem
  */
 
 class PodcastController {
@@ -112,11 +117,6 @@ class PodcastController {
 
     res.json(libraryItem.toJSONExpanded())
 
-    if (payload.episodesToDownload?.length) {
-      Logger.info(`[PodcastController] Podcast created now starting ${payload.episodesToDownload.length} episode downloads`)
-      this.podcastManager.downloadPodcastEpisodes(libraryItem, payload.episodesToDownload)
-    }
-
     // Turn on podcast auto download cron if not already on
     if (libraryItem.media.autoDownloadEpisodes) {
       this.cronManager.checkUpdatePodcastCron(libraryItem)
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ class PodcastController {
    *
    * @this import('../routers/ApiRouter')
    *
-   * @param {RequestWithUser} req
+   * @param {RequestWithLibraryItem} req
    * @param {Response} res
    */
   async checkNewEpisodes(req, res) {
@@ -222,15 +222,14 @@ class PodcastController {
       return res.sendStatus(403)
     }
 
-    var libraryItem = req.libraryItem
-    if (!libraryItem.media.metadata.feedUrl) {
-      Logger.error(`[PodcastController] checkNewEpisodes no feed url for item ${libraryItem.id}`)
-      return res.status(500).send('Podcast has no rss feed url')
+    if (!req.libraryItem.media.feedURL) {
+      Logger.error(`[PodcastController] checkNewEpisodes no feed url for item ${req.libraryItem.id}`)
+      return res.status(400).send('Podcast has no rss feed url')
     }
 
     const maxEpisodesToDownload = !isNaN(req.query.limit) ? Number(req.query.limit) : 3
 
-    var newEpisodes = await this.podcastManager.checkAndDownloadNewEpisodes(libraryItem, maxEpisodesToDownload)
+    const newEpisodes = await this.podcastManager.checkAndDownloadNewEpisodes(req.libraryItem, maxEpisodesToDownload)
     res.json({
       episodes: newEpisodes || []
     })
@@ -258,23 +257,28 @@ class PodcastController {
    *
    * @this {import('../routers/ApiRouter')}
    *
-   * @param {RequestWithUser} req
+   * @param {RequestWithLibraryItem} req
    * @param {Response} res
    */
   getEpisodeDownloads(req, res) {
-    var libraryItem = req.libraryItem
-
-    var downloadsInQueue = this.podcastManager.getEpisodeDownloadsInQueue(libraryItem.id)
+    const downloadsInQueue = this.podcastManager.getEpisodeDownloadsInQueue(req.libraryItem.id)
     res.json({
       downloads: downloadsInQueue.map((d) => d.toJSONForClient())
     })
   }
 
+  /**
+   * GET: /api/podcasts/:id/search-episode
+   * Search for an episode in a podcast
+   *
+   * @param {RequestWithLibraryItem} req
+   * @param {Response} res
+   */
   async findEpisode(req, res) {
-    const rssFeedUrl = req.libraryItem.media.metadata.feedUrl
+    const rssFeedUrl = req.libraryItem.media.feedURL
     if (!rssFeedUrl) {
       Logger.error(`[PodcastController] findEpisode: Podcast has no feed url`)
-      return res.status(500).send('Podcast does not have an RSS feed URL')
+      return res.status(400).send('Podcast does not have an RSS feed URL')
     }
 
     const searchTitle = req.query.title
@@ -292,7 +296,7 @@ class PodcastController {
    *
    * @this {import('../routers/ApiRouter')}
    *
-   * @param {RequestWithUser} req
+   * @param {RequestWithLibraryItem} req
    * @param {Response} res
    */
   async downloadEpisodes(req, res) {
@@ -300,13 +304,13 @@ class PodcastController {
       Logger.error(`[PodcastController] Non-admin user "${req.user.username}" attempted to download episodes`)
       return res.sendStatus(403)
     }
-    const libraryItem = req.libraryItem
+
     const episodes = req.body
-    if (!episodes?.length) {
+    if (!Array.isArray(episodes) || !episodes.length) {
       return res.sendStatus(400)
     }
 
-    this.podcastManager.downloadPodcastEpisodes(libraryItem, episodes)
+    this.podcastManager.downloadPodcastEpisodes(req.libraryItem, episodes)
     res.sendStatus(200)
   }
 
@@ -315,7 +319,7 @@ class PodcastController {
    *
    * @this {import('../routers/ApiRouter')}
    *
-   * @param {RequestWithUser} req
+   * @param {RequestWithLibraryItem} req
    * @param {Response} res
    */
   async quickMatchEpisodes(req, res) {
@@ -325,10 +329,11 @@ class PodcastController {
     }
 
     const overrideDetails = req.query.override === '1'
-    const episodesUpdated = await Scanner.quickMatchPodcastEpisodes(req.libraryItem, { overrideDetails })
+    const oldLibraryItem = Database.libraryItemModel.getOldLibraryItem(req.libraryItem)
+    const episodesUpdated = await Scanner.quickMatchPodcastEpisodes(oldLibraryItem, { overrideDetails })
     if (episodesUpdated) {
-      await Database.updateLibraryItem(req.libraryItem)
-      SocketAuthority.emitter('item_updated', req.libraryItem.toJSONExpanded())
+      await Database.updateLibraryItem(oldLibraryItem)
+      SocketAuthority.emitter('item_updated', oldLibraryItem.toJSONExpanded())
     }
 
     res.json({
@@ -339,58 +344,76 @@ class PodcastController {
   /**
    * PATCH: /api/podcasts/:id/episode/:episodeId
    *
-   * @param {RequestWithUser} req
+   * @param {RequestWithLibraryItem} req
    * @param {Response} res
    */
   async updateEpisode(req, res) {
-    const libraryItem = req.libraryItem
-
-    var episodeId = req.params.episodeId
-    if (!libraryItem.media.checkHasEpisode(episodeId)) {
+    /** @type {import('../models/PodcastEpisode')} */
+    const episode = req.libraryItem.media.podcastEpisodes.find((ep) => ep.id === req.params.episodeId)
+    if (!episode) {
       return res.status(404).send('Episode not found')
     }
 
-    if (libraryItem.media.updateEpisode(episodeId, req.body)) {
-      await Database.updateLibraryItem(libraryItem)
-      SocketAuthority.emitter('item_updated', libraryItem.toJSONExpanded())
+    const updatePayload = {}
+    const supportedStringKeys = ['title', 'subtitle', 'description', 'pubDate', 'episode', 'season', 'episodeType']
+    for (const key in req.body) {
+      if (supportedStringKeys.includes(key) && typeof req.body[key] === 'string') {
+        updatePayload[key] = req.body[key]
+      } else if (key === 'chapters' && Array.isArray(req.body[key]) && req.body[key].every((ch) => typeof ch === 'object' && ch.title && ch.start)) {
+        updatePayload[key] = req.body[key]
+      } else if (key === 'publishedAt' && typeof req.body[key] === 'number') {
+        updatePayload[key] = req.body[key]
+      }
     }
 
-    res.json(libraryItem.toJSONExpanded())
+    if (Object.keys(updatePayload).length) {
+      episode.set(updatePayload)
+      if (episode.changed()) {
+        Logger.info(`[PodcastController] Updated episode "${episode.title}" keys`, episode.changed())
+        await episode.save()
+
+        SocketAuthority.emitter('item_updated', req.libraryItem.toOldJSONExpanded())
+      } else {
+        Logger.info(`[PodcastController] No changes to episode "${episode.title}"`)
+      }
+    }
+
+    res.json(req.libraryItem.toOldJSONExpanded())
   }
 
   /**
    * GET: /api/podcasts/:id/episode/:episodeId
    *
-   * @param {RequestWithUser} req
+   * @param {RequestWithLibraryItem} req
    * @param {Response} res
    */
   async getEpisode(req, res) {
     const episodeId = req.params.episodeId
-    const libraryItem = req.libraryItem
 
-    const episode = libraryItem.media.episodes.find((ep) => ep.id === episodeId)
+    /** @type {import('../models/PodcastEpisode')} */
+    const episode = req.libraryItem.media.podcastEpisodes.find((ep) => ep.id === episodeId)
     if (!episode) {
-      Logger.error(`[PodcastController] getEpisode episode ${episodeId} not found for item ${libraryItem.id}`)
+      Logger.error(`[PodcastController] getEpisode episode ${episodeId} not found for item ${req.libraryItem.id}`)
       return res.sendStatus(404)
     }
 
-    res.json(episode)
+    res.json(episode.toOldJSON(req.libraryItem.id))
   }
 
   /**
    * DELETE: /api/podcasts/:id/episode/:episodeId
    *
-   * @param {RequestWithUser} req
+   * @param {RequestWithLibraryItem} req
    * @param {Response} res
    */
   async removeEpisode(req, res) {
     const episodeId = req.params.episodeId
-    const libraryItem = req.libraryItem
     const hardDelete = req.query.hard === '1'
 
-    const episode = libraryItem.media.episodes.find((ep) => ep.id === episodeId)
+    /** @type {import('../models/PodcastEpisode')} */
+    const episode = req.libraryItem.media.podcastEpisodes.find((ep) => ep.id === episodeId)
     if (!episode) {
-      Logger.error(`[PodcastController] removeEpisode episode ${episodeId} not found for item ${libraryItem.id}`)
+      Logger.error(`[PodcastController] removeEpisode episode ${episodeId} not found for item ${req.libraryItem.id}`)
       return res.sendStatus(404)
     }
 
@@ -407,36 +430,8 @@ class PodcastController {
         })
     }
 
-    // Remove episode from Podcast and library file
-    const episodeRemoved = libraryItem.media.removeEpisode(episodeId)
-    if (episodeRemoved?.audioFile) {
-      libraryItem.removeLibraryFile(episodeRemoved.audioFile.ino)
-    }
-
-    // Update/remove playlists that had this podcast episode
-    const playlistMediaItems = await Database.playlistMediaItemModel.findAll({
-      where: {
-        mediaItemId: episodeId
-      },
-      include: {
-        model: Database.playlistModel,
-        include: Database.playlistMediaItemModel
-      }
-    })
-    for (const pmi of playlistMediaItems) {
-      const numItems = pmi.playlist.playlistMediaItems.length - 1
-
-      if (!numItems) {
-        Logger.info(`[PodcastController] Playlist "${pmi.playlist.name}" has no more items - removing it`)
-        const jsonExpanded = await pmi.playlist.getOldJsonExpanded()
-        SocketAuthority.clientEmitter(pmi.playlist.userId, 'playlist_removed', jsonExpanded)
-        await pmi.playlist.destroy()
-      } else {
-        await pmi.destroy()
-        const jsonExpanded = await pmi.playlist.getOldJsonExpanded()
-        SocketAuthority.clientEmitter(pmi.playlist.userId, 'playlist_updated', jsonExpanded)
-      }
-    }
+    // Remove episode from playlists
+    await Database.playlistModel.removeMediaItemsFromPlaylists([episodeId])
 
     // Remove media progress for this episode
     const mediaProgressRemoved = await Database.mediaProgressModel.destroy({
@@ -448,9 +443,16 @@ class PodcastController {
       Logger.info(`[PodcastController] Removed ${mediaProgressRemoved} media progress for episode ${episode.id}`)
     }
 
-    await Database.updateLibraryItem(libraryItem)
-    SocketAuthority.emitter('item_updated', libraryItem.toJSONExpanded())
-    res.json(libraryItem.toJSON())
+    // Remove episode
+    await episode.destroy()
+
+    // Remove library file
+    req.libraryItem.libraryFiles = req.libraryItem.libraryFiles.filter((file) => file.ino !== episode.audioFile.ino)
+    req.libraryItem.changed('libraryFiles', true)
+    await req.libraryItem.save()
+
+    SocketAuthority.emitter('item_updated', req.libraryItem.toOldJSONExpanded())
+    res.json(req.libraryItem.toOldJSON())
   }
 
   /**
@@ -460,15 +462,15 @@ class PodcastController {
    * @param {NextFunction} next
    */
   async middleware(req, res, next) {
-    const item = await Database.libraryItemModel.getOldById(req.params.id)
-    if (!item?.media) return res.sendStatus(404)
+    const libraryItem = await Database.libraryItemModel.getExpandedById(req.params.id)
+    if (!libraryItem?.media) return res.sendStatus(404)
 
-    if (!item.isPodcast) {
+    if (!libraryItem.isPodcast) {
       return res.sendStatus(500)
     }
 
     // Check user can access this library item
-    if (!req.user.checkCanAccessLibraryItem(item)) {
+    if (!req.user.checkCanAccessLibraryItem(libraryItem)) {
       return res.sendStatus(403)
     }
 
@@ -480,7 +482,7 @@ class PodcastController {
       return res.sendStatus(403)
     }
 
-    req.libraryItem = item
+    req.libraryItem = libraryItem
     next()
   }
 }
diff --git a/server/managers/CronManager.js b/server/managers/CronManager.js
index a4dbe6b4..c61fb049 100644
--- a/server/managers/CronManager.js
+++ b/server/managers/CronManager.js
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ class CronManager {
     // Get podcast library items to check
     const libraryItems = []
     for (const libraryItemId of libraryItemIds) {
-      const libraryItem = await Database.libraryItemModel.getOldById(libraryItemId)
+      const libraryItem = await Database.libraryItemModel.getExpandedById(libraryItemId)
       if (!libraryItem) {
         Logger.error(`[CronManager] Library item ${libraryItemId} not found for episode check cron ${expression}`)
         podcastCron.libraryItemIds = podcastCron.libraryItemIds.filter((lid) => lid !== libraryItemId) // Filter it out
diff --git a/server/managers/PodcastManager.js b/server/managers/PodcastManager.js
index 456927c8..92053707 100644
--- a/server/managers/PodcastManager.js
+++ b/server/managers/PodcastManager.js
@@ -52,11 +52,16 @@ class PodcastManager {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   *
+   * @param {import('../models/LibraryItem')} libraryItem
+   * @param {*} episodesToDownload
+   * @param {*} isAutoDownload
+   */
   async downloadPodcastEpisodes(libraryItem, episodesToDownload, isAutoDownload) {
-    let index = Math.max(...libraryItem.media.episodes.filter((ep) => ep.index == null || isNaN(ep.index)).map((ep) => Number(ep.index))) + 1
     for (const ep of episodesToDownload) {
       const newPe = new PodcastEpisode()
-      newPe.setData(ep, index++)
+      newPe.setData(ep, null)
       newPe.libraryItemId = libraryItem.id
       newPe.podcastId = libraryItem.media.id
       const newPeDl = new PodcastEpisodeDownload()
@@ -263,16 +268,21 @@ class PodcastManager {
     return newAudioFile
   }
 
-  // Returns false if auto download episodes was disabled (disabled if reaches max failed checks)
+  /**
+   *
+   * @param {import('../models/LibraryItem')} libraryItem
+   * @returns {Promise<boolean>} - Returns false if auto download episodes was disabled (disabled if reaches max failed checks)
+   */
   async runEpisodeCheck(libraryItem) {
-    const lastEpisodeCheckDate = new Date(libraryItem.media.lastEpisodeCheck || 0)
-    const latestEpisodePublishedAt = libraryItem.media.latestEpisodePublished
-    Logger.info(`[PodcastManager] runEpisodeCheck: "${libraryItem.media.metadata.title}" | Last check: ${lastEpisodeCheckDate} | ${latestEpisodePublishedAt ? `Latest episode pubDate: ${new Date(latestEpisodePublishedAt)}` : 'No latest episode'}`)
+    const lastEpisodeCheck = libraryItem.media.lastEpisodeCheck?.valueOf() || 0
+    const latestEpisodePublishedAt = libraryItem.media.getLatestEpisodePublishedAt()
+
+    Logger.info(`[PodcastManager] runEpisodeCheck: "${libraryItem.media.title}" | Last check: ${new Date(lastEpisodeCheck)} | ${latestEpisodePublishedAt ? `Latest episode pubDate: ${new Date(latestEpisodePublishedAt)}` : 'No latest episode'}`)
 
     // Use latest episode pubDate if exists OR fallback to using lastEpisodeCheckDate
     //    lastEpisodeCheckDate will be the current time when adding a new podcast
     const dateToCheckForEpisodesAfter = latestEpisodePublishedAt || lastEpisodeCheckDate
-    Logger.debug(`[PodcastManager] runEpisodeCheck: "${libraryItem.media.metadata.title}" checking for episodes after ${new Date(dateToCheckForEpisodesAfter)}`)
+    Logger.debug(`[PodcastManager] runEpisodeCheck: "${libraryItem.media.title}" checking for episodes after ${new Date(dateToCheckForEpisodesAfter)}`)
 
     var newEpisodes = await this.checkPodcastForNewEpisodes(libraryItem, dateToCheckForEpisodesAfter, libraryItem.media.maxNewEpisodesToDownload)
     Logger.debug(`[PodcastManager] runEpisodeCheck: ${newEpisodes?.length || 'N/A'} episodes found`)
@@ -283,36 +293,47 @@ class PodcastManager {
       if (!this.failedCheckMap[libraryItem.id]) this.failedCheckMap[libraryItem.id] = 0
       this.failedCheckMap[libraryItem.id]++
       if (this.failedCheckMap[libraryItem.id] >= this.MaxFailedEpisodeChecks) {
-        Logger.error(`[PodcastManager] runEpisodeCheck ${this.failedCheckMap[libraryItem.id]} failed attempts at checking episodes for "${libraryItem.media.metadata.title}" - disabling auto download`)
+        Logger.error(`[PodcastManager] runEpisodeCheck ${this.failedCheckMap[libraryItem.id]} failed attempts at checking episodes for "${libraryItem.media.title}" - disabling auto download`)
         libraryItem.media.autoDownloadEpisodes = false
         delete this.failedCheckMap[libraryItem.id]
       } else {
-        Logger.warn(`[PodcastManager] runEpisodeCheck ${this.failedCheckMap[libraryItem.id]} failed attempts at checking episodes for "${libraryItem.media.metadata.title}"`)
+        Logger.warn(`[PodcastManager] runEpisodeCheck ${this.failedCheckMap[libraryItem.id]} failed attempts at checking episodes for "${libraryItem.media.title}"`)
       }
     } else if (newEpisodes.length) {
       delete this.failedCheckMap[libraryItem.id]
-      Logger.info(`[PodcastManager] Found ${newEpisodes.length} new episodes for podcast "${libraryItem.media.metadata.title}" - starting download`)
+      Logger.info(`[PodcastManager] Found ${newEpisodes.length} new episodes for podcast "${libraryItem.media.title}" - starting download`)
       this.downloadPodcastEpisodes(libraryItem, newEpisodes, true)
     } else {
       delete this.failedCheckMap[libraryItem.id]
-      Logger.debug(`[PodcastManager] No new episodes for "${libraryItem.media.metadata.title}"`)
+      Logger.debug(`[PodcastManager] No new episodes for "${libraryItem.media.title}"`)
     }
 
-    libraryItem.media.lastEpisodeCheck = Date.now()
-    libraryItem.updatedAt = Date.now()
-    await Database.updateLibraryItem(libraryItem)
-    SocketAuthority.emitter('item_updated', libraryItem.toJSONExpanded())
+    libraryItem.media.lastEpisodeCheck = new Date()
+    await libraryItem.media.save()
+
+    libraryItem.changed('updatedAt', true)
+    await libraryItem.save()
+
+    SocketAuthority.emitter('item_updated', libraryItem.toOldJSONExpanded())
+
     return libraryItem.media.autoDownloadEpisodes
   }
 
+  /**
+   *
+   * @param {import('../models/LibraryItem')} podcastLibraryItem
+   * @param {number} dateToCheckForEpisodesAfter - Unix timestamp
+   * @param {number} maxNewEpisodes
+   * @returns
+   */
   async checkPodcastForNewEpisodes(podcastLibraryItem, dateToCheckForEpisodesAfter, maxNewEpisodes = 3) {
-    if (!podcastLibraryItem.media.metadata.feedUrl) {
-      Logger.error(`[PodcastManager] checkPodcastForNewEpisodes no feed url for ${podcastLibraryItem.media.metadata.title} (ID: ${podcastLibraryItem.id})`)
+    if (!podcastLibraryItem.media.feedURL) {
+      Logger.error(`[PodcastManager] checkPodcastForNewEpisodes no feed url for ${podcastLibraryItem.media.title} (ID: ${podcastLibraryItem.id})`)
       return false
     }
-    const feed = await getPodcastFeed(podcastLibraryItem.media.metadata.feedUrl)
+    const feed = await getPodcastFeed(podcastLibraryItem.media.feedURL)
     if (!feed?.episodes) {
-      Logger.error(`[PodcastManager] checkPodcastForNewEpisodes invalid feed payload for ${podcastLibraryItem.media.metadata.title} (ID: ${podcastLibraryItem.id})`, feed)
+      Logger.error(`[PodcastManager] checkPodcastForNewEpisodes invalid feed payload for ${podcastLibraryItem.media.title} (ID: ${podcastLibraryItem.id})`, feed)
       return false
     }
 
@@ -326,21 +347,32 @@ class PodcastManager {
     return newEpisodes
   }
 
+  /**
+   *
+   * @param {import('../models/LibraryItem')} libraryItem
+   * @param {*} maxEpisodesToDownload
+   * @returns
+   */
   async checkAndDownloadNewEpisodes(libraryItem, maxEpisodesToDownload) {
-    const lastEpisodeCheckDate = new Date(libraryItem.media.lastEpisodeCheck || 0)
-    Logger.info(`[PodcastManager] checkAndDownloadNewEpisodes for "${libraryItem.media.metadata.title}" - Last episode check: ${lastEpisodeCheckDate}`)
-    var newEpisodes = await this.checkPodcastForNewEpisodes(libraryItem, libraryItem.media.lastEpisodeCheck, maxEpisodesToDownload)
+    const lastEpisodeCheck = libraryItem.media.lastEpisodeCheck?.valueOf() || 0
+    const lastEpisodeCheckDate = lastEpisodeCheck > 0 ? libraryItem.media.lastEpisodeCheck : 'Never'
+    Logger.info(`[PodcastManager] checkAndDownloadNewEpisodes for "${libraryItem.media.title}" - Last episode check: ${lastEpisodeCheckDate}`)
+
+    var newEpisodes = await this.checkPodcastForNewEpisodes(libraryItem, lastEpisodeCheck, maxEpisodesToDownload)
     if (newEpisodes.length) {
-      Logger.info(`[PodcastManager] Found ${newEpisodes.length} new episodes for podcast "${libraryItem.media.metadata.title}" - starting download`)
+      Logger.info(`[PodcastManager] Found ${newEpisodes.length} new episodes for podcast "${libraryItem.media.title}" - starting download`)
       this.downloadPodcastEpisodes(libraryItem, newEpisodes, false)
     } else {
-      Logger.info(`[PodcastManager] No new episodes found for podcast "${libraryItem.media.metadata.title}"`)
+      Logger.info(`[PodcastManager] No new episodes found for podcast "${libraryItem.media.title}"`)
     }
 
-    libraryItem.media.lastEpisodeCheck = Date.now()
-    libraryItem.updatedAt = Date.now()
-    await Database.updateLibraryItem(libraryItem)
-    SocketAuthority.emitter('item_updated', libraryItem.toJSONExpanded())
+    libraryItem.media.lastEpisodeCheck = new Date()
+    await libraryItem.media.save()
+
+    libraryItem.changed('updatedAt', true)
+    await libraryItem.save()
+
+    SocketAuthority.emitter('item_updated', libraryItem.toOldJSONExpanded())
 
     return newEpisodes
   }
diff --git a/server/models/Podcast.js b/server/models/Podcast.js
index 188c1070..fd471305 100644
--- a/server/models/Podcast.js
+++ b/server/models/Podcast.js
@@ -259,6 +259,10 @@ class Podcast extends Model {
       this.autoDownloadSchedule = payload.autoDownloadSchedule
       hasUpdates = true
     }
+    if (typeof payload.lastEpisodeCheck === 'number' && payload.lastEpisodeCheck !== this.lastEpisodeCheck?.valueOf()) {
+      this.lastEpisodeCheck = payload.lastEpisodeCheck
+      hasUpdates = true
+    }
 
     const numberKeys = ['maxEpisodesToKeep', 'maxNewEpisodesToDownload']
     numberKeys.forEach((key) => {
@@ -348,6 +352,31 @@ class Podcast extends Model {
     return episode.duration
   }
 
+  /**
+   *
+   * @returns {number} - Unix timestamp
+   */
+  getLatestEpisodePublishedAt() {
+    return this.podcastEpisodes.reduce((latest, episode) => {
+      if (episode.publishedAt?.valueOf() > latest) {
+        return episode.publishedAt.valueOf()
+      }
+      return latest
+    }, 0)
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Used for checking if an rss feed episode is already in the podcast
+   *
+   * @param {Object} feedEpisode - object from rss feed
+   * @returns {boolean}
+   */
+  checkHasEpisodeByFeedEpisode(feedEpisode) {
+    const guid = feedEpisode.guid
+    const url = feedEpisode.enclosure.url
+    return this.podcastEpisodes.some((ep) => ep.checkMatchesGuidOrEnclosureUrl(guid, url))
+  }
+
   /**
    * Old model kept metadata in a separate object
    */
diff --git a/server/models/PodcastEpisode.js b/server/models/PodcastEpisode.js
index 24d07041..4c9967f8 100644
--- a/server/models/PodcastEpisode.js
+++ b/server/models/PodcastEpisode.js
@@ -143,6 +143,23 @@ class PodcastEpisode extends Model {
     return this.audioFile?.duration || 0
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Used for matching the episode with an episode in the RSS feed
+   *
+   * @param {string} guid
+   * @param {string} enclosureURL
+   * @returns {boolean}
+   */
+  checkMatchesGuidOrEnclosureUrl(guid, enclosureURL) {
+    if (this.extraData?.guid && this.extraData.guid === guid) {
+      return true
+    }
+    if (this.enclosureURL && this.enclosureURL === enclosureURL) {
+      return true
+    }
+    return false
+  }
+
   /**
    * Used in client players
    *
diff --git a/server/objects/PodcastEpisodeDownload.js b/server/objects/PodcastEpisodeDownload.js
index eb9f059a..ecda4a47 100644
--- a/server/objects/PodcastEpisodeDownload.js
+++ b/server/objects/PodcastEpisodeDownload.js
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@ const globals = require('../utils/globals')
 class PodcastEpisodeDownload {
   constructor() {
     this.id = null
+    /** @type {import('../objects/entities/PodcastEpisode')} */
     this.podcastEpisode = null
     this.url = null
+    /** @type {import('../models/LibraryItem')} */
     this.libraryItem = null
     this.libraryId = null
 
@@ -27,7 +29,7 @@ class PodcastEpisodeDownload {
       id: this.id,
       episodeDisplayTitle: this.podcastEpisode?.title ?? null,
       url: this.url,
-      libraryItemId: this.libraryItem?.id || null,
+      libraryItemId: this.libraryItemId,
       libraryId: this.libraryId || null,
       isFinished: this.isFinished,
       failed: this.failed,
@@ -35,8 +37,8 @@ class PodcastEpisodeDownload {
       startedAt: this.startedAt,
       createdAt: this.createdAt,
       finishedAt: this.finishedAt,
-      podcastTitle: this.libraryItem?.media.metadata.title ?? null,
-      podcastExplicit: !!this.libraryItem?.media.metadata.explicit,
+      podcastTitle: this.libraryItem?.media.title ?? null,
+      podcastExplicit: !!this.libraryItem?.media.explicit,
       season: this.podcastEpisode?.season ?? null,
       episode: this.podcastEpisode?.episode ?? null,
       episodeType: this.podcastEpisode?.episodeType ?? 'full',
@@ -80,9 +82,16 @@ class PodcastEpisodeDownload {
     return this.targetFilename
   }
   get libraryItemId() {
-    return this.libraryItem ? this.libraryItem.id : null
+    return this.libraryItem?.id || null
   }
 
+  /**
+   *
+   * @param {import('../objects/entities/PodcastEpisode')} podcastEpisode - old model
+   * @param {import('../models/LibraryItem')} libraryItem
+   * @param {*} isAutoDownload
+   * @param {*} libraryId
+   */
   setData(podcastEpisode, libraryItem, isAutoDownload, libraryId) {
     this.id = uuidv4()
     this.podcastEpisode = podcastEpisode
diff --git a/server/objects/entities/PodcastEpisode.js b/server/objects/entities/PodcastEpisode.js
index 945e0e56..e759a0eb 100644
--- a/server/objects/entities/PodcastEpisode.js
+++ b/server/objects/entities/PodcastEpisode.js
@@ -167,10 +167,5 @@ class PodcastEpisode {
     }
     return hasUpdates
   }
-
-  checkEqualsEnclosureUrl(url) {
-    if (!this.enclosure?.url) return false
-    return this.enclosure.url == url
-  }
 }
 module.exports = PodcastEpisode
diff --git a/server/objects/mediaTypes/Podcast.js b/server/objects/mediaTypes/Podcast.js
index 2a009eb2..8d6b541d 100644
--- a/server/objects/mediaTypes/Podcast.js
+++ b/server/objects/mediaTypes/Podcast.js
@@ -193,11 +193,6 @@ class Podcast {
   checkHasEpisode(episodeId) {
     return this.episodes.some((ep) => ep.id === episodeId)
   }
-  checkHasEpisodeByFeedEpisode(feedEpisode) {
-    const guid = feedEpisode.guid
-    const url = feedEpisode.enclosure.url
-    return this.episodes.some((ep) => (ep.guid && ep.guid === guid) || ep.checkEqualsEnclosureUrl(url))
-  }
 
   addPodcastEpisode(podcastEpisode) {
     this.episodes.push(podcastEpisode)
diff --git a/server/utils/ffmpegHelpers.js b/server/utils/ffmpegHelpers.js
index c7024225..06e20f1d 100644
--- a/server/utils/ffmpegHelpers.js
+++ b/server/utils/ffmpegHelpers.js
@@ -97,6 +97,11 @@ async function resizeImage(filePath, outputPath, width, height) {
 }
 module.exports.resizeImage = resizeImage
 
+/**
+ *
+ * @param {import('../objects/PodcastEpisodeDownload')} podcastEpisodeDownload
+ * @returns
+ */
 module.exports.downloadPodcastEpisode = (podcastEpisodeDownload) => {
   return new Promise(async (resolve) => {
     const response = await axios({
@@ -118,21 +123,22 @@ module.exports.downloadPodcastEpisode = (podcastEpisodeDownload) => {
     ffmpeg.addOption('-loglevel debug') // Debug logs printed on error
     ffmpeg.outputOptions('-c:a', 'copy', '-map', '0:a', '-metadata', 'podcast=1')
 
-    const podcastMetadata = podcastEpisodeDownload.libraryItem.media.metadata
+    /** @type {import('../models/Podcast')} */
+    const podcast = podcastEpisodeDownload.libraryItem.media
     const podcastEpisode = podcastEpisodeDownload.podcastEpisode
     const finalSizeInBytes = Number(podcastEpisode.enclosure?.length || 0)
 
     const taggings = {
-      album: podcastMetadata.title,
-      'album-sort': podcastMetadata.title,
-      artist: podcastMetadata.author,
-      'artist-sort': podcastMetadata.author,
+      album: podcast.title,
+      'album-sort': podcast.title,
+      artist: podcast.author,
+      'artist-sort': podcast.author,
       comment: podcastEpisode.description,
       subtitle: podcastEpisode.subtitle,
       disc: podcastEpisode.season,
-      genre: podcastMetadata.genres.length ? podcastMetadata.genres.join(';') : null,
-      language: podcastMetadata.language,
-      MVNM: podcastMetadata.title,
+      genre: podcast.genres.length ? podcast.genres.join(';') : null,
+      language: podcast.language,
+      MVNM: podcast.title,
       MVIN: podcastEpisode.episode,
       track: podcastEpisode.episode,
       'series-part': podcastEpisode.episode,
@@ -141,9 +147,9 @@ module.exports.downloadPodcastEpisode = (podcastEpisodeDownload) => {
       year: podcastEpisode.pubYear,
       date: podcastEpisode.pubDate,
       releasedate: podcastEpisode.pubDate,
-      'itunes-id': podcastMetadata.itunesId,
-      'podcast-type': podcastMetadata.type,
-      'episode-type': podcastMetadata.episodeType
+      'itunes-id': podcast.itunesId,
+      'podcast-type': podcast.podcastType,
+      'episode-type': podcastEpisode.episodeType
     }
 
     for (const tag in taggings) {