Podcast Episodes not deleted from library

Still have not received any resolution to https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250029008?answerId=250047603022 where podcast episodes I have deleted from iTunes somehow still get transferred to my idevice.

As you can see here, these are the only episodes of the podcast in itunes: https://i.imgur.com/7hrl7mp.png

Yet when syncing to the device that I deleted all podcast episodes for of these podcast, this is what shows on the device in iTunes after the sync: https://i.imgur.com/yaJr36j.png

Now instead of only having 3 or 4 episodes for the day, I've got a couple dozen that I will have to manually delete on the device with each one taking 2 or 3 swipes to be totally removed. And yet most will reappear tomorrow. This can not be an intended function can it?