Disconnect iTunes from Podcasts

I like the Podcast app. I like iTunes. I don't like it when iTunes and Podcasts get together - they just don't get along.

I spend a lot of time away from home and, therefore, my iTunes library.

So, I download all my podcasts to the Podcasts app. This works great.

However, as soon as I get home and plug my iPhone into the PC where iTunes is installed all **** breaks loose. iTunes starts downloading podcasts that I've already listened to and deletes all the podcasts that have been downloaded (via 3G) to my iPhone/Podcasts app.

It's very annoying.

How can I stop iTunes from thinking that it's the 'Master' podcast handler and demote it to 'Slave'? I don't want iTunes to have anything to do with any Podcasts I download direct to the Podcasts app.

I tried unticking 'Sync Podcasts' in iTunes, and that simply deleted every singl podcst and subscription from my iPhone.

Please help?!