iTunes crashing when attempting to "download all" podcasts

Operating System: Windows 8.1 Professional 64

Processor: Intel Core i7-3820 3.6GHz

Installed Memory; 16GB

Hard drive: Samsung SSD 840 EVO 750GB (529 GB free)

Software version: iTunes 12.1.14 64-bit

As iTunes default setting appears to be to deleting all played episodes, I've been forced to re-download available episodes of the podcasts to which I subscribe. The issue, however, is that iTunes is now literally dying every time I attempt to "Download All", regardless of how many episodes need to be retrieved.

I don't remember having this issue prior to the newest release of iTunes, but I don't remember it being set to delete indiscriminately, either.

If there's a current workaround, I'm amenable to using it, but I really wish Apple would quick tinkering with this to make it shinier for the dumb people...