Q: Why won't podcasts download?

Been having this problem for a while. I subscribe to a podcast but then it won't download or even stream. Here is what I've tried:

1. closing app and re-opening
2. restarting computer (another problem entirely that I've been on third-tier support with for countless hours)
3. unsubscribing then resubscribing
4. using the "get" function in the store

All I get is the exclamation mark next to the podcast and the title saying, "There was a problem downloading "x". The network connection was lost.  Please check that the URL is correct and the connection and to the network is active and try again."

I don't have a connection issue.

Once in a while a podcast will download but I cannot seem to find a rhyme or reason why it did and another won't.

Any wisdom?