When was this? Based on https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2005/06/28Apple-Takes-Podcast..., it looks like Apple added podcast support to iTunes in 2005. The iPhone wasn’t released until 2007 and the App Store didn’t exist until 2008.
https://www.networkworld.com/article/2346233/apple-shows-tru...
It's hard to imagine a time when iPhones couldn't download podcasts over the air. I can understand why banning Podcaster would have made OP sour on Apple.
The actual podcasts app was released in 2012