CKUT episodes do not reliably play in Apple Podcast

[shawnCaza]

The url for mp3 file used in the podcast feed is obtained on line 64 of ckut_eps.py. allow_redirects=True is used on the request to obtain the final url of the mp3 because multiple redirects are performed

Using this show page as an example. The initial url is taken from the 'listen' link of each episode. The redirect pattern is as follows:

1. https://ckut.ca/listen.php?show=19990d&archive=19925 - starting link (status 302)
2. https://archives.ckut.ca/128/20240803.06.00.00-10.00.00.mp3 - (status 302)
3. https://archives.ckut.ca/archives/128/20240803.06.00.00-10.00.00.mp3 - final url (status 200)

Initially, the 2nd url format was saved and placed into compodio's podcast feeds. When trying to play an episode in apple podcasts, using the 2nd url playback fails on the first attempt (error message: "This episode couldn't be played. Please try again."), but will succeed in playing on future attempts.

After switching the providing the 3rd, final url format in podcast feeds, the challenges noted above initially seemed to have been resolved. Over time it's becoming apparent that using the final url results in a worse experience. While occasionally an episode will play immediately, more often than not episodes do not play at all (error message: "This episode from {show name} is temporarily unavailable. Try again later.").

It appears as though the 3rd URL will return a 404 if your ip has not recently/previously visited one of the previous urls.