iPod touch iPod Touch back to iTunes again?

[Simple Living]

I have an iPod Touch full of podcasts that I downloaded from iTunes. I had to do a clean reinstall of my computer and now I can't get my podcasts from my iPod Touch back into my iTunes Library. I thought I was backing them up!

Why do they have to make this so difficult? They obviously came from iTunes so putting them back in my library should really be a non-issue.

How can I save my podcasts? I've heard of software online that does the trick but everything I found is for PC's or it won't work with an iPod TOUCH.

 

[GeniusJon]

Authorize your computer.

Store > Authorize this computer.

 

[Simple Living]

That doesn't work. I wish it were that simple, but it's not. For the life of me, I can't figure out why iTunes doesn't allow this.

I've searched the internet for HOURS (because I really don't want to lose these podcasts) and the only solution I found is one piece of software that casts $30! The podcasts were free and, as much as I want to keep them, I'm not paying $30 when they were free to begin with.

The software has a trial version but that puts severe (and useless) limitations on the transfers.