Some podcast episodes will not play because they use too many redirects.
Some podcast episodes will not play because the URL for their media is redirected 5 or more times. I was able to correct this by increasing MAX_REDIR in src/input/access.c.
For example, the "Behind the Bastards" podcast has an RSS feed at "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/behindthebastards", and produces this output when opened:
$cvlc https://feeds.megaphone.fm/behindthebastards
VLC media player 3.0.20 Vetinari (revision 3.0.20-0-g6f0d0ab126b)
[0000562faa0ac470] main interface error: no suitable interface module
[0000562fa9fcc550] main libvlc error: interface "globalhotkeys,none" initialization failed
[0000562faa0ac470] dummy interface: using the dummy interface module...
[00007fc4580015a0] http stream error: local stream 1 error: Cancellation (0x8)
[00007fc4581772b0] http stream error: local stream 1 error: Cancellation (0x8)
[00007fc4581772b0] http stream error: local stream 1 error: Cancellation (0x8)
[00007fc4581772b0] main stream error: too many redirections
[00007fc454007a20] main input error: Your input can't be opened
[00007fc454007a20] main input error: VLC is unable to open the MRL 'https://chtbl.com/track/5899E/podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/e5f91208-cc7e-4726-a312-ae280140ad11/9ac29782-dd04-4c14-9fa1-b14f0003754e/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=d64f756d-6d5e-4fae-b24f-ae280140ad36'. Check the log for details.
[00007fc458934500] http stream error: local stream 1 error: Cancellation (0x8)
[00007fc458934500] http stream error: local stream 1 error: Cancellation (0x8)
[00007fc458934500] main stream error: too many redirections
[00007fc454000c90] main input error: Your input can't be opened
[00007fc454000c90] main input error: VLC is unable to open the MRL 'https://chtbl.com/track/5899E/podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/e5f91208-cc7e-4726-a312-ae280140ad11/341f7989-155a-4dea-95f3-b14d00150fb3/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=d64f756d-6d5e-4fae-b24f-ae280140ad36'. Check the log for details.
[00007fc4587e4ea0] http stream error: local stream 1 error: Cancellation (0x8)
[00007fc4587e4ea0] http stream error: local stream 1 error: Cancellation (0x8)
[00007fc4587e4ea0] main stream error: too many redirections
[00007fc454000c90] main input error: Your input can't be opened
[00007fc454000c90] main input error: VLC is unable to open the MRL 'https://chtbl.com/track/5899E/podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/78d30acb-8463-4c40-a5ae-ae2d0145c9ff/6cfa1f75-c46f-4e0a-b618-b14901403127/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=d64f756d-6d5e-4fae-b24f-ae280140ad36'. Check the log for details.
[00007fc4587e4ea0] http stream error: local stream 1 error: Cancellation (0x8)