Need recommendations for portable podcast player

[Leigh Ann Smith]

My husband has had an iPod Nano for years. He likes to listen to the podcasts while he works outside and doesn't want to use his phone since it could get broken.  Using iTunes is a big pain and I'd like to get him a new MP3 player that would easily download subscribed podcasts, keep his place in the podcast if he turns off the player, etc. Any suggestions?