Just plug it in again and let it complete the sync.

Then check if the 'Sync automatically when connected' box in iTunes has been ticked. If so, unticking it should bring you back to your usual behaviour.

..from the iPod menu in iTunes. That usually does the job.

double post....

I'm not sure why it should suddenly start to sync when connected if you haven't set it to do that deliberately. I suspect next time you connect, it will add all of the podcasts back into the iPod so you shouldn't have much to worry about.

Two things to check -

1. Is your ipod full? The default position for iTunes seems to be to ask if it should remove podcast updating in order to fit everything in. What that results in is the removal of all podcasts from the ipod.

2. When your ipod is plugged in, look at the settings on itunes to see if they've accidentally been changed to stop syncing podcasts. It can happen!

If unplugging it doesn't reset it then do a reset (you don't need to go to the extent of a factory restore) - the instructions vary from model to model but they're easy to find on the Apple site - just go down the support route and find your model. It will be something like Menu and pause but you might need to slide the lock back and forth first. Once it's back on again it should work as normal.

Many thanks to you all. I hope all goes well. I assume a "reset" does not wipe everyhting but a "restore" does, right?