I downloaded the 8.04 Live-CDs last week to try them on a PC that
normally runs MEPIS, with an Atheros chipset Netgear WG311T wireless
card. Xubuntu fired right up into the wireless. The Ubuntu stumbled,
but I didn't take the time to see why Ubuntu didn't connect as easily
as Xubuntu.

Might want to get the xubuntu Live-CD and see if your Atheros hooks up.

Did you try the KDE app Amarok for podcasts? Know what you mean about
not liking to have to dual boot into Windows. Don't be afraid to try
WINE on some of those Windows apps you can't do without. I keep coming
back to uTorrent with WINE as the best bittorrent choice for Linux. It
doesn't sound logical to use a non-Linux program, but it works with
little bloat.