diff --git a/server/scanner/PodcastScanner.js b/server/scanner/PodcastScanner.js
index b403a3c9d..f3241d536 100644
--- a/server/scanner/PodcastScanner.js
+++ b/server/scanner/PodcastScanner.js
@@ -58,12 +58,8 @@ class PodcastScanner {
     /** @type {AudioFile[]} */
     let newAudioFiles = []
 
-    // Track episode add/remove/update so item_updated includes the current episode list
-    let hasEpisodeChanges = false
-
     if (libraryItemData.hasAudioFileChanges || libraryItemData.audioLibraryFiles.length !== existingPodcastEpisodes.length) {
-      // Filter out and destroy episodes that were removed.
-      // filter() returns a new array — reassign to media.podcastEpisodes before emit.
+      // Filter out and destroy episodes that were removed
       const episodesToRemove = []
       existingPodcastEpisodes = existingPodcastEpisodes.filter((ep) => {
         if (libraryItemData.checkAudioFileRemoved(ep.audioFile)) {
@@ -74,7 +70,6 @@ class PodcastScanner {
       })
 
       if (episodesToRemove.length) {
-        hasEpisodeChanges = true
         // Remove episodes from playlists and media progress
         const episodeIds = episodesToRemove.map((ep) => ep.id)
         await Database.playlistModel.removeMediaItemsFromPlaylists(episodeIds)
@@ -121,7 +116,6 @@ class PodcastScanner {
             AudioFileScanner.setPodcastEpisodeMetadataFromAudioMetaTags(podcastEpisode, libraryScan)
             libraryScan.addLog(LogLevel.INFO, `Podcast episode "${podcastEpisode.title}" keys changed [${podcastEpisode.changed()?.join(', ')}]`)
             await podcastEpisode.save()
-            hasEpisodeChanges = true
           }
         }
 
@@ -161,13 +155,9 @@ class PodcastScanner {
         libraryScan.addLog(LogLevel.INFO, `New Podcast episode "${newPodcastEpisode.title}" added`)
         await newPodcastEpisode.save()
         existingPodcastEpisodes.push(newPodcastEpisode)
-        hasEpisodeChanges = true
       }
     }
 
-    // Keep association in sync for toOldJSONExpanded() / item_updated socket payload
-    media.podcastEpisodes = existingPodcastEpisodes
-
     let hasMediaChanges = false
     if (existingPodcastEpisodes.length !== media.numEpisodes) {
       media.numEpisodes = existingPodcastEpisodes.length
@@ -260,7 +250,7 @@ class PodcastScanner {
 
     return {
       libraryItem: existingLibraryItem,
-      wasUpdated: hasMediaChanges || libraryItemUpdated || hasEpisodeChanges
+      wasUpdated: hasMediaChanges || libraryItemUpdated
     }
   }