Unless you delete it, the podcast is still in iTunes. So it is saved.
Your playback position is saved automatically with Podcasts.
If you pause on iTunes, then sync the Podcast with your iPod/iPhone/iPad, the playback position is copied to your device.
Then you can listen on your device, and pause, saving your position automatically again.
Then if you sync to iTunes, the new playback position will be copied to iTunes.
Then you can listen to the podcast later on iTunes and it will start at the new playback position.
This has been available for years. Audiobooks can work in the same manner.