If you had purchased Pocket Casts ($2.99USD?) and Pocket Casts Plus ($9.00USD) before the freemium model was introduced, you were eventually given "Lifetime Member" status and are not required to pay a recurring fee to use Pocket Casts Plus.

History of the kerfuffle here:

https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/19/20873611/pocket-casts-plu...