Apple Podcasts itself does not delete episodes. However, there are a few reasons why you might not be seeing certain episodes:

1. The podcast creator may have removed the episode. This could be due to a variety of reasons such as updating content, fixing errors, or removing outdated material.

2. The episode might be temporarily unavailable due to technical issues with the host server.

3. The podcast creator may have set a limit on the number of episodes that appear in their feed.

4. If you're subscribed to the podcast, check your settings. There's an option to delete played episodes automatically, which might be why you're not seeing them.

5. Some podcasts are available for a limited time or require a subscription to access older episodes.

If you're having trouble finding a specific episode, it might be worth reaching out to the podcast creator to see if they can provide more information.