Some people just want to enjoy some spare time listening to podcasts about plants, gardening and the migration patterns of African swallows.
Some people want to listen to things they can nod along to and agree with.
And I guess some people want to listen to things that challenge their opinions, views etc.

I don’t know why people listen to JRE. I think - back in the day - there was interesting and decent stuff.
Now there are interviews with anti-vax people. And they aren’t challenged or corrected. So they say their piece along side actual scientists talking about cool planet discoveries or whatever.
My biggest gripe is that Spotify bought the show, and tries to shove it down my throat all the time. I can hide artists, albums and songs… but not podcasts