It is definitely confusing when it is coming in the middle of a playing podcast. Just look at the App Store reviews - they are all for specific podcasts, not the app itself:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-podcasts/id525463029?see...
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-podcasts/id525463029?see...
My delivery tracking app has popped up the same screen asking me to rate it, but I've never figured it was asking me to rate my UPS driver.
"Avoid interrupting people while they're performing a task or playing a game."
I would say mid podcast certainly qualifies as breaking that rule. They know exactly what they are doing when they ask for ratings mid-podcast and the reviews show it. The fact that it is confusing users would be enough for Apple to remove the app from the App Store for review manipulation if it were anyone but themselves. Again, take a look at the review section:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/apple-podcasts/id525463029?see...