So it is true there can be some local minimum problems. Sometimes I'll get on a random topic binge for a few days and I'll notice my homepage changing (sometimes for the worse.)
In terms of getting out - hard to say. I rarely if ever use search on YouTube or even most of the discovery features unless there is a very specific video I'm looking for. I don't search specific topics or interests to find content. I don't even use the "subscriptions-only" view because I like seeing the algorithm recommend new things to me and I know good content from any of my subscriptions will bubble up if it is good. A few YouTubers I do watch religiously and will personally check their page every so often.
Most of the content I watch and people I subscribe too I found pretty organically. Something will pop up on the homepage that I like. I'll check out more of their videos. Then the next day that person and similar channels will start showing up in the algo. Eventually I'll subscribe if its consistent quality. Rinse and repeat.
My current homepage consists of indie gamers playing new games, some technology channels like LTT or similar, low-level electronics and circuit board design, a few programming channels, documentaries for speedrunning history, some DIY channels for DIY or furniture building, Ancient Egypt and its conspiracies, game devlogs. I have a guilty pleasure for Minecraft but its been a few weeks since I watched anything related so looking now its completely fallen off the algo.
Every so often I'll get a channel rec from reddit or here and I'll check them out.
Oh - don't be afraid to curate your watch history. If I watched something I didn't like I go into my watch history and remove that video so it no longer has influence on the algo. I like my history to be an archive of what I have watched so I can find it again though so this is rare.