>I feel like I'm in a weird alt-universe.

>I've heard frequent complaints about spotify pushing podcasts but I've never once had spotify show me a podcast above the fold that I haven't myself followed.

That you have followed or listened to a podcast in Spotify is what makes you different here.

I have never listened to a podcast on Spotify, despite being a user since the invite-only days, yet the UI recommends podcasts at the same frequency as you've described.

I imagine many of the other people here do not want podcasts to appear anywhere in the Spotify UI.