Just think about it: you've got a shared interest, so there's no risk of small talk. You know you're going to see them again, but in a neutral environment. There will be other people there, so you can easily find someone else to talk to if the conversation runs cold, and if it all goes belly up you've got an easy way out you can just stop going to meet-ups and never have to see them again.
The beauty of PodClub lies in its ability to foster connections among friends of friends, all bound by a mutual love for podcasts, making it an enriching social experience.