Audio problems depending on which track on timeline

[demi14]

In Premiere 24.2.1, when I place footage on the timeline, depending on WHICH TRACK I place audio, the audio either 1. doesn't play at all 2. plays only LEFT channel or 3. plays only right channel. WHAT IS WRONG? This has been the case for SEVERAL projects for a couple months. I'm on a MACBOOK PRO 2021 and have been using Premiere for many years and never encountered this before.

[demi14]

FYI - both right and left channels are checked but as a workaround, I have to double stack music to get both right and left channels.

[demi14]

Still no help? ugh.