While listening to the Avi Loeb interview, I was surprised to hear that Avi believes the ingredients for life that exist here on Earth are probably quite common. It is his view that the reason why we have not found other life is merely a result of not having looked enough. I was surprised to hear this, as it was my understanding that the ingredients of life here on Earth were very improbable. For example, being the correct distance from the Sun, having an atmosphere that can protect life from some of the Sun's harsher rays, the axial tilt of the Earth allowing for more moderate climates.
Link to interview: 2. Prediction in Astrophysics - LabXchange