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Check Engine Podcast

Check Engine Podcast

By Check Engine Podcast

The only podcast created by three two-time winners of IMSA’s Spirit of the Race award, the Check Engine Podcast is a car podcast for car fans. We love cars, and we know you do too.
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Check Engine PodcastMar 24, 2020

00:00
01:29:26
Live Bees In Honey Jars

Live Bees In Honey Jars

After the shocking realization last episode that we were woefully out of touch with the current slate of new cars available in 2024, we have decided to rectify that. We discuss the newest metal coming out of the US, Asia, and Europe. Spoiler, we might have found out WHY we're so out of touch...

Mar 05, 202401:27:13
Don't Touch My Hotdog Carrot Fingers!

Don't Touch My Hotdog Carrot Fingers!

After far too long being parted from you all, dear listeners, we're BACK! We get ourselves up to speed some timely car news, autosport news, and couldn't pass up a good opportunity to rag on Tesla (It's been too long, c'mon!). Join us today and give a listen!

Feb 22, 202401:31:59
Karts of The Round Table Vol. 2!

Karts of The Round Table Vol. 2!

After the interest you all had in our karting round table last year, we thought we'd bring some fresh faces (and a couple of old friends) back to the table to talk a little bit more about the world of karting. From local track events to chasing national titles, these guys have done it all! Listen in today for some behind the scenes laughs, on track tension, and, of course, discussion about the best catering available at the kart track!

Dec 27, 202302:05:46
Tristan Ruins Everything

Tristan Ruins Everything

In this episode, the boys put Andrew's hypothesis to the test! Is his generation Elantra N-Line the best looking car in its class of all time? Join us for a king of the hill style knockout session to see if his hopes and dreams hold water!

Nov 08, 202301:47:43
Trust the Beaver!

Trust the Beaver!

After a dazzling guest in our last episode, we're left with trying to this on our own again! Tristan wants to hear about your regional, lifestyle brands/gas stations/tourist attractions. Andrew and Nick... do not. We also cover some neat car news, now new car news, and even a little bit of racing.

Oct 03, 202301:37:20
Very Talkative and Sometimes Just Hungry

Very Talkative and Sometimes Just Hungry

In this very special episode, we get to sit down and chat with new friend of the podcast, Kyle Downs! Kyle brings us some of the inside stories of the life of a sports car racing crew member. From tire guy to impromptu race engineer, Kyle has seen and done nearly anything you can think of! Listen in today for some fun facts and cool stories!

Sep 06, 202301:56:16
Aliems!

Aliems!

This week, we bring you an open episode. Tristan has a rental car review, we make good on our newest CEPSwagShop.com shirt by not being a conspiracy theory podcast (or are we?), and cover some recent car news!

Aug 08, 202301:20:42
Twinning!

Twinning!

To start this episode off, Tristan and Andrew recount Tristan’s visit to the great state of Nebraska during the Great Battle of July 4th. “Nebraska?!”, you say. Yes! Nebraska! After recounting the genuine pleasures of the Cornhusker state, the boys discuss an idea that was actually spawned from that very trip: What if you could buy four people a gift car, but it was for both of you? TWINS! Listen in today and let us know what cars YOU would twin with your significant other, family member, best friend, etc.!

Jul 11, 202301:27:19
Would You Rather?

Would You Rather?

After spending some time catching up by discussing Andrew’s time in Nebraska, some racing results, and various other Neat Car News, the boys debut a new game time segment by playing a nice round of “Would You Rather?”. There will be ducks.


Jun 27, 202301:17:14
There's No Number Oh

There's No Number Oh

Returning for a week to our "open episode" format, the boys wax poetical about what tends to be the most wonderful time of the year for racing! The Indy 500 has just finished, Le Mans is on the horizon and we're about to get to see IndyCar at our local track! Things are looking up! We also discuss some shady doings from Tesla, the question of who dropped something on Priuses, and various other car news. Listen in today and PLEASE give us soundboard ideas!

Jun 06, 202301:27:53
Draft Grades

Draft Grades

Well, not ACTUAL grades... we're not that way around here. However, we've taken a couple of weeks to think about some of the choices made in the heat of the draft, evaluate some options left on the table, and further flesh out why we made the choices we made. As a bonus, we even tried to come up with car company names better than STELLANTIS!

May 23, 202301:21:56
Draft Day Pt. 1 - Lunch Pail Mentality

Draft Day Pt. 1 - Lunch Pail Mentality

That's right everyone, it's draft season! So, CEP has decided to get in on the fun. To build our own car companies, we'll choose from the best the automotive "universities" (read: existing car companies) have to offer, both domestic and international. Give us a listen today and give us a draft grade! Did we waste any picks? Score any late-draft wunderkinds? Or did we miss something you think should have been an obvious pick? Let us know!

May 09, 202301:24:44
Hitcha With the Noise

Hitcha With the Noise

In this episode, we got an UPGRADE! Armed with their newly unlocked soundboard, they boys discuss Ford's trend of "Raptor everything", X-Cars that were either the one that got away or the one that might still be, and the inevitable outcome of last episode's poll. Listen in today and let us know if you have any memorable X-Cars!

Apr 19, 202301:23:33
Beefsteak Edition

Beefsteak Edition

In this episode, we return to an old favorite format: the news roundup! Ripping our topics from the headlines, we cover EVs, vehicle design, and many other timely topics. Nick and Andrew even ARGUE! Listen today and let us know which one of them is right.

Apr 04, 202301:22:44
Go Touch Grass, Loser

Go Touch Grass, Loser

In this episode, we realize that we have made it to FIVE YEARS of podcasting! Thank you to our loyal listeners who have stuck with us this far, through thick and thin, consistent and inconsistent release schedules, and everything else!! After we reminisce for a little while, this episode then jumps into the deep and of the automotive industry conspiracy theory pool! Are we fools for wasting money on gas when we could use water? IS the New World Order coming for us? Listen in today and feel free to tell us how we've missed the next big automotive plot!

Mar 14, 202301:19:18
The Great Racing Pitch of 2023

The Great Racing Pitch of 2023

In this episode, Nick has been given to daunting challenges: Put a Nissan Rogue in reverse and to convince Andrew and Tristan (and maybe even our listeners) to watch more than IMSA this year! Being the marketing wizard he is, Nick has been tasked with assembling the perfect sales pitches that will hook Andrew and Tristan on the 2023 NASCAR, IndyCar, and F1 seasons. Listen in today to see if they take the bait! Maybe you will too!

Feb 28, 202301:33:41
Don't Call it a COMEBACK: Lethargically Enthusiastic

Don't Call it a COMEBACK: Lethargically Enthusiastic

This very first episode of Season SIX marks the triumphant return of your full set of Spirit of the Race award winning hosts! With some big life changes behind us, we're finally able to reunite around the virtual table to discuss some recent automotive news, the futures of self driving and updating cars, Super Bowl commercials, Tristan's travelogue, and even a couple rental car reviews! Join us as we knock off the rust and get back to it!

Feb 14, 202301:22:45
Karts of the Round Table

Karts of the Round Table

We're BACK everyone! And ready for Season 6! With Andrew still out on assignment in Nebraska, Nick and Tristan get to host a discussion on grassroots karting (and karting at the NOT so grassroots level). Join us for a virtual round table with several of the drivers in Nick's karting group, the TaG Master's Championship (and one driver who might join them one day). With drivers of various backgrounds, experience levels, and life experience, this episode promises to be a lively discussion full of the stories of our guest drivers, discussions of their championship, and discussion about karting in general, all over the world. 

For more information, right from the drivers themselves, please visit and support their various social media and merch opportunities listed below!

Roman Padans' Lv2Race YouTube Channel

Charlie Ropke's YouTube Channel

Brian Janty's YouTube Channel

And last, but certainly not least, the merch store for Kevin Kullman and Brian Janty's Mean Wieners


Dec 06, 202202:21:60
Not as Bad as Falling Off a Cliff feat. Mike Skeen

Not as Bad as Falling Off a Cliff feat. Mike Skeen

On this week's episode, we welcome Mike Skeen! Mike is a multi-talented driver who has driven everything from Baja to NASCAR to Trans Am cars to the fabled Pike's Peak hill climb! If it has wheels, he can (and probably will) race it! Providing some great inside stories that only a driver like Mike can, he brought us one heck of an episode! Listen in today!

Aug 24, 202201:02:56
No, no, NOnonono, no, NO, No, no, no, no, no, no, , no, no, no, nononono, no you can't do that -John Heindaugh

No, no, NOnonono, no, NO, No, no, no, no, no, no, , no, no, no, nononono, no you can't do that -John Heindaugh

It's that time again folks! Time for our yearly roundup of our pilgrimage to the promised land, Heaven on Earth, America's National Park of Speed: Road America in beautiful Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. From our observations on the quality of racing, to Andrew's first experience out on the track, to some of Nick's post-race exploits in the friendly confines of Siebkens bar, we'll make you feel like you were there!

Aug 11, 202201:20:06
The Platonic Ideal of a Volvo Wagon

The Platonic Ideal of a Volvo Wagon

In this open episode, we discuss some issues with driving we've noticed lately, baffling car to human interface choices, this new subscription model the car companies are trying, what to do about the weird Buick/Cadillac dichotomy, and some cool motorsports news from Nick!

Jul 26, 202201:12:58
Many Happy Returns

Many Happy Returns

In this open episode, we celebrate the return of Andrew's Elantra from repair purgatory! We also celebrate the return of Tristan from the perils of the Bermuda Triangle! We discuss some motorsport, some car news and NEAT (or not so neat...) car news, and various other topics of the day.

Jul 12, 202201:15:13
No Pretense of Professionalism
Jun 23, 202201:04:26
Coming for Joe Rogan

Coming for Joe Rogan

We're finally back in the studio! Armed with backlit, big screen TV, accent lighting, a real mixing board, and microphone stands, the boys are BACK! Being the season of "Dads and Grads" we follow a listener suggestion and fill out the pages of our automotive yearbook with everyone's favorite part: the awards! We bring our nominees for most likely to succeed, teacher's pet, and class clown to the table and crown some winners. Listen in today to tell us if there are any other nominees or even any other awards you'd hand out!

Jun 07, 202201:14:05
Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Yakety Schmakety Edition

Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Yakety Schmakety Edition

In preparation for Pride Month in June, we decided to delve deep into the wonderful, rainbow wonderful world of color! Everyone remember your memory tricks for the colors of the rainbow? We do! We explore the full spectrum of Roy G Biv as it applies to the automotive world. We each discuss and show and tell our favorite Reds, Oranges, Yellows, Greens, Blues, Indigos, and Violets (with some bonus neutrals thrown in as well) and what cars they look the best on. Listen in today, find us on social media, and then show us YOUR rainbow of automotive goodness!

May 24, 202201:46:27
Andrew's Inconvenient Coof

Andrew's Inconvenient Coof

With, hopefully, one last remote recording session, we bring you an open episode! This episode, we discuss some neat car news, we finally get Nick's opinion on the Lucid Air, and FINALLY give you our take on the masterpiece that is Grand Prix Racing On Line. Listen in today to find out what we think!

May 17, 202201:08:53
Andrew's Cake Hole

Andrew's Cake Hole

In this episode, we celebrate the birthday of one of our hosts and allow him to choose the tune! So, at Andrew's request, we discuss what (if we had the funds and the go ahead from our significant others) would be our track day toys of choice. From a fully stripped out, customized nearly-racecar to a double threat GT car, to a tuner classic, we discuss what would bring us joy on the streets and the road. Listen in and let us know what YOU would use to wring some smiles out of your face!

May 10, 202256:21
Hamsporters!

Hamsporters!

In this open episode, we discuss our most recent embarrassing car stories, desirable cars as suggested by the Interwebs, buying the car for the job you have, not the job you want (... or the job you used to have), the never-ending search for Andrew's next car, and why electric cars look so dang weird...

May 03, 202201:16:51
Classical Genetics

Classical Genetics

This week, our episode topic came to us (well, Nick) in a DREAM! Dreaming of Goldendoodles, Cockapoos, and Taco Terriers, Nick was stuck with the inspiration to have us talk about cross-breeding cars. So, we jumped right in to discuss some of our ideas on what would make the perfect "Designer Car Breed".Could we make something fun or useful by crossing an F350 with a Smart Car? What about a VW Cabriolet and a Chevy Traverse? The options would seem to be limitless! Listen in today and let us know what cars YOU'D cross and what you'd make out of them!

Apr 22, 202254:40
Game Meat

Game Meat

In this episode, we ask our listeners what how they'd feel about some video games for a future episode! We also dive head first into what the heck happened to Mini, the Mustang Mach E and Bronco situation with Ford, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and, most importantly (or, unimportantly, depending on who you are), the Toyota GR Corolla! Listen in today to tell us what YOU think!

Apr 06, 202201:19:50
To Be Made an Example Of

To Be Made an Example Of

This episode, we discuss various race news from this week, including our boy, Josh Bilicki's new-found fire, the history of penalties in NASCAR, and whether "race driver" is a lucrative addition to our resume.

Mar 29, 202201:15:37
Fenders and Fender Benders

Fenders and Fender Benders

This week, Tristan opens our episode by sharing stories of his wild last couple weeks in automotive ownership. Then Andrew and Nick go down the rabbit hole of some super cool collabs between guitar makers and automakers. Let us know if you know of any we missed or if you have any crazier roadtrip stories than Tristan!

Mar 22, 202201:17:17
Dear John Mazda

Dear John Mazda

Like Cadillac and NASCAR before it, Mazda is now in the sights of the Check Engine Podcast Brand Enhancement Team (the guys...). We examine the best possible strategies for Mazda to find its way back into favor with both us and the rest of the car-buying world. We don't know exactly what Mazda IS doing, but we know what they SHOULD be doing!

Mar 10, 202201:04:11
A Self-Driving Car by Any Other Name...

A Self-Driving Car by Any Other Name...

In this episode, we open things back up for some discussions on motorsports, the Autonomous Vehicle Industry (DON'T CALL THEM SELF-DRIVING), a dip into car video games, and other bits of automotive news. Listen 

Mar 01, 202201:14:39
NFTs, Crypto, and VW Things

NFTs, Crypto, and VW Things

It's that time of year again! It's time for our review of the commercials from this year's Big Game! From short films that don't really advertise anything to masterclasses in Swedish minimalist design, we review them all. 1-10. What makes a 10/10 commercial for you? Cute animals? Catchy songs and dance? Social commentary? Listen in today and let us know!

Feb 22, 202201:01:14
Accents and Mustaches: The Ballad of Grizzly Dew

Accents and Mustaches: The Ballad of Grizzly Dew

After a bit of a break, we shake off the rust and make our triumphant return! We discuss what kept us busy over the winter break and then dive into some car news, motorsports news, and even are take a swipe at trying to fix NASCAR AGAIN! Join us, and welcome back!

Feb 15, 202201:38:54
Chestnuts Frying in a Deep Fat Fryer
Dec 21, 202154:58
A Drive in the A**!

A Drive in the A**!

This week, we interview dealer service guru from Green Bay, Nick's cousin, and all-around good guy, Brad Williquette. We tap into Brad's industry expertise earned by years in the automotive dealership service field. He helps us answer some of our burning questions about why things are the way they are at dealerships, passes on a little bit of personal wisdom (especially regarding pizza!), and shares some of his best stories from years of dealing with automotive service customers.

Dec 17, 202101:38:38
A Little Cheataroonie (or The One Where They Get Nerdy)
Dec 07, 202101:36:06
Praise Hell and Raise Dale!
Nov 24, 202101:43:30
Gaskeeping! Gatelighting!

Gaskeeping! Gatelighting!

In our second episode back, we go over some recent auto racing news, poke our noses in to see what SEMA is up to and, as always, bring the judgement!

Nov 16, 202101:47:49
Tricks and Treats!

Tricks and Treats!

That's right! We're back everyone! After a little hiatus, we have a new episode for you, and this one's special. This week, we look at some of the best (and a lot of the worst) car "costumes" around, just in time for Halloween. From full build kits to glue on parts, we take a look at cars dressed up as other cars for Halloween. These come to us courtesy of the interesting products generated by the kit car market and hobbyists around the world! Join us for some laughs, some honestly impressed "wow"s, and a little bit of disbelief!

 

Nov 09, 202101:27:53
BABY WATCH 2021

BABY WATCH 2021

With Andrew standing by, waiting to greet the newest member of the CEP family, Nick and Tristan run a two man show! This week, along with some car news roundups, we recap our we weekend at Road America for the IMSA races. The weekend was full of racing, stories, and a CEP-standard two scoops of bad weather, and we can't wait to tell you about it! 

Aug 24, 202101:23:47
Mining and Crafting

Mining and Crafting

We’re back! After finally ripping Andrew away from his Minecraft obsession and back to his microphone, we’re finally back to discuss some car news within the CEP family, as well as some very exciting motorsports news from the last week. We also preview what you can expect from us during our trip to Road America!
Aug 05, 202101:40:38
Gift Baskets!

Gift Baskets!

This episode, the guys discuss the British GP, a dash of the NBA Finals (We're NOT a basketball podcast...), our NEW MERCH, and then arrive at our main feature: Inspired by the good time we had choosing a car for Andrew's mom last week, we decide to use our talents to bestow* the gift of painstakingly chosen automobiles on 12 of our friends, family members, and coworkers!


*Without your help, we cannot ACTUALLY bestow these gifts. If you don't want us to be liars, go ahead and buy some merchandise and help us live up to our imagined generosity! https://styledaesthetic.com/popupshop/product-category/checkenginepodcast

Jul 22, 202101:39:55
Schwoopy!

Schwoopy!

This episode, the guys take a look at (read: criticize harshly) some more WatchMojo lists, and then we turn our talents to the more noble pursuit of real-life consumer advice for the mother of one of our hosts! Listen in today for some laughs at WatchMojo's expense and to see what we recommend for a mom-mobile!

Jul 13, 202101:46:11
Butts on Eyes

Butts on Eyes

After a little time away, the boys return with a motorsports roundup (including some discussion on the current NASCAR frontrunner) and we FINALLY follow through on the promise of... license plates! What could be more "car culture" than your car's name tag? We discuss the best and worst designs, our favorite designs (regardless of whether they are good or bad), slogans on license plates, and the whole idea of custom plates. Listen in today to see what we think and let us know what you think. Special edition plate? Customized vanity plate? Old school? How do you feel about license plates?

Jun 29, 202101:41:18
Exclusive Manufaktur

Exclusive Manufaktur

This week, your Check Engine Podcast hosts set out to drive the Porsche purists up a wall! We dig deep into the possibilities that are opened up by Porsche's bespoke car building service: "Exclusive Manufaktur". What do we dream of doing to the likes of Chris Harris? Front-engined 911s? Rear-engined Cayennes? GASOLINE Taycans?! Listen in today to see what we cook up!

Jun 18, 202101:20:37
Six Point Two Cubic Inches

Six Point Two Cubic Inches

This week, the guys catch up assorted motorsports happenings from the last two weeks, including Nick's visit to Indianapolis and a wild finish in Azerbaijan. After that, we deal with the fallout of the wild things that bots are writing into WatchMojo lists...

Jun 08, 202101:43:17
The Busy Forks

The Busy Forks

This week, the boys return to the tried and true "open episode" with a mini Motorsports Roundup, coverage of the aptly named Ford F-150 Lightning, and the MOST IMPORTANT TOYOTA ANNOUNCEMENT EVER...

May 25, 202101:31:27