10 years, 400+ episodes: Formula E podcast ePod celebrates milestone anniversary

A decade of Formula E on air: On 9 October 2016, e-Formel.de launched its German-language podcast ePod with an episode titled "Hochspannung in Hongkong" ("High Voltage in Hong Kong"). Ten years and more than 400 episodes later, the podcast celebrates its anniversary with a special reunion of all six regular contributors from throughout its history, plus birthday messages from Formula E stars including Pascal Wehrlein, Sebastien Buemi and Nico Müller.

Ten years is a long time in motorsport, particularly in a championship as young and fast-moving as Formula E. When ePod first went on air in October 2016, drivers still had to switch cars halfway through a race. Today, the all-electric championship is preparing for its Gen4 era.

Throughout that transformation, ePod has followed the championship with race analysis, technical discussions, interviews and stories from the paddock. A decade later, the podcast has passed the milestone of 400 regular episodes.

From a simple idea to a decade of Formula E coverage

The story began in the summer of 2016, when Philipp Hellwig, host of the German electric mobility podcast Cleanelectric, approached e-Formula.news founder Timo Pape with an idea: Why not create a regular podcast dedicated to Formula E?

The first regular episode, covering the 2016 Hong Kong E-Prix, lasted just seven minutes and 43 seconds. Much has changed since then, but one thing has remained unchanged: the opening greeting "Grüße, Freunde des Rennsports", meaning "Greetings, friends of motor racing".

Over the years, three presenters have hosted ePod. Hellwig handed over to Tobi Bluhm after episode 141, before Luca Storms took over in November 2023. Together with Tobias Wirtz, Storms currently hosts the podcast.

The show has also welcomed numerous guests from the Formula E paddock, including Maximilian Günther, Daniel Abt, Rene Rast, David Beckmann, Pascal Wehrlein, Nico Müller and Sebastien Buemi. Porsche Formula E project director Florian Modlinger joined the 400th episode earlier this year to discuss the championship's upcoming Gen4 era.

Recording in Wardrobes, Parks & Beyond

Not every episode was recorded in a conventional studio. Timo Pape once joined a recording from inside a wardrobe he was assembling, inspiring Tobi Bluhm to build his own miniature recording studio inside a wardrobe, complete with acoustic foam.

On another occasion, Bluhm and Wirtz recorded their preview of the Berlin E-Prix outdoors in a public park in the German capital.

These unusual moments are part of the podcast's history, which the team revisits in its anniversary special.

6 contributors reunite for 10th anniversary

For the anniversary episode, current hosts Luca Storms and Tobias Wirtz are joined by former regular contributors Philipp Hellwig, Timo Pape, Tobi Bluhm and Svenja König.

The six look back on the origins of ePod, their favourite memories and previously untold behind-the-scenes stories. Formula E drivers Maximilian Günther, Sebastien Buemi, Nico Müller and two-time World Champion Pascal Wehrlein also send birthday wishes, alongside three German-speaking Formula E commentators.

While ePod remains a German-language podcast, its tenth anniversary marks an important milestone for e-Formula.news and a decade of independent Formula E podcasting.

To everyone who has listened, contributed or supported the podcast over the past ten years: thank you!

The anniversary episode is available now on our German-language website, e-Formel.de, and on major podcast platforms.