How to Cite a Podcast: APA, MLA & Chicago Examples

To cite a podcast: include host name, episode title, podcast name, date, and URL. APA format: Host, A. A. (Host). (Year, Month Day). Episode title [Audio podcast episode]. In Podcast Name. URL. MLA: Host. "Episode Title." Podcast Name, Day Month Year, URL.

You found a great quote in a podcast. Now you need to cite it in your paper. How to cite podcasts isn't obvious - they didn't exist when most citation styles were created. This guide covers APA 7th, MLA 9th, and Chicago 17th edition with exact formats you can copy-paste.

What Information Do You Need to Cite a Podcast?

Gather the host name, episode title, podcast name, publication date, URL, and timestamp for any quotes. Not all citation styles use every element, but having everything collected upfront saves frustration later when finishing a paper.

Collect this information when you first start taking notes on an episode. It's frustrating to track down episode details weeks later when you're finishing a paper. Our guide to podcast notes for students covers a system for capturing this

Here's what you'll need:

• Host name(s) - Last name, First initial for APA; full name for MLA
• Episode title - The specific episode, in quotes
• Podcast name - The overall show, italicized
• Producer or network (if available)
• Publication date - When the episode was released
• URL - Link to the specific episode
• Timestamp - For specific quotes, in hours:minutes:seconds format

How Do You Cite a Podcast in APA Format?

APA 7th edition treats podcasts as audio works. List the host as author with "(Host)" after their name, put the episode title in italics, add "[Audio podcast episode]" as the descriptor, and end with the URL. Add a timestamp for direct quotes.

APA Reference List Format

Basic structure:

Host, A. A. (Host). (Year, Month Day). Episode title (No. episode number) [Audio podcast episode]. In Podcast Name. Production Company. URL

Example:

Gross, T. (Host). (2023, March 15). The science of sleep and what it means for your health (No. 4521) [Audio podcast episode]. In Fresh Air. NPR. https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/

APA In-Text Citation

For general references: (Gross, 2023)

For specific quotes with timestamp: (Gross, 2023, 14:32)

If quoting a guest, cite the host but clarify in text: "As Dr. Walker explained in an interview with Terry Gross (2023)..."

APA Notes

• If no episode number exists, omit that part
• Include (Host) after the name to clarify the role
• Use the publication date of the specific episode, not the podcast launch date
• If you're citing a guest's words, the host is still the "author" but attribute the quote to the guest in your text

How Do You Cite a Podcast in MLA Format?

MLA 9th edition uses a container system where the episode is inside the podcast. Put the episode title in quotation marks, the podcast name in italics, then "hosted by" with the host's name, date in day-month-year format, and URL.

MLA Works Cited Format

Basic structure:

"Episode Title." Podcast Name, hosted by First Last, season, episode, Production Company, Day Month Year. URL.

Example:

"The Science of Sleep and What It Means for Your Health." Fresh Air, hosted by Terry Gross, NPR, 15 Mar. 2023. www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/.

MLA In-Text Citation

Use the first element of your Works Cited entry - usually the episode title in shortened form:

("Science of Sleep")

For a timestamp: ("Science of Sleep" 00:14:32)

Or work it into your sentence: In "The Science of Sleep," the guest explains...

MLA Notes

• Episode title goes in quotation marks
• Podcast name is italicized
• Month is abbreviated (except May, June, July)
• If season/episode numbers exist, include them
• Time stamps use colons: hours:minutes:seconds

How Do You Cite a Podcast in Chicago Format?

Chicago 17th edition offers both notes-bibliography and author-date systems. List the host with "host" after their name, episode title in quotes, podcast name in italics, and "podcast audio" as the format. Footnotes use shortened form after the first citation.

Chicago Notes-Bibliography Format

Footnote/endnote:

1. Terry Gross, host, "The Science of Sleep and What It Means for Your Health," Fresh Air, podcast audio, March 15, 2023, https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/.

Bibliography entry:

Gross, Terry, host. "The Science of Sleep and What It Means for Your Health." Fresh Air. Podcast audio. March 15, 2023. https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/.

Chicago Author-Date Format

Reference list:

Gross, Terry, host. 2023. "The Science of Sleep and What It Means for Your Health." Fresh Air. Podcast audio, March 15, 2023. https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/.

In-text: (Gross 2023)

With timestamp: (Gross 2023, 14:32)

Chicago Notes

• Include "host" after the name to clarify the role
• Episode title in quotes, podcast name in italics
• Specify "podcast audio" as the format
• Subsequent footnotes can use shortened form: Gross, "Science of Sleep."

What's the Difference Between APA, MLA, and Chicago Podcast Citations?

Each style formats podcast citations differently. APA leads with the host as author and uses brackets. MLA leads with episode title in quotes and uses "hosted by." Chicago leads with the host and uses "podcast audio" as a descriptor.

How Do You Cite a Specific Quote or Timestamp?

Include a timestamp so readers can locate the exact moment. Format as hours:minutes:seconds for longer episodes. In APA, add the timestamp to your parenthetical citation. In MLA, add it after the shortened title. In Chicago, include it in the footnote.

APA: Include timestamp in parenthetical citation - (Gross, 2023, 14:32)

MLA: Add timestamp after shortened title - ("Science of Sleep" 00:14:32)

Chicago: Include in footnote - ...at 14:32.

When capturing quotes while listening, always note the timestamp. This saves time later when you're formatting citations. Our podcast note-taking guide covers efficient capture methods

How Do You Cite a Guest on a Podcast?

The formal citation lists the host as the source, but you attribute the guest's words in your prose. Write "In an interview with [host], [guest] explained..." followed by the quote and citation. The citation points to where you heard it while your text clarifies who said it.

Example: In an interview with Terry Gross, sleep researcher Matthew Walker explained that "sleep deprivation is linked to every major disease in developed nations" (Gross, 2023, 08:45).

The citation goes to the podcast episode where you heard it. The text makes clear that Walker said it. This approach works across all citation styles.

What If Information Is Missing?

Omit what you cannot find and use what you have available. Citation styles allow flexibility when episode numbers, specific dates, or production companies aren't listed. If there's no episode number, leave it out. If only the year is available, use that.

• No episode number: Simply omit it - many podcasts don't use episode numbers
• No production company: Omit it or use the podcast network if known
• No specific date: Use the year only, or the most specific date you can find
• No author/host listed: Start with the episode title instead
• Episode accessed via third-party app: Still use the official podcast URL if possible

Are Podcasts Acceptable Academic Sources?

Whether podcasts qualify as acceptable academic sources depends on your assignment requirements and professor's guidelines. Always check first. Podcasts featuring expert interviews or scholarly discussions often work well. Entertainment-focused shows typically don't meet academic standards.

Podcasts work well as sources when:

• You're analyzing media, journalism, or public discourse
• An expert shares unique insights not published elsewhere
• You're citing current events or breaking topics
• The assignment specifically allows or encourages multimedia sources
• You're capturing an expert's personal perspective on a topic

Podcasts may not be appropriate when:

• The assignment requires peer-reviewed sources only
• You're making factual claims that need primary research support
• The podcast host isn't a credible expert on the topic
• A published source makes the same point more authoritatively

When in doubt, ask your professor. Better to check than to lose points for inappropriate sourcing. Our research on podcasts vs textbooks explores when each format works best for learning

What Are Common Podcast Citation Mistakes to Avoid?

The most frequent errors include citing the show name instead of the episode title, using incorrect italicization, and linking to podcast apps rather than official URLs. Students also commonly omit timestamps when quoting directly and list guests as authors.

• Citing the podcast name instead of the episode - you need the specific episode title
• Forgetting to italicize or quote the right elements - formatting matters
• Using the podcast app URL instead of the official episode URL
• Omitting the timestamp when quoting directly
• Listing the guest as author when the host should be listed
• Using the wrong date format for your citation style

What Tools Help With Podcast Citations?

Citation managers like Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote can handle podcast citations, though you'll typically enter information manually since automatic import rarely works for audio. Online generators offer podcast options but always verify output against style guides.

• Zotero: Add as Audio Recording type, then adjust fields
• Mendeley: Use Generic type and customize
• EndNote: Use Podcast or Audio Visual type
• EasyBib/Citation Machine: Have podcast-specific options but double-check output

Always verify automated citations against the format examples above. Citation generators make mistakes, especially with newer source types like podcasts.

Need a system for capturing citation details while you listen? Our student podcast notes template has citation fields built in. student podcast notes template

For more podcast note-taking resources, see our main podcast notes hub. podcast notes hub