How to a Cite Podcast | Learn With Examples

Podcasts are more popular than ever, offering a wealth of information, entertainment, and insights right at our fingertips. 

Whether you're diving into the latest true crime story, learning about the mysteries of the universe, or staying up-to-date with current events, podcasts have become an integral part of our daily lives. 

But what happens when you want to reference that brilliant episode in your next essay or research paper? 

Citing a podcast might seem tricky, but don't worry! 

In this blog, we'll walk you through how to cite podcasts in different citation styles, making it easy to give credit where it's due. 

So, let’s dive in and make sure your references are spot-on!

What Do Podcast Citations Usually Require?

Citing a podcast involves noting essential details to give proper credit. Here's what podcast citations typically require:

• Podcast Title: Include the title of the podcast series.
• Episode Title: Specify the title of the particular episode being cited.
• Host(s): Mention the names of the hosts or creators.
• Publication Date: Note when the episode was released.
• Time Stamp: Provide the specific time within the episode where the cited information is located.
• URL or DOI: Provide the web link or Digital Object Identifier for online accessibility.
• Podcast Platform: Specify the platform (e.g., Spotify, Apple Podcasts) where the podcast can be found.

Remember, these components may vary slightly depending on the citation style you're using (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). For that purpose, we will look at the format along with examples of podcast citations in these formats. 

How to Cite a Podcast in MLA Format

When citing a specific episode of a podcast in MLA format:

• Start with the author's last name followed by their first name
• Enclose the episode title in quotation marks
• Provide the title of the podcast in italics
• The season and episode numbers, if they’re available
• Include the name of the publisher, the publication date, and the URL if the podcast is accessed online

Here’s how to cite a podcast episode in MLA 9th Edition.:

Format: Last Name, First Name, Role. “Episode Title.” Podcast Name, season number, number of the episode, Publisher, Day Month Year (of publication), URL.

Example: 

Smith, Jane, Host. “The Art of Conversation.” Conversations with Jane, season 2, episode 23, Conversations Media, 22 February 2024, www.conversationswithjane.com/the-art-of-conversation.

This is how to cite a podcast MLA in-text:

In-text citation: (Smith, 34:12)

Podcast Series Citation in MLA

In case you’re citing a complete podcast series, the format would look like this:

Last Name, First Name, Role. “Episode Title.” Podcast Name, podcast season, podcast episode number, Publisher, Day Month Year (of publication), URL.

Example: 

Doe, John, Producer. “Finding Peace Within.” Mindfulness Series, season 1, episode 5, Inner Peace Productions, 10 September 2023, www.innerpeacepodcast.com/finding-peace-within.

In-text citation: (Doe)

How to Cite a Podcast in APA Format

In APA format, citing a podcast episode involves listing the host's last name and initials like: “(Host)”, the publication year and date, and the episode title with its number in square brackets [].

The podcast's name is italicized, followed by the production company's name, and if available, the URL for online retrieval. 

Here’s how to cite a podcast episode in APA 7th Edition: 

Citing a Podcast Series in APA Style

If you’re citing a podcast series in the APA format, you have to make slight adjustments to the citation format. Instead of listing the host as the author, you can list the producer/producer in the citation. As for the date, mention the range of years that shows what time did the series run for. 

Here is the format:

Host last name, first name. (Host). or Producer last name, first name. (Producer). (Year range). Name of the Podcast [Audio podcast]. Publisher. URL

Example: 

Marcus, H. (Producer). (2020-2022). Science Talks [Audio podcast]. Scientific Discoveries Network. https://www.example.com/sciencetalks

In-text citation: (Marcus, 2020-2022)

How to Cite a Podcast in Chicago Format

When citing a podcast in Chicago style, you need to include specific elements such as the podcast title, episode title (if applicable), the creator's name, publication date, and URL (if accessed online).

Here's how to format the footnote citation in Chicago style:

First Name, Last Name, “Podcast Episode Name,” Year, Podcast Title, Produced by name, podcast, audio format, running time, URL. 

Example: 

1. Maria García, "Exploring Cultural Diversity in Modern Cinema," 2023, CineMundo, produced by Carlos López, podcast, mp4, 52:14, https://www.example.com/cinemundo/diversity.

This is the format for the Chicago bibliographic entry: 

Last Name, First Name. “Podcast Episode Name.” Produced by name. Podcast name. Publication Month Day, Year. podcast, Audio Format. Running Time. URL [Accessed Month Day, Year].

Example: 

García, Maria. "Exploring Cultural Diversity in Modern Cinema." Produced by Carlos López. CineMundo. September 28, 2023. Podcast, 52:14. https://www.example.com/cinemundo/diversity [Accessed January 1, 2024].

How to Cite a Podcast in Harvard Style

In Harvard style, citing a podcast episode involves noting key details about the episode to help readers locate it. Here's the general format for citing a podcast episode:

Format:

Author(s) Last Name, First initial. (Year). "Episode Title." Podcast Series Name. [podcast]. Publisher. Retrieved from URL

Example:

Smith, J. (2023). "The Art of Storytelling." The Creative Narrative. [podcast]. Storytelling Media. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/thecreativenarrative/episodes/the-art-of-storytelling

In-text citation: (Smith, 2023)

Citing a Podcast Series

When citing an entire podcast series, you need to include information about the series as a whole rather than individual episodes. Here's how to cite a podcast series in Harvard style:

Format:

Author(s) Last Name, First initial. (Year). Podcast Series Name. [podcast]. Publisher. Retrieved from URL

Example:

Doe, A. (2022). Exploring History. [podcast]. Historical Perspectives Ltd. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/exploringhistory

In-text citation: (Doe, 2022)

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