Podcasts are no longer just entertainment. Many students use them as academic sources because they feature experts, real discussions, and research-based content. When you add a podcast to your essay, you must cite it correctly. This keeps your work credible, prevents plagiarism, and shows that you respect academic standards.
My name is Dr. Michael Turner and I teach academic writing and research skills at Stockton University. I have worked with international and local students for more than 18 years, and I know how confusing citation rules can feel, especially if English is your second language. In this guide, I will explain step by step how to cite podcasts in APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard styles. I will also show you how to write in-text citations, what information you need to collect, and how to handle special cases like unnumbered episodes.
Trusted Online Citation Services if You Are Stuck
I have tested many academic support sites, and three of them stand out for helping with citations and references. Below you can see my honest review in table form. I focus on ease of use, citation accuracy, support, and extra features that help students.
| Service | My Experience | Best Features | What I Liked Most |
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| MyHomeworkDone | I asked for APA and MLA citations for podcasts and articles. The team returned accurate references quickly. The order process was clear, and I liked how simple the dashboard was. I did not feel lost, even on my first try. |
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| AssignmentGeek | I tested them with Chicago and Harvard formats. They provided full examples and explained why certain details are needed. Their academic writers clearly know style guides. The support chat was also friendly and helped me step by step. |
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Personal guidance and clear teaching about citation rules
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| MyPaperWriter | I used them for a mix of citations across different styles in one paper. They gave me a full reference list and made sure every in-text citation matched. I also received advice on how to collect source details. This felt like more than just a service, it felt like learning from an expert. |
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All three services did well. If you need speed, I suggest MyHomeworkDone. If you need clear teaching, AssignmentGeek is strong. If you want complete support with both guidance and full reference lists, MyPaperWriter is a great choice.
What Information You Need Before Citing a Podcast
Before you can make a correct citation, you must collect some details about the podcast. If you miss these details, your reference may be wrong and your professor may take off points. I always tell my students to check the podcast description on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or the official website. Most of the details are easy to find there.
- Title of the podcast: The full name of the show.
- Title of the episode: The exact name of the episode you listened to.
- Host or guest names: The people speaking in the episode.
- Date of release: The day, month, and year the episode was published.
- Publisher or production company: The group that produces the podcast.
- URL: The web link to the episode or the main podcast page.
- Timestamp: The minute and second if you are quoting a part of the episode.
These details are the base of every podcast citation. Collect them before you start writing your essay. This will save you time later and make your references look professional and correct.
| Detail | What to copy | Where to find it | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Podcast title | The full name of the show | Show page on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or the official site | Science Talk |
| Episode title | The exact name of the episode | Episode page or episode description | The Future of Climate Change |
| Host or author | Name of the host. If the host is not clear, use the organization | Show header, About section, or credits | Kate Rogers |
| Guests | Names of key guests you quote | Episode description or transcript | Dr. Lina Park |
| Release date | Day, month, and year of the episode | Under the episode title or in the feed | 15 March 2021 |
| Publisher | Production company or network name | Footer, About page, or show credits | Scientific American |
| URL | Direct link to the episode or show page | Share button on the platform or browser address bar | https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/ |
| Timestamp | Minute and second of the quote you used | Player progress bar or transcript time marks | 12:45 |
| Season and episode number | Season S and episode E if available | Episode header or show notes | S2 E5 |
| Medium | Write Audio podcast episode or Podcast as needed by the style | Style guide rules | Audio podcast episode |
| Access date | The date you last viewed the episode page. Needed in Harvard and some guides | Your notes or browser history | 20 June 2023 |
TipCopy names and titles exactly as written. Keep the same capital letters. Save all details in a simple note so you can build APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard citations fast.
How to Cite a Podcast in APA Style
APA style is very common in social sciences and education. The format looks strict, but once you see the pattern it becomes easy.
APA reference list format
Host Last Name, First Initial. (Host). (Year, Month Day). Title of episode [Audio podcast episode]. In Title of podcast. Production Company. URL
Example of a podcast reference in APA
Rogers, K. (Host). (2021, March 15). The future of climate change [Audio podcast episode]. In Science Talk. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/
In-text citation examples
If you quote directly and include the time:
(Rogers, 2021, 12:45)
If you mention the episode in general:
(Rogers, 2021)
Always make sure the in-text citation matches the entry in your reference list. This keeps your essay clear and correct.
How to Cite a Podcast in MLA Style
MLA style is often used in the humanities. The format for citing a podcast in MLA style looks a little different from APA. It focuses more on the author or host and the order of details.
MLA works cited format
Host Last Name, First Name, host. "Title of Episode." Title of Podcast, season number, episode number, Publisher, Day Month Year, URL.
Example of a podcast reference in MLA
Rogers, Kate, host. "The Future of Climate Change." Science Talk, season 2, episode 5, Scientific American, 15 Mar. 2021, https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/
In-text citation examples
If you quote directly and include the time:
(Rogers 12:45)
If you only mention the episode in general:
(Rogers)
MLA style uses the author’s last name in the in-text citation. If you are quoting, add the timestamp to show the reader where to find the part you used.
| Feature | APA Style | MLA Style |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Author or host with year first | Author or host with episode title first |
| Order of details | Host. (Date). Episode title. In Podcast title. Publisher. URL | Host. “Episode title.” Podcast title, season, episode, Publisher, Date, URL |
| Episode title style | Italic if it is a podcast series, plain text for episode | Episode title in quotation marks, podcast title italic |
| Date | Year, Month Day | Day Month Year |
| In-text citation |
Uses last name and year
(Rogers, 2021)
With time for quotes (Rogers, 2021, 12:45)
|
Uses last name only
(Rogers)
With time for quotes (Rogers 12:45)
|
| Example full reference |
Rogers, K. (Host). (2021, March 15). The future of climate change [Audio podcast episode]. In Science Talk. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/
|
Rogers, Kate, host. “The Future of Climate Change.” Science Talk, season 2, episode 5, Scientific American, 15 Mar. 2021, https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/
|
This table shows that APA is date focused and MLA is title focused. APA always includes the year early, while MLA highlights the episode title and the season or episode number if available.
How to Cite a Podcast in Chicago Style
Chicago style is used in many history and arts classes. Some students prefer the Notes and Bibliography format, while others use the Author-Date format. Both are correct, but you must follow your professor’s instructions.
Chicago Notes and Bibliography format
Note: Host First Name Last Name, "Title of Episode," Title of Podcast, Month Day, Year, URL.
Bibliography: Host Last Name, First Name. "Title of Episode." Title of Podcast. Month Day, Year. URL.
Example in Chicago Notes and Bibliography
Note: Kate Rogers, "The Future of Climate Change," Science Talk, March 15, 2021, https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/
Bibliography: Rogers, Kate. "The Future of Climate Change." Science Talk. March 15, 2021. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/
Chicago Author-Date format
Reference list: Host Last Name, First Name. Year. "Title of Episode." Title of Podcast, Month Day. URL.
Example in Chicago Author-Date
Rogers, Kate. 2021. "The Future of Climate Change." Science Talk, March 15. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/
In-text citation example
(Rogers 2021)
In Chicago style, always check if your professor wants Notes and Bibliography or Author-Date. The details are the same, but the layout changes.
How to Cite a Podcast in Harvard Style
Harvard style is often used in social sciences and business courses. The format is simple once you understand the order of details. The key is to always include the host, the year, the title, the type of source, the podcast title, the publisher, and the URL.
Harvard reference list format
Host Last Name, First Initial. (Year) 'Title of episode', Title of podcast [Podcast], Publisher, Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Example of a podcast reference in Harvard
Rogers, K. (2021) 'The future of climate change', Science Talk [Podcast], Scientific American, 15 March. Available at: https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/ (Accessed: 20 June 2023).
In-text citation examples
If you quote directly with a time marker:
(Rogers, 2021, 12:45)
If you mention the episode in general:
(Rogers, 2021)
Harvard style always asks for an access date at the end. This shows the reader when you last viewed the podcast online.
| Feature | Chicago Style | Harvard Style |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Two systems: Notes and Bibliography, or Author-Date | Author-Date only, with clear access date |
| Order of details |
Notes and Bibliography: Host, “Episode title,” Podcast title, Date, URL Author-Date: Host. Year. “Episode title.” Podcast title, Date. URL |
Host. (Year) ‘Episode title’, Podcast title [Podcast], Publisher, Date. Available at: URL (Accessed: Date) |
| Date | Year for Author-Date, full date for Notes | Year in brackets, full date after publisher |
| In-text citation |
Author-Date uses last name and year
(Rogers 2021)
|
Last name, year, and time if needed
(Rogers, 2021, 12:45)
|
| Example full reference |
Rogers, Kate. 2021. “The Future of Climate Change.” Science Talk, March 15. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/
|
Rogers, K. (2021) ‘The future of climate change’, Science Talk [Podcast], Scientific American, 15 March. Available at: https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/ (Accessed: 20 June 2023).
|
This table shows that Chicago gives you two systems to choose from, while Harvard is more strict. Harvard always asks for an access date. Chicago may not, unless your professor asks for it.
Whole Podcast vs Single Episode
Sometimes you want to cite the entire podcast series, not just one episode. Other times you only need to cite one specific episode. The way you write the reference depends on what you used in your essay.
Citing the whole podcast
If you talk about the show in general, you cite the full podcast. Here is an example in APA style:
Rogers, K. (Host). (2019–present). Science Talk [Audio podcast]. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/
Citing a single episode
If you only use one episode, you must give all the details for that episode. Here is the same podcast cited as one episode in APA style:
Rogers, K. (Host). (2021, March 15). The future of climate change [Audio podcast episode]. In Science Talk. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/
How to Do In-Text Citations for Podcasts
In-text citations show the reader where your idea or quote comes from. Each style has its own rules, but they all use the same basic idea. You write the author or host’s name and the year. If you use a direct quote, you also add the time in the episode.
APA in-text citation
General reference:
(Rogers, 2021)
Direct quote with time:
(Rogers, 2021, 12:45)
MLA in-text citation
General reference:
(Rogers)
Direct quote with time:
(Rogers 12:45)
Chicago Author-Date in-text citation
General reference:
(Rogers 2021)
Harvard in-text citation
General reference:
(Rogers, 2021)
Direct quote with time:
(Rogers, 2021, 12:45)
Always match your in-text citation with the full reference in your list at the end of the essay. This makes it easy for the reader to find the full details.
Special Cases
Not all podcasts follow the same format. Some episodes may not have numbers, some may be bonus content, and some may not list a clear host. You can still cite them correctly if you adjust the details.
Unnumbered episode
If the episode does not have a number, just leave it out. Example in APA:
Lee, M. (Host). (2022, August 4). Exploring deep space [Audio podcast episode]. In Space Talks. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/
Bonus episode
If the episode is labeled as a bonus, write “Bonus episode” in the title. Example in MLA:
Lee, Mark, host. "Exploring Deep Space, Bonus Episode." Space Talks, NASA, 4 Aug. 2022, https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/
Podcast without a host
If there is no host, use the organization or production company as the author. Example in Harvard:
NASA. (2022) 'Exploring deep space', Space Talks [Podcast], 4 August. Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/ (Accessed: 20 June 2023).
Podcast from an app
If you listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or another app, you can still use the official URL if it is available. If not, cite the podcast page on that platform. Example in Chicago Author-Date:
NASA. 2022. "Exploring Deep Space." Space Talks, August 4. Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/show/xyz
Always give the reader enough information to find the exact episode. If something is missing, use what is available and make the reference as clear as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you cite a podcast in APA style?
APA uses the host name, date, title, podcast title, publisher, and URL. Example:
Rogers, K. (Host). (2021, March 15). The future of climate change [Audio podcast episode]. In Science Talk. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/
How do you cite a podcast in MLA style?
MLA focuses on the host and episode title. Example:
Rogers, Kate, host. "The Future of Climate Change." Science Talk, season 2, episode 5, Scientific American, 15 Mar. 2021, https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/
How do you cite a podcast in Chicago style?
Chicago can use Notes and Bibliography or Author-Date. Example in Author-Date:
Rogers, Kate. 2021. "The Future of Climate Change." Science Talk, March 15. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/
How do you cite a podcast in Harvard style?
Harvard includes the access date. Example:
Rogers, K. (2021) 'The future of climate change', Science Talk [Podcast], Scientific American, 15 March. Available at: https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/ (Accessed: 20 June 2023).
What information do I need to cite a podcast?
You need the title of the podcast, the title of the episode, the host or guest names, the release date, the publisher, the URL, and the time if you use a direct quote.
Do I need to include a timestamp?
Yes, if you use a direct quote. This shows the reader the exact moment in the episode where your quote appears.
How do I cite a podcast from Spotify or Apple Podcasts?
Use the official podcast page URL if possible. If not, cite the podcast from the platform where you listened, such as Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Should I cite the whole podcast or one episode?
If you talk about the show in general, cite the whole podcast. If you use ideas or quotes from a single episode, cite only that episode.
