How to Cite a Podcast | Format & Examples

Gandhinagar: Podcasts have become a popular medium for sharing information, stories, and expert opinions. As podcasts gain prominence, it’s increasingly important to know how to properly cite them in academic writing. This article provides a detailed guide on podcast citation.

What is a Citation?

In academic writing, a citation is a formal way of giving credit to the original source of information or ideas that you use in your work. It’s like saying “thank you” to the person who came up with the idea or created the content.

Citing sources is crucial to avoid plagiarism, which is using someone else’s work without giving them credit. Plagiarism is a serious offense in academic and professional settings.

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Why Cite a Podcast?

Citing a podcast is similar to citing a book, article, or website. You need to cite a podcast when you:

Directly quote a host or guest.
Summarize or paraphrase ideas or information from the podcast.
Use data or statistics presented in the podcast.
Refer to expert opinions or insights shared in the podcast.

By citing podcasts, you give credit to the creators, avoid plagiarism, and provide evidence to support your arguments. Citations also allow readers to find the original source and learn more about the topic.

Citation Styles

Different academic disciplines and institutions use different citation styles. The most common citation styles include:

APA (American Psychological Association)
MLA (Modern Language Association)
Chicago
Harvard

Each style has its own rules for formatting citations and reference lists. It’s essential to follow the guidelines of the specific citation style required by your instructor or publication.

APA Citation Style

APA style is commonly used in social sciences, education, and psychology. The APA guidelines for citing podcasts depend on whether you are citing an entire podcast series or a specific episode.

Citing an Entire Podcast Series in APA

To cite an entire podcast series in APA style, include the following elements:

Host or Executive Producer: List the last name and initials of the host or executive producer, followed by “(Host)” or “(Producer)”.
Year Range: Provide the range of years during which the podcast aired. If the podcast is still ongoing, use “present” as the second year.
Title of Podcast: Italicize the title of the podcast.
[Audio Podcast] or [Video Podcast]: Indicate the format of the podcast in square brackets.
Production Company: Provide the name of the company that produced the podcast.
URL: Include the URL of the podcast’s website.

Example: Lechtenberg, S. (Producer). (2002–present). Radiolab [Audio podcast]. WNYC. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab

Citing a Podcast Episode in APA

To cite a specific podcast episode in APA style, include the following elements:

Host: List the last name and initials of the host, followed by “(Host)”.
Date: Provide the year, month, and day the episode was released.
Title of Episode: Include the title of the episode.
(No. Episode Number): If available, include the episode number in parentheses.
[Audio Podcast Episode]: Indicate the format of the podcast in square brackets.
In Title of Podcast. Italicize the title of the podcast.
Production Company: Provide the name of the company that produced the podcast.
URL: Include the URL of the episode.

Example: Vogt, P. J., & Goldman, A. (Hosts). (2016, May 12). On the inside (No. 64) [Audio podcast episode]. In Reply all. Gimlet. https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/brho4v/64-on-the-inside

APA In-Text Citations

In-text citations are used to acknowledge the source of information within the body of your paper. In APA style, in-text citations include the author’s last name and the year of publication.

Example: (Vogt & Goldman, 2016)

If you are quoting a specific part of the podcast, you can include a timestamp in the in-text citation.

Example: (Vogt & Goldman, 2016, 11:30)

MLA Citation Style

MLA style is commonly used in humanities, such as literature, languages, and cultural studies. The MLA guidelines for citing podcasts are different from APA.

Citing a Podcast Episode in MLA

To cite a specific podcast episode in MLA style, include the following elements:

Host: List the last name and first name of the host, followed by “, host”.
“Title of Episode.” Include the title of the episode in quotation marks.
Podcast Name, Italicize the title of the podcast.
Season number, If applicable, include the season number.
Episode number, If applicable, include the episode number.
Publisher, Provide the name of the publisher or production company.
Publication Date, Provide the day, month, and year the episode was released.
URL. Include the URL of the episode.

Example: Fischer, Jenna and Angela Kinsey, hosts. “Two Weeks.” Office Ladies, episode 97, Earwolf Podcast Network, 27 Oct. 2021, www.officeladies.com/episodes/2021/27/10/episode-97-two-weeks.

Citing an Entire Podcast Series in MLA

To cite an entire podcast series in MLA style, include the following elements:

Host: List the last name and first name of the host, followed by “, host”.
Podcast Name. Italicize the title of the podcast.
Publisher, Provide the name of the publisher or production company.
Year Range, Provide the range of years during which the podcast aired. If the podcast is still ongoing, use “present” as the second year.
URL. Include the URL of the podcast’s website.

Example: Barbaro, Michael, host. The Daily. The New York Times, 2017 – Present, https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-daily.

MLA In-Text Citations

In MLA style, in-text citations include the author’s last name and the page number (if available). For podcasts, you can include a timestamp instead of a page number.

Example: (Barbaro, 2021, 23:19)

Chicago Citation Style

Chicago style is commonly used in history, literature, and the humanities. Chicago style has two formats: notes and bibliography and author-date.

Citing a Podcast Episode in Chicago (Notes and Bibliography)

To cite a podcast episode in Chicago style (notes and bibliography), include the following elements:

First Name Last Name, List the first name and last name of the host.
“Episode Name,” Include the title of the episode in quotation marks.
Year, Provide the year the episode was released.
in Podcast Title, Italicize the title of the podcast.
published/written/directed by, Include the names of the producers, writers, or directors.
podcast, Indicate that it is a podcast.
audio format, Provide the audio format (e.g., MP3).
running time, Include the running time of the episode.
URL. Include the URL of the episode.

Example: Michael Barbaro, “Why Ukraine Matters to Vladimir Putin,” 2021, in The Daily, Produced by Erikc Kupke, Rachelle Bonja, and Luke Vander Ploeg, podcast, mp3, 28:35, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/podcasts/the-daily/putin-russian-military-ukraine.html.

Citing a Podcast Episode in Chicago (Bibliography Reference)

To cite a podcast episode in Chicago style (bibliography reference), include the following elements:

Last Name, First Name. List the last name and first name of the host.
“Episode Name.” Include the title of the episode in quotation marks.
Produced/written/direct by name. Include the names of the producers, writers, or directors.
Podcast name. Italicize the title of the podcast.
Publication Month Day, Year. Provide the month, day, and year the episode was released.
Podcast, Audio Format. Indicate that it is a podcast and provide the audio format (e.g., MP3).
Running Time. Include the running time of the episode.
URL [Accessed Month Day, Year]. Include the URL of the episode and the date you accessed it.

Example: Barbaro, Michael. “Why Ukraine Matters to Vladimir Putin.” Produced by Erikc Kupke, Rachelle Bonja and Luke Vander Ploeg. The Daily. December 8, 2021. Podcast, Mp3. 28:35. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/podcasts/the-daily/putin-russian-military-ukraine.html [Accessed December 10, 2021].

Harvard Citation Style

Harvard style is commonly used in various disciplines, particularly in the UK and Australia. Harvard style guidelines can vary, so it’s important to check with your institution for specific requirements.

Citing a Podcast Episode in Harvard

To cite a podcast episode in Harvard style, include the following elements:

Last name, Initials. List the last name and initials of the host.
(Year of Publication) Provide the year the episode was released.
“Episode Title,” Include the title of the episode in single quotation marks.
Name of Podcast, Italicize the title of the podcast.
Host Site/Organization/Publisher. Provide the name of the host site, organization, or publisher.
Month day. Provide the month and day of publication.
Available at URL/App Indicate where the podcast is available and include the URL or app name.
[Accessed Date]. Include the date you accessed the podcast.

Example: Barbaro, M. (2021) “Why Ukraine Matters to Vladimir Putin,” The Daily, The New York Times. December 8. Available at https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/podcasts/the-daily/putin-russian-military-ukraine.html [Accessed December 10, 2021].

Citing a Podcast Series in Harvard

To cite a podcast series in Harvard style, include the following elements:

Last name, First Initial. List the last name and first initial of the host.
(Year of Publication) Provide the year the podcast was released.
Name of Podcast. Italicize the title of the podcast.
[Podcast] Indicate that it is a podcast in square brackets.
Host Site/Organization/Publisher. Provide the name of the host site, organization, or publisher.
Month day. Provide the month and day of publication.
Available from: URL Indicate where the podcast is available and include the URL.
[Accessed Date]. Include the date you accessed the podcast.

Example: Barbaro, M. (2017) The Daily. [Podcast] New York Times. Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-daily [Accessed December 10, 2021].

Harvard In-Text Citation

In-text citations in Harvard style include the author’s last name and the year of publication.

Example: (Barbaro, 2017)

Podcast Copyright Laws

When referencing a podcast, it’s important to be aware of copyright laws. Copyright protects the creative work of the podcast creators, including the audio content, music, and artwork.

To avoid copyright infringement, you should:

Obtain permission from the copyright holder before using any copyrighted material.
Fair Use: Use limited portions of the podcast for commentary, criticism, or education. Make sure to give credit to the original source.
Follow licensing terms: Check if the podcast has a Creative Commons license, which may allow you to use the content under certain conditions.

In the end

Citing podcasts correctly is essential for academic integrity and responsible scholarship. By following the guidelines of the appropriate citation style and understanding copyright laws, you can properly acknowledge the sources you use in your work and avoid plagiarism.