Should I cite the podcast series or the individual episode?

Cite the specific episode you're using, not the entire podcast series. Include the host/creator name, episode name, episode number, podcast title, platform, and URL or DOI. This helps readers find the exact content you referenced.

Do I need the episode number for a podcast citation?

Yes, include the episode number if available. It helps readers locate the episode. Format it as 'Episode #' after the episode title. If there are season numbers, include both: Season #, Episode #.

What if the podcast episode doesn't show a publication date?

If the publication date is not available, use (n.d.) for 'no date.' However, most modern podcast platforms show episode release dates. Check the episode page carefully, as sometimes the date appears in multiple places.

How to Cite a Podcast in APA 7th Edition

Podcasts have become valuable sources for current research, expert insights, and accessible information on diverse topics. APA 7th edition provides specific formatting guidelines for podcast episodes. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about citing podcasts correctly.

Basic Podcast Citation Format

The standard APA 7th edition format for citing a podcast episode includes:

Host(s). (Year, Month Day). Episode title (No. Episode number)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *Podcast Name*. Platform. URL

Example:

Anderson, R. J. (2023, March 15). The future of artificial intelligence (No. 145)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *Tech Talk Daily*. Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/example123

Step-by-Step Podcast Citation Instructions

Step 1: Identify the Host or Creator

List the host(s) or primary creator of the episode.

Single Host:

Thompson, L. K.

Co-Hosts:

Anderson, R. J., & Martinez, C. D.

Organization:

NPR
BBC
TED Podcast Network

Step 2: Include the Publication Date

Include the full date (Year, Month Day) if available. If only the year or month is available, use that.

Full Date:

(2023, March 15)

Month and Year Only:

(2023, March)

Year Only:

(2023)

No Date:

(n.d.)

Step 3: Write the Episode Title

Use sentence case without quotation marks. Capitalize only the first word, proper nouns, and the first word after a colon.

Example: “The future of artificial intelligence”

Step 4: Include Episode Number

Place the episode number in parentheses after the title. Format as (No. ##) for single numbers or (Season #, Episode #) for shows with seasons.

Single Episode:

(No. 145)

Season and Episode:

(Season 2, Episode 8)

Step 5: Identify the Format

Include “[Audio podcast episode]” in brackets to specify the source type.

Format:

[Audio podcast episode]

Step 6: Include the Podcast Name

Place the podcast title in italics after “In”.

Example: In Tech Talk Daily

Step 7: Name the Platform

Include where the episode is available (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, website, etc.).

Examples:

Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Stitcher
SoundCloud

Step 8: Include the URL

Provide the direct link to the episode.

Example:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/example123

Complete Citation Examples

Spotify Podcast Episode

Thompson, L. K. (2023, March 15). The revolution in renewable energy (No. 156)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *Green Energy Today*. Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4p3l5n7q9r2t

Apple Podcasts Episode

Anderson, R. J., & Chen, L. (2023, March 20). Artificial intelligence ethics debate (No. 89)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *Tech Conversations*. Apple Podcasts.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-89

NPR Podcast Episode

Martinez, C. D. (2023, March 18). Climate science explained for everyone (No. 234)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *Science Today*. NPR. https://www.npr.org/podcasts

TED Talks Daily

Wilson, S. R. (2023, March 16). How to build resilience in uncertain times (No. 312)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *TED Talks Daily*. Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/show/ted-daily

Independent Podcast with Single Host

Johnson, R. B. (2023, March 22). Business leadership in the modern era (No. 67)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *The Business Podcast*. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=podcast-episode

BBC Podcast

BBC Learning English. (2023, March 17). Advanced English vocabulary lesson (No. 445)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *BBC Learning English*. BBC Sounds.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/learning-english

Podcast with Season and Episode Numbers

Davis, E. R. (2023, March 14). The psychology of decision-making (Season 3, Episode 12)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *Mind & Brain*. Stitcher.
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/mind-brain

YouTube Podcast Episode

Grant, M. P. (2023, March 19). Investment strategies for beginners (No. 78)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *Money Talk Podcast*. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=money-talk-78

In-Text Citation Examples

When citing a podcast episode in your paper, use the host’s last name (or organization name) and year. For specific quotes, include the timestamp if available.

Paraphrase:

Recent discussions about artificial intelligence ethics highlight important societal concerns
(Anderson & Chen, 2023).

Direct Quote (with timestamp):

"Ethics in AI development must be considered from the beginning, not as an afterthought"
(Anderson & Chen, 2023, 12:35).

Organization Host:

According to NPR's science podcast, climate science research continues to reveal critical insights
(NPR, 2023).

Multiple Hosts:

Thompson and Johnson (2023) discuss the intersection of technology and society.

Special Podcast Citation Scenarios

Podcast with Multiple Hosts

Thompson, L. K., Anderson, R. J., & Chen, L. (2023, March 15). The future of work
(No. 89) [Audio podcast episode]. In *Workplace Trends*. Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/example456

Podcast Guest Speaker (Emphasizing Guest)

If you want to emphasize the guest rather than the regular host:

Williams, T. P. (Guest). (2023, March 12). Climate policy and corporate responsibility
(No. 156) [Audio podcast episode]. In *Business Ethics*, hosted by R. J. Anderson.
Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/episode/example789

Podcast Mini-Series

Martinez, C. D. (Producer). (2023). Artificial intelligence: Part 3 (No. 23)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *AI Explained*. Apple Podcasts.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/part-3-ai

Podcast Hosted by Organization

Harvard Business School. (2023, March 20). Leadership challenges in digital transformation
(No. 234) [Audio podcast episode]. In *HBS Business Review Podcast*. Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/show/hbs-review

Podcast from University

Stanford University. (2023, March 18). Research breakthroughs in medicine (No. 89)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *Stanford Medicine Podcast*. iTunes.
https://podcasts.stanford.edu/medicine

Podcast Available on Multiple Platforms

Cite the specific platform you accessed:

Thompson, L. K. (2023, March 15). Environmental sustainability strategies (No. 145)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *Green Living Today*. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=green-living-145

(Or use Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc. based on where you accessed it)

Different Types of Podcast Formats

Interview Podcast

Anderson, R. J. (Host). (2023, March 15). Interview with climate scientist Dr. Jane Chen
(No. 78) [Audio podcast episode]. In *Scientific Interviews*. Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/interview789

Educational Podcast Series

Khan Academy. (2023, March 20). Calculus: Derivatives explained (Episode 15)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *Khan Academy Podcast*. Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/show/khan-academy

News Podcast Daily Brief

Reuters News Now. (2023, March 16). Daily news briefing [Audio podcast episode].
In *Reuters News Now*. Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/show/reuters-news

Science Communication Podcast

Kurzgesagt. (2023, March 22). How quantum computers work (No. 156)
[Audio podcast episode]. In *Kurzgesagt Science*. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quantum-computers

Common Podcast Citation Errors

Not including episode numbers - Episode numbers help locate the specific content
Omitting the publication date - Always include if available
Missing [Audio podcast episode] designation - This identifies the source type
Not italicizing the podcast name - The podcast title should be italicized
Using quotation marks around episode titles - Don’t use them; use sentence case only
Forgetting to include the platform - Specify where the podcast is hosted
Incomplete URLs - Verify the URL is complete and leads to the episode
Inconsistent author formatting - Use Last name, First initial format consistently
Improper alphabetization - Alphabetize by host’s last name

Citing Podcast Transcripts

If you’re citing a podcast transcript:

Anderson, R. J. (2023, March 15). The future of technology [Transcript] (No. 145).
In *Tech Talks*. Spotify. https://www.techtalkspodcast.com/transcripts/145

Add [Transcript] after the episode title to indicate the format.

Using GenText to Generate Podcast Citations

Creating properly formatted podcast citations requires managing host names, episode titles, episode numbers, podcast names, platforms, and URLs. GenText’s citation generator simplifies this process. Input the host name, episode title, episode number, podcast title, platform, date, and URL, and GenText generates a complete, accurately formatted citation.

Visit /tools/citation-generator/apa/ to generate podcast citations in seconds.

Verification Checklist

Before including a podcast citation in your reference list, verify:

✓ Host or creator name(s) are correctly formatted
✓ Publication date is complete and accurate
✓ Episode title uses sentence case without quotation marks
✓ Episode number is included (No. ##)
✓ [Audio podcast episode] designation is included in brackets
✓ Podcast name is italicized
✓ Platform is specified (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.)
✓ URL is complete and functional
✓ Entry is alphabetically ordered in reference list
✓ Hanging indent is properly applied

Podcasts provide accessible, authoritative information on diverse topics. By properly citing these sources using APA 7th edition guidelines, you acknowledge their value as scholarly sources and help readers find the content you’ve referenced.

How to Cite a Podcast in APA 7th Edition