How to in text cite a podcast in APA and MLA Style?

If you’re working on a research paper and need to cite a podcast in APA style, you’re in the right place. I’ll guide you through the step-by-step process of correctly formatting your reference page entry for podcast episodes.

While the process might seem a bit confusing at first, don’t worry—I’ll break it down in a simple, beginner-friendly way.

Steps to Cite a Podcast in APA Style

In APA format, citing a podcast involves a few key elements that you must include, such as the host’s name, the date of publication, the episode title, and more.

Let’s dive into the details.

1. Host or Primary Person in Charge

The first thing you need to include is the host’s name. Most podcasts have hosts, but in cases where a host isn’t listed, APA suggests that you can use the executive producer or whoever is the primary individual responsible for the podcast.

• Format: Last name, First initial. (Role in podcast).

Example:

Doe, J. (Host).

Key Note: Always use only the first initials of names—APA does not use full first names in citations.

2. Publication Date

Next, include the date the podcast episode was published. APA requires the full date, which means you’ll need to write out the year, month, and day.

• Format: (Year, Month Day).

Example:

(2023, August 10).

Make sure to add a period after the closing parenthesis.

3. Episode Title

Now, let’s add the episode title. APA style only capitalizes the first word of the title and any proper nouns. Other words should be lowercase, even if the original title capitalizes more words.

• Format: Title of episode.

Example:

How to organize your workspace.

If the podcast uses seasons and episode numbers, you can include this information in parentheses right after the title.

Example with season and episode numbers:

How to organize your workspace (Season 2, Episode 3).

4. Media Format

APA style wants you to specify the media format of the podcast. In this case, you’ll write “Audio podcast episode” in square brackets.

• Format: [Audio podcast episode].

Example:

[Audio podcast episode].

Again, don’t forget to end with a period after the brackets.

5. Podcast Title

After identifying the episode, include the title of the entire podcast series. The podcast title should be italicized, and each major word in the title must be capitalized.

• Format: Podcast title.

Example:

In the Dark.

6. Producing Company (If Applicable)

Some podcasts are produced by companies, while others are independently produced. If a production company is responsible for the podcast, include its name. If not, you can skip this step.

• Format: Producing company.

Example:

NPR.

If no production company is listed, you can move on to the final element.

7. URL (Web Address)

Lastly, provide the URL where the podcast episode can be accessed. If the podcast is available on a specific platform (like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or the podcast’s website), add that link.

• Format: URL

Full Example for a Single Host Podcast

Here’s how your reference entry would look for a podcast with a single host:

Doe, J. (Host). (2023, August 10). How to organize your workspace [Audio podcast episode]. In the Dark. NPR. https://www.podcastwebsite.com/episode123

Example for a Podcast with Multiple Hosts

If there are two hosts, the format changes slightly. Let’s look at how to cite an episode with two hosts.

1. Include both hosts’ names, separated by an ampersand (&).
2. The rest of the citation follows the same format as above.

Example:

Smith, A., & Johnson, B. (Hosts). (2022, May 15). Understanding nutrition in children [Audio podcast episode]. In Maintenance Phase. https://www.podcastwebsite.com/episode456

Skipping the Producing Company

If a podcast is produced by individuals rather than a company, simply skip the production company line and move straight to the URL. This is common for independently produced podcasts.

Quick Recap of the APA Podcast Citation Format

Here’s a summarized version of what you need to include when citing a podcast episode in APA style:

1. Host(s): Last name, First initial. (Role).
2. Publication Date: (Year, Month Day).
3. Episode Title: Title of episode (only capitalize the first word and proper nouns).
4. Media Format: [Audio podcast episode].
5. Podcast Title: Podcast title (italicized).
6. Production Company: (If applicable).
7. URL: Direct link to the episode.

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If you’re working on a project that requires MLA citations, citing a podcast episode can seem tricky at first, but it’s quite simple once you know the format.

I’ll walk you through the process step-by-step, breaking down every detail so you can confidently create a correct MLA citation for any podcast episode.

Steps to Cite a Podcast Episode in MLA Style

MLA style has specific guidelines for citing podcast episodes on a Works Cited page, and these guidelines ensure that your reader can easily locate the episode.

Let’s dive into how to structure the citation.

1. Host’s Name

The first element you’ll need is the name of the podcast host. Most podcasts have hosts, but if your podcast has a different key figure, like a narrator, you can use that role title instead. For the host’s name, MLA style uses the format:

• Format: Last name, First name, host.

Example:

Doe, Jane, host.

If the role is a narrator or another title, simply replace “host” with the appropriate term.

2. Episode Title

Next, you need to provide the title of the podcast episode. The title should be placed in quotation marks and formatted in “headline style,” meaning that major words are capitalized. Be sure to follow this closely to align with MLA standards.

• Format: “Title of Episode.”

Example:

“The Route to Success.”

After the episode title, add a comma instead of a period to connect it to the next element.

3. Podcast Name

Following the episode title, include the name of the podcast in italics. Just like the episode title, the podcast name should be written in headline style.

• Format: Podcast Name,

Example:

In the Dark,

4. Season and Episode Numbers (If Applicable)

Some podcasts have seasons and episode numbers, and if this applies to the one you’re citing, you should include them in your citation. Place both the season and episode number after the podcast name, separated by commas.

• Format: Season number, episode number,

Example:

In the Dark, season 2, episode 3,

If the podcast you’re citing doesn’t include seasons or episode numbers, you can skip this part.

5. Producing Company (If Applicable)

If the podcast is produced by a media company, you need to list the company’s name. If the podcast is independently produced and doesn’t have an associated company, this step can be skipped.

• Format: Producing Company,

Example:

American Public Media,

6. Publication Date

After the company name (or after the podcast name, if there’s no company), include the publication date of the episode. MLA format requires the date to be written as the day first, followed by the month (abbreviated if necessary), and the year.

• Format: Day Month Year,

Example:

15 Aug. 2023,

7. URL (Web Address)

Finally, include the URL where the podcast episode can be accessed. Ensure that the URL links directly to the specific episode you are citing, not just the podcast’s general page.

• Format: URL.

Full Example for a Single Host Podcast

Let’s pull everything together for a full citation of a podcast episode with a single host:

Doe, Jane, host. “The Route to Success.” In the Dark, season 2, episode 3, American Public Media, 15 Aug. 2023, https://www.podcastwebsite.com/episode123.

Example for a Podcast with Two Hosts

If the podcast has two hosts, the format changes slightly for the second host’s name. MLA style requires you to list the first host’s name in reverse order (Last, First) but the second host’s name in normal order (First Last).

• Format: Last name, First name, and First name Last name, hosts.

Example:

Smith, John, and Jane Doe, hosts.

After the hosts’ names, the rest of the citation follows the same format as above.

Full Example for a Two-Host Podcast

Here’s a full citation example for a podcast with two hosts:

Smith, John, and Jane Doe, hosts. “Healthy Eating Habits.” Maintenance Phase, 10 Oct. 2022, https://www.podcastwebsite.com/episode456.

Additional Tips for Podcasts Without a Company or Episode Numbers

If your podcast doesn’t have a company associated with it, simply skip the company name step. Additionally, if the podcast doesn’t number its episodes or divide them into seasons, you can also omit that part.

Here’s an example for an independent podcast with no episode numbers:

Doe, Jane, host. “The Art of Focus.” Creative Minds, 15 Sept. 2023, https://www.podcastwebsite.com/episode789.

General Formatting for the Works Cited Page

Once you have all your podcast citations ready, it’s important to format the Works Cited page correctly according to MLA guidelines:

• Title: “Works Cited” should be centered at the top of the page.
• Spacing: The page should be double-spaced throughout, with no extra space between citations.
• Hanging Indent: Each citation should use a hanging indent, where the second and subsequent lines are indented by 0.5 inches.
• Font: Use a standard font like Times New Roman in 12-point size.

Example of a Formatted Works Cited Page Entry

Here’s how the complete citation would look in a properly formatted Works Cited page:

Smith, John, and Jane Doe, hosts. “Healthy Eating Habits.” Maintenance Phase, 10 Oct. 2022, https://www.podcastwebsite.com/episode456.