How to Cite a Podcast in APA 7th Edition Format
Complete how to cite a podcast APA 7th Edition guide with step-by-step instructions and examples. Use Rephrasely's free citation generator to create formatted references instantly.
Introduction — what this format is and who uses it
APA 7th Edition is a widely used citation style created by the American Psychological Association. It’s the standard for many social sciences, education, nursing, and psychology programs.
Students, researchers, and professionals use APA to ensure clarity, consistency, and credibility when referencing sources — including podcasts. This guide focuses on citing podcast episodes and includes related citation examples you can apply right away.
General Rules — key formatting rules
- List references alphabetically by author (or host) in the reference list.
- Use a hanging indent for each reference (0.5 inch) and double-space the reference list.
- Italicize podcast titles and the name of the podcast series where applicable.
- If a specific episode is cited, include the episode title and episode number (if available).
- Always provide a URL or DOI when the podcast episode is available online.
- For in-text citations, include the host's last name and year. Add a timestamp for direct quotes from audio.
How to Cite a Podcast — core formats and step-by-step examples
Below are the most common podcast citation scenarios with precise, code-style examples you can copy.
1. Single episode of a podcast (host credited)
Include the host as the author, the date, episode title, label, podcast name (in italics), production company (if provided), and URL.
Format:
HostLastName, F. M. (Host). (Year, Month Day). Title of episode (No. xx) [Audio podcast episode]. Title of Podcast. Production Company. URL
Example:
Rogers, S. (Host). (2021, September 10). The science of sleep (No. 48) [Audio podcast episode]. Mind Lab Podcast. Mind Lab Media. https://www.example.com/episode48
2. Episode with a named author or guest as the primary contributor
If a guest is the primary contributor and credited as the author of the content, list them first then indicate their role (e.g., Guest).
Format:
GuestLastName, F. M. (Guest). (Year, Month Day). Title of episode [Audio podcast episode]. In HostFirstName HostLastName (Host), Title of Podcast. URL
Example:
Ng, A. (Guest). (2020, May 5). How to think about AI ethics [Audio podcast episode]. In L. Thompson (Host), Future Minds. https://www.example.com/ai-ethics
3. Citing an entire podcast series (not a single episode)
When you cite a whole podcast, provide the host or producer as the author and omit episode information.
Format:
HostLastName, F. M. (Host). (Year–Year). Title of Podcast [Podcast series]. Production Company. URL
Example:
Walker, J. (Host). (2018–present). Urban Ecology [Podcast series]. CityLab Media. https://www.example.com/urban-ecology
4. Podcast produced by an organization or company
If the producer is an organization, list the organization as the author.
Format:
Organization Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of episode [Audio podcast episode]. Title of Podcast. URL
Example:
National Science Foundation. (2022, March 9). Climate models explained [Audio podcast episode]. Science Now. https://www.example.com/climate-models
5. Transcript or show notes (if you used a transcript)
If you cite a transcript posted online, treat it like a web document and cite the author of the transcript (if known) or the host/producer.
Format:
HostLastName, F. M. (Host). (Year, Month Day). Title of episode [Transcript]. Title of Podcast. URL
Example:
Lee, C. (Host). (2023, January 12). The pandemic lab [Transcript]. Health Matters. https://www.example.com/pandemic-lab-transcript
How to Cite by Source Type — books, journals, websites, and more
Although this guide focuses on podcasts, you may need quick references for other common source types. Use these step-by-step formats.
Book (single author)
Format:
AuthorLastName, F. M. (Year). Title of book. Publisher. DOI/URL (if available)
Example:
Smith, J. A. (2019). Behavioral research methods. Sage Publications.
Journal article (online)
Format:
AuthorLastName, F. M. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume(issue), pages. https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/xxxx
Example:
Garcia, M. L., & Patel, R. (2020). Sleep and cognition. Journal of Sleep Research, 29(2), 123–130. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.12999
Website page
Format:
AuthorLastName, F. M. (Year, Month Day). Title of page. Site Name. URL
Example:
World Health Organization. (2021, March 15). Vaccination guidance. WHO. https://www.who.int/vaccination-guidance
YouTube video (or other streaming video)
Format:
UploaderLastName, F. M. [Username]. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. Platform. URL
Example:
Khan, S. [KhanAcademy]. (2018, August 12). Calculus basics [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/example
Personal interview or conversation
Personal communications (interviews, emails) are cited in-text only and not in the reference list.
Example in-text:
(A. Brown, personal communication, April 2, 2023)
In-Text Citations — rules and examples
Use author-date format for in-text citations. For podcasts, the "author" is typically the host, guest author, or organization.
- Paraphrase: (HostLastName, Year). Example:
(Rogers, 2021). - Direct quote or specific moment: include a timestamp. Example:
(Ng, 2020, 00:12:45). - If no date is available, use (n.d.). Example:
(Walker, n.d.).
When you mention the host within the narrative, include the year in parentheses: Rogers (2021) explains that…
Reference List — formatting rules and example
Key reference list rules to follow:
- Start on a new page titled "References" (APA capitalizes and centers the title).
- Double-space all entries and use a hanging indent for lines after the first.
- Alphabetize entries by the first author's last name, or by the title if no author is listed.
- Use sentence case for episode titles (capitalize first word and proper nouns).
- Italicize the podcast title.
Full example entry (episode):
Rogers, S. (Host). (2021, September 10). The science of sleep (No. 48) [Audio podcast episode]. Mind Lab Podcast. Mind Lab Media. https://www.example.com/episode48
Common Mistakes — 3–4 errors to avoid
- Omitting the role label. Always include roles like (Host), (Guest), or [Audio podcast episode] so readers know the medium.
- Using title case for episode titles. Use sentence case for episode titles, not title case.
- Forgetting timestamps for quotes. When quoting audio, include a timestamp to guide readers to the exact moment.
- Not including the podcast name separately. Don’t repeat the episode title as the podcast title — the podcast name should be listed after the episode details and italicized.
Actionable checklist — quick steps to cite a podcast correctly
- Identify the author/host/organization and their role.
- Find the exact publication date of the episode.
- Write the episode title in sentence case and add [Audio podcast episode].
- Italicize the podcast series name and include the URL.
- For quotes, note the timestamp in the in-text citation.
- If you want a formatted reference instantly, use Rephrasely's citation generator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite a podcast episode without a listed host or author?
If no author or host is listed, start the reference with the episode title, followed by the date, the label [Audio podcast episode], the podcast name (italicized), and the URL. In-text, use a shortened title and the year.
Should I include timestamps in the reference list?
No. Timestamps belong in in-text citations only when quoting or referring to a specific moment. The reference list should include the full episode date and URL but not timestamps.
Can Rephrasely help format and check my citations?
Yes. Use Rephrasely's citation generator to build citations quickly. You can also run final text through Rephrasely tools like the AI writer, plagiarism checker, and the AI detector to ensure originality and proper tone.