How to Cite a Podcast in Chicago Format
This guide explains how to cite a podcast in Chicago style and who uses each variation. Chicago style offers two systems: Notes and Bibliography (NB) — commonly used in humanities — and Author-Date — preferred in sciences and social sciences. If your instructor or publisher didn't specify, NB is usually safe for podcast citations.
Use this page to learn the exact formatting, see clear examples, and get practical tips for footnotes and reference entries. For quick, accurate citations, try Rephrasely’s free citation generator.
General Rules
Chicago emphasizes clarity, consistency, and full attribution. For podcasts you should capture the episode title, podcast title, host or author, episode/season number (if available), release date, format, and URL.
- Use quotation marks for episode titles and italics for the podcast title.
- Include the host or episode author as the primary name when available.
- Provide the publication date (month day, year) exactly as published.
- Add the episode number or season/episode identifiers when they exist.
- Always include a stable URL or DOI when available.
When in doubt, include more detail rather than less — it helps the reader locate the source.
How to Cite by Source Type
Below are step-by-step citation examples in Chicago style for several common source types. Each example shows a full note (for NB) and a bibliography entry, or the appropriate Author-Date form where noted.
Books
Notes: include full author name, title (italicized), publisher, year, and page(s) if citing specific material.
Note: 1. John Smith, The Writing Process (New York: Academic Press, 2018), 45.
Bibliography:
Smith, John. The Writing Process. New York: Academic Press, 2018.
Journal Articles
Notes: provide author, article title in quotes, journal title italicized, volume, issue, date, and page range.
Note: 2. Maria Zhou, "Digital Rhetoric," Quarterly Review of Media 12, no. 3 (Summer 2020): 67–89.
Bibliography:
Zhou, Maria. "Digital Rhetoric." Quarterly Review of Media 12, no. 3 (Summer 2020): 67–89.
Websites
Notes: author (or organization), "page title," website name, full date, and URL.
Note: 3. Centers for Data, "Open Data Policies," Centers for Data, March 10, 2022, https://example.org/open-data.
Bibliography:
Centers for Data. "Open Data Policies." Centers for Data. March 10, 2022. https://example.org/open-data.
Podcasts (Episode) — Chicago Notes & Bibliography
For a podcast episode, cite the episode title in quotes and the podcast title in italics. Include host or author, episode number (if any), release date, format, and URL.
Example note (first reference):
Note: 4. Sarah Jones, "The Future of Cities," Urban Ideas, episode 21, hosted by Sarah Jones, March 15, 2021, podcast audio, https://podcasts.example.com/urban-ideas/21.
Example bibliography entry:
Jones, Sarah. "The Future of Cities." Urban Ideas, episode 21. Hosted by Sarah Jones. March 15, 2021. Podcast audio. https://podcasts.example.com/urban-ideas/21.
Podcasts — Author-Date
If you use Author-Date, include the author/host, year, episode title in quotes, podcast title italicized, month and day, and URL.
Jones, Sarah. 2021. "The Future of Cities." Urban Ideas, March 15. Podcast audio. https://podcasts.example.com/urban-ideas/21.
Interviews (Unpublished or Personal)
Personal interviews cited in Notes do not go in the bibliography. Provide the name, interview type, and date.
Note: 5. Mark Rivera, interview by author, April 2, 2023.
For recorded interviews published online, treat as a podcast or video depending on format and include a URL in the bibliography.
Videos
For videos (YouTube, Vimeo), list the uploader, video title in quotes, site, upload date, format (video), and URL.
Note: 6. TED, "The Science of Happiness," YouTube video, June 3, 2019, https://youtube.com/watch?v=example.
In-Text Citations
Chicago NB uses notes (footnotes or endnotes) rather than parenthetical in-text citations. Insert a superscript number in the text that corresponds to a note with the full or shortened citation.
Example text footnote:
As discussed in recent analysis, urban design influences health outcomes.^4
And the corresponding note (shortened later):
4. Jones, "The Future of Cities."
In Author-Date, use parenthetical citations with author and year. Add page or timestamp for specific references.
(Jones 2021, 00:12:35)
Actionable tip: when quoting or referring to a specific moment in a podcast, include the timestamp in the note or parenthetical citation to guide readers precisely.
Reference List (Bibliography) — Formatting Rules and Example
Bibliography entries should be alphabetized by the author's last name and use a hanging indent. Use sentence-style capitalization for episode titles and headline-style for podcast titles depending on your style preference; Chicago typically recommends headline-style for titles.
Key formatting rules:
- Author or host: Last name, First name.
- Episode title in quotes, podcast title italicized.
- Include episode number/season when present.
- Provide the release date and format (e.g., Podcast audio).
- End with a stable URL.
Full bibliography example (podcast episode):
Jones, Sarah. "The Future of Cities." Urban Ideas, episode 21. Hosted by Sarah Jones. March 15, 2021. Podcast audio. https://podcasts.example.com/urban-ideas/21.
For a podcast series (if you want to cite the whole series), cite the podcast as a whole in the bibliography and point to a representative episode in notes.
Urban Ideas. Created by Sarah Jones. Podcast series. https://podcasts.example.com/urban-ideas.
Common Mistakes
1. Mixing systems. Don’t combine NB and Author-Date styles in the same paper. Choose one and apply it consistently throughout.
2. Omitting the host or author. The host is usually the primary name for podcast episodes; if a guest authored the episode's content, name them instead. Always be explicit.
3. Incorrect punctuation and formatting. Episode titles need quotation marks, podcast titles must be italicized, and dates formatted as month day, year for NB entries.
4. Forgetting the URL or timestamp. Without a URL a reader may not find the episode; without a timestamp readers can’t locate quoted segments.
Practical Workflow: Cite Accurately and Quickly
Step 1: Identify the primary contributor (host, episode author, or creator).
Step 2: Record episode title, podcast title, episode/season numbers, release date, format, and URL.
Step 3: Use the appropriate Chicago template above to build a note and a bibliography entry.
Step 4: For speed and accuracy, use Rephrasely’s citation generator to auto-format entries, then paste them into your notes or bibliography.
Step 5: If you used AI to draft citations or text, run your work through Rephrasely’s plagiarism checker and AI detector, and refine wording with the AI writer or paraphraser to ensure originality and proper attribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite a podcast episode in Chicago if there is no host listed?
If no host is listed, use the creator or the producing organization as the author. If no clear author or organization exists, begin the citation with the episode title followed by the podcast title and other details.
Should I include a timestamp when citing a podcast quote?
Yes. Include a timestamp in the note or parenthetical citation when quoting or referring to a specific moment. It helps readers locate the exact segment quickly (for example, 00:12:35).
Can I use a DOI instead of a URL for a podcast?
Podcasts rarely have DOIs. If a DOI exists, include it. Otherwise, provide a stable URL. If the podcast is accessed via a subscription platform without a stable public link, note the platform and provide as much retrieval information as possible.