How to Cite a Podcast in APA 7
To cite a podcast in APA 7, use the host as the author with "(Host)" after their name, list the episode title in sentence case, and include the series name, episode number, network, and URL. The format differs slightly for a whole series versus a single episode, and timestamps go in the in-text citation, not the reference.
The Two Reference Formats
APA 7 treats a podcast series and a single episode as different source types. Pick based on what you actually used.
Single Episode (most common)
Host, A. A. (Host). (Year, Month Day). Episode title in sentence case (No. 12) [Audio podcast episode]. In Podcast series name. Network or Publisher. URL
Worked example:
Glass, I. (Host). (2023, October 6). The retrievals (No. 807) [Audio podcast episode]. In This American Life. WBEZ Chicago. https://www.thisamericanlife.org/807/the-retrievals
Notes on the parts that trip people up:
- Host as author. The person speaking or moderating, with "(Host)" in parentheses after the name. If there are co-hosts, list both like any two-author reference.
- Episode title. Sentence case (only the first word and proper nouns capitalized), no italics.
- Episode number. In parentheses after the title, as
(No. 12). Skip it if the show does not number episodes. - Bracketed type.
[Audio podcast episode]for an episode,[Audio podcast]for a whole series. Video podcasts use[Video podcast episode]. - Series name. Italicized, preceded by "In", with title case capitalization.
- Publisher. The network or production company (WBEZ Chicago, Gimlet, NPR, iHeartMedia). If the host self-publishes, you can omit this field; APA does not require a guessed publisher.
- URL. Direct link to the episode page. If only a platform link exists (Spotify, Apple Podcasts), that is acceptable. No "Retrieved from" prefix.
Whole Series
Use this only if you are referring to the show as a whole, not a specific episode.
Host, A. A. (Host). (Year start–Year end). Series name [Audio podcast]. Network. URL
If the show is ongoing, replace the end year with present: (2017–present).
In-Text Citations and Timestamps
For a paraphrase or quote, use the standard author-date format: (Glass, 2023). To point to a specific moment, add a timestamp the way you would a page number:
(Glass, 2023, 14:32)
Use hh:mm:ss only if the episode runs over an hour. APA 7 explicitly allows timestamps for audiovisual sources, and they replace page numbers for direct quotes.
Common Edge Cases
No named host. If the show credits a production team rather than an individual, use the production company as the author: Radiolab. (2024, March 1). .... Move the company out of the publisher slot so you do not repeat it.
Guest interviews. The host is still the author, not the guest. Mention the guest in your narrative text instead: "In a 2023 interview with Terry Gross, Smith argued that..." followed by (Gross, 2023).
Transcripts. If you read a transcript instead of listening, cite the episode the same way and quote from the transcript. APA does not require a separate transcript citation when the transcript is published on the same episode page.
Missing date. Use (n.d.) in the date slot. This is rare for podcasts and usually means you are looking at a series-level page, not an episode.
Network plus studio. When a show is co-produced (for example, NPR and WBUR), list both separated by a comma in the publisher position.
What APA 7 Does Not Want
A few habits that show up in student drafts and lose points:
- Italicizing the episode title. Only the series name is italicized.
- "Podcast" written out as the medium descriptor. Use the exact bracketed phrase:
[Audio podcast episode]. - "Retrieved from" before the URL. Removed in APA 7.
- A retrieval date. Only include one for sources that are expected to change, which a published episode is not.
- Listing the platform (Spotify, Apple Podcasts) as the publisher. The publisher is the network or production company, not the app you used to listen.
The reference list entry uses a hanging indent of 0.5 inches, like every other APA reference, and double-spacing throughout.