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How to Cite a Podcast in Chicago (17th edition)

Learn how to cite podcast episodes and series in Chicago format (17th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Chicago Bibliography Format

Here is the standard Chicago format for citing a podcast in your bibliography:

Host Last Name, First Name, host. "Episode Title." Season #, episode #. Podcast Name. Publisher. Month Day, Year. Audio, duration. URL.

Chicago Example for a Podcast

A complete Chicago reference for a podcast, formatted by the official Chicago CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

Garcia, Miguel. 2024. The Academic Hour. Episode 42, “Research Methods Today.” Scholar Media, February 5. Audio podcast episode. https://www.example.org/academic-hour/42.

Matching in-text citation: (Garcia 2024)

Chicago In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(Host 2024)

Narrative

Host (2024) mentions...

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

  • List the host as the author with the role host after the name.
  • Put the episode title in quotation marks and italicize the podcast name.
  • Include season and episode numbers when the podcast uses them.
  • Give the release date, the format (Audio) with its duration, and the URL.
  • Notes-Bibliography: use footnotes; Author-Date: use parenthetical.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your podcast.
  2. Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Chicago (17th edition) template shown above.
  3. Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
  4. Add to your bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
  5. Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Chicago requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: chicago.csl

Metadata to collect

  • host or producer
  • episode title
  • podcast name
  • season and episode numbers
  • release date
  • publisher or platform
  • URL

Common metadata traps

  • Cite the specific episode rather than the podcast as a whole.
  • Prefer the publisher's own episode page over an app link that only some readers can open.
Read the detailed source guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a podcast in Chicago?
To cite a podcast in Chicago (17th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Chicago format for a podcast citation?
The Chicago format for a podcast is: Host Last Name, First Name, host. "Episode Title." Season #, episode #. Podcast Name. Publisher. Month Day, Year. Audio, duration. URL.
What does the in-text citation look like for a podcast in Chicago?
In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is (Host 2024)

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Cite a Podcast in Other Styles

Cite Other Sources in Chicago

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