How to Cite a Podcast Episode in MLA 9th Edition

This guide explains how to format a podcast episode citation in MLA 9th Edition. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a podcast episode in MLA 9th Edition:

Template

"Title of Episode." Podcast Name, hosted by Host Name, season, episode, Publisher, Day Month Year. URL.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

("The Alibi")

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your Works Cited:

Works Cited entry

"The Alibi." Serial, hosted by Sarah Koenig, season 1, episode 1, WBEZ Chicago, 3 Oct. 2014. serialpodcast.org/season-one/1/the-alibi.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Write the episode title
Place the episode title in quotation marks with title case.
2
Add the podcast name
Italicize the podcast name. Follow with a comma.
3
Include the host
Write "hosted by" followed by the host's full name.
4
Add season and episode numbers
Include "season" and "episode" with their numbers if available.
5
Include publisher, date, and URL
Add the publisher/network name, the episode date in Day Month Year format, and the URL.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not placing the episode title in quotation marks.
Forgetting to italicize the podcast series name.
Omitting the host name.
Not including the season and episode numbers when available.
Including "https://" in the URL.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the podcast has no season or episode number?

Omit the season/episode elements and move directly to the publisher and date.

How do I cite an entire podcast series in MLA?

Start with the podcast name (italicized) rather than an episode title. Example: Serial. Hosted by Sarah Koenig, WBEZ Chicago, 2014--2018.

Should the host or the episode title come first?

In MLA, the episode title typically comes first because it is the specific work you are citing. The host is listed as a contributor within the container (the podcast series).

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your podcast episode:

Host(s)
Date of episode
Episode title
Podcast name
Producer or network (if applicable)
URL

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Step-by-Step Guide

Write the episode title

Place the episode title in quotation marks with title case.

Add the podcast name

Italicize the podcast name. Follow with a comma.

Include the host

Write "hosted by" followed by the host's full name.

Add season and episode numbers

Include "season" and "episode" with their numbers if available.

Include publisher, date, and URL

Add the publisher/network name, the episode date in Day Month Year format, and the URL.