How to reference a podcast episode in MHRA

An episode footnote in MHRA has 6 parts. See them labelled on an example, then build your own and copy it.

  • In your essay: A footnote
  • Checked 21 October 2026

Pip tip: in KanBananza, right-click any page and choose “Save as a source”. Most of this is filled in for you.

The 6 parts

Host, ‘Episode’, from Podcast (Year) <Web address> [accessed date accessed].

The example footnote, with each part labelled

1 · HOSTSara Ahmed, 2 · EPISODE‘Why We Put Things Off’, from 3 · PODCASTThe Study Hour4 · DATE(2024)5 · WEB ADDRESS<https://www.example.org/study-hour/why-we-put-things-off> [accessed 6 · ACCESSED14 October 2026].

  1. 1 · HostFirst name, then surname.The host, in the episode’s description.
  2. 2 · EpisodeCapital letters for the main words (KanBananza adds them). In single quotation marks.The episode’s own title.
  3. 3 · PodcastAfter “from”. In italics.The name of the podcast.
  4. 4 · DateThe year. In round brackets.The date the episode came out.
  5. 5 · Web addressThe full web address. In angle brackets.The episode’s own page, not the whole podcast’s.
  6. 6 · AccessedThe day you looked at it, written like this: 14 October 2026. After “accessed”. All in square brackets.The day you listened.

In your bibliography

The bibliography at the end gives the same source like this, with the surname first:

The example in the bibliography, with each part labelled

1 · HOSTAhmed, Sara, 2 · EPISODE‘Why We Put Things Off’, from 3 · PODCASTThe Study Hour4 · DATE(2024)5 · WEB ADDRESS<https://www.example.org/study-hour/why-we-put-things-off> [accessed 6 · ACCESSED14 October 2026]

Two places, one source

IN YOUR ESSAY

Putting things off is often about feelings, not time.1

A footnote number, after the full stop.
IN YOUR FOOTNOTE

1 Sara Ahmed, ‘Why We Put Things Off’, from The Study Hour (2024) <https://www.example.org/study-hour/why-we-put-things-off> [accessed 14 October 2026].

The footnote gives the full details, at the bottom of the page.

Build your footnote

Fill in what you have. Anything still missing is highlighted. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Surname, then first name. Separate people with a semicolon (;).
Like 2025, May 2025 or 5 May 2025.
Like 14 October 2026.
YOUR FOOTNOTEReady to copy

Sara Ahmed, ‘Why We Put Things Off’, from The Study Hour (2024) <https://www.example.org/study-hour/why-we-put-things-off> [accessed 14 October 2026].

IN YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ahmed, Sara, ‘Why We Put Things Off’, from The Study Hour (2024) <https://www.example.org/study-hour/why-we-put-things-off> [accessed 14 October 2026]

Pip tip: the title stays in italics when you paste into Word or Google Docs. If it doesn’t, select it and press Ctrl+I.

What if…

  • Made by an organisation

    Give the organisation’s name where the author goes.

    Riverside Media Bureau, ‘Why We Put Things Off’, from The Study Hour (2024) <https://www.example.org/study-hour/why-we-put-things-off> [accessed 14 October 2026].

  • Two authors

    Give both names, joined with “and”.

    Amara Green and Ravi Patel, ‘Why We Put Things Off’, from The Study Hour (2024) <https://www.example.org/study-hour/why-we-put-things-off> [accessed 14 October 2026].

  • Four or more authors

    Give the first author, then “and others”.

    Amara Green and others, ‘Why We Put Things Off’, from The Study Hour (2024) <https://www.example.org/study-hour/why-we-put-things-off> [accessed 14 October 2026].

Easy to get wrong

  • Leaving out the date you looked at it

    NOT QUITE

    Sara Ahmed, ‘Why We Put Things Off’, from The Study Hour (2024) <https://www.example.org/study-hour/why-we-put-things-off>.

    RIGHT

    Sara Ahmed, ‘Why We Put Things Off’, from The Study Hour (2024) <https://www.example.org/study-hour/why-we-put-things-off> [accessed 14 October 2026].

Check your university’s version

Some departments make small changes to MHRA. Your module handbook always wins.

This guide follows the MHRA Style Guide, 4th edition.

The full MHRA guide

Questions

What goes in the footnote?

The first time you cite it, the footnote gives the full details: Sara Ahmed, ‘Why We Put Things Off’, from The Study Hour (2024) <https://www.example.org/study-hour/why-we-put-things-off> [accessed 14 October 2026].

Is MHRA the same at every university?

Some departments make small changes to MHRA. Your module handbook always wins.

Referencing is easier as you go

Our step-by-step guides show how to keep your sources in order while you research and write, so the reference list is ready when you are.

Skip the typing next time

In KanBananza, right-click any page and choose “Save as a source”. The details are filled in for you, anything missing is flagged, and your reference list is made in your style. Harvard is free; the other styles come with Full Bananza.

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