You Heard It Here First: How to Cite Those Podcasts Like a Boss (Chicago Style Edition)
So, you've just devoured the latest episode of "History Buffs with Hilarious Hank" (seriously, Hank's impersonations of Julius Caesar are a national treasure). You're brimming with historical knowledge and ready to unleash it on your unsuspecting essay. But then...dread. How do you cite a podcast in Chicago style?
Fear not, fellow scholar of the downloadable discourse! Because unlike pronouncing "croissant," citing podcasts in Chicago style is a breeze. We'll break it down into bite-sized chunks, easier to swallow than a medieval knight's questionable stew.
First Things First: The Chicago Style Two-Step
Chicago style comes in two flavors: author-date for in-text citations and notes-bibliography for footnotes and that fancy bibliography at the end. We'll tackle both, because why not be a total citation champion?
In-Text Citations: Dropping Podcast Knowledge Smoothly
Imagine you're having a conversation and casually mentioning something insightful you heard on "Hank's History." Here's how to do that Chicago style:
- Hit it with a superscript: Throw a little number (like this) after the info you got from the podcast.
- Chill with the footnote details: We'll handle those later.
For example: "The Roman gladiatorial combats were surprisingly complex social events. (See Hank discuss this in 'Gladiators: More Than Just Thumbs Up or Down,' History Buffs with Hilarious Hank)"
Bonus points: If you're feeling spicy, you can even mention the specific timestamp (e.g., 12:43) where Hank's Julius Caesar impression truly shines.
The Grand Finale: The Noteworthy Footnote (or Bibliography Blast)
This is where you show off all the fancy details about the podcast episode. Here's the recipe:
- Start with the Host(s): Last name, First name. If it's a multi-host show, separate them with commas and an "and" before the last name.
- Episode Title: Put it in quotation marks.
- Production Info (optional): Include "Produced by" followed by the producer's name (if you can find it).
- Podcast Title: Italicize this one, because fancy.
- Publication Date: Month Day, Year.
- Podcast Housekeeping: Specify it's a podcast, the format (usually audio), and **(if you're feeling detail-oriented) the running time.
- The All-Important URL: Include the website where you found the podcast episode.
Here's how it all comes together:
- Rex, Hilarious Hank. "Gladiators: More Than Just Thumbs Up or Down." Produced by Mediocre History Productions, History Buffs with Hilarious Hank, February 14, 2024. Podcast, audio, 43:12. https://thedebrief.org/author/micah-hanks/
For the bibliography: The format is pretty much the same, you just ditch the superscript number.
Now, go forth and conquer the world of Chicago-styled podcast citations! (And remember, if Hank gets a shout-out in a major academic journal, I expect a royalty check).
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