How to Cite Transcripts of Audio Sources

• Hannah Berry (Ph.D.)
• Published on 11/10/2025

Transcripts of audiovisual materials such as speeches, podcasts, and radio programs are valuable sources of information. In APA Style (7th edition), transcripts are treated as separate works and must be cited in a way that reflects both their original context and their publication details.

Transcribed Speeches

• Start with the name of the speaker as the author.
• Use the transcript’s publication year, followed by the original year in parentheses at the end.
• Include both dates in in-text citations using a slash (e.g., 1900/2010).
• Add “[Speech transcript]” after the title.
• Include the name of the hosting site and a direct URL.

Citation	King, M. L., Jr. (2019). I have a dream [Speech transcript]. National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/fil/press/dream-speech.pdf (Original work published 1963)
Structure	Author. (Year of transcript). Title of speech [Speech transcript]. Source. URL (Original work published Year)

Example	(King, 1963/2019)
Structure	(Author, Original Year/Transcript Year)

Example	King (1963/2019)
Structure	Author (Original Year/Transcript Year)

Written Versions of Podcast Episodes

• Credit the host(s) as the author(s) and specify their role.
• Include the exact release date of the episode.
• Add the episode number after the title if applicable.
• Use “[Audio podcast transcript]” in square brackets after the title.
• Provide the name of the podcast and the publishing organization.
• End the reference with the transcript URL.

Citation	Gladwell, M. (Host). (2020, July 22). Dragon psychology 101 [Audio podcast transcript]. In Revisionist history. Pushkin Industries. https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/rev-history/dragon-psychology-101-transcript
Structure	Contributor. (Role). (Year, Month Day). Title of episode [Audio podcast transcript]. In Title of podcast. Publisher. URL

Example	(Gladwell, 2020)
Structure	(Author, Year)

Example	Gladwell (2020)
Structure	Author (Year)

Transcripts of Radio Programs

• Use the announcer’s or interviewer’s name as the author.
• Add the date in full.
• Italicize the broadcast title.
• Add “[Radio broadcast transcript]” in square brackets after the title.
• List the network or source and include the direct URL.

Citation	Harris, A. (2021, September 21). Youth mental health crisis deepens amid pandemic pressures [Radio broadcast transcript]. BBC Radio 4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/trans/youth-mental-health-crisis
Structure	Contributor. (Year, Month Day). Title of segment [Radio broadcast transcript]. Network. URL

Example	(Harris, 2021)
Structure	(Author, Year)

Example	Harris (2021)
Structure	Author (Year)

In-Text Citations: For speeches with later transcripts, include both years (original/transcript). For podcasts and radio, use the release or broadcast year only. Use Archived Links for Transcripts that May Change or Be Removed: If a transcript has been published on a site that refreshes or cycles its content, provide a permalink or archived URL so a link remains accessible in the long term. Such a practice is allowed by the APA for online materials that have the potential to change over time. Tools such as Internet Archive or Perma.cc can provide permanent access links to help in maintaining the integrity of your reference list. Capitalization Consistency for Titles: APA 7th edition transcript titles are in sentence case, so only the first word along with proper nouns and the first word after a colon or dash should be capitalized. Do not use title case and capitalize every major word. The same goes for the description in square brackets, which should be in lower case, except for proper nouns.