Create an AI Podcast with Google’s NotebookLM
How to use Google's experimental tool to create a realistic podcast episode
Intended primarily as a research tool, Google’s NotebookLM experimental project is now being used widely to create podcast episodes. It’s novel “Audio Overview” feature allows users to generate conversational audio between two podcast hosts, discussing whatever information they are provided with.
Today, we’re going to show you how to use the tool how to take any topic and turn it into a slick, engaging podcast.
Step-by-Step Guide: From Notes to Podcast
Step 1: Set Up NotebookLM
First things first, you need to get yourself to NotebookLM and sign in using your Google account. It’s experimental, which means it's still in its "we're trying this out" phase—but that also means you get to play with the freshest tech on the market. Once you’re in, click New Notebook. This will be the notebook that holds all your source materials, like research papers, slides, articles, and more.
Step 2: Add Your Sources
Next, start filling that notebook with the content you want to base your podcast on. NotebookLM can handle a variety of input types: PDF files, links, Google Docs, meeting transcripts, and even YouTube videos. Don’t stress too much about choosing the "perfect" sources; the AI is designed to synthesize and simplify whatever you feed it. Just make sure the content is actually relevant—garbage in, garbage out.
️🔥 Tip: You may find greater success in creating your own “Episode Overview” document that has details on the podcast/episode you wish to create, outlining the flow of a desired conversation and summarizing key details. NotebookLM allows you to submit your own text content, which opens up this option that may lead to a more structured and predictable generation.
Step 3: Generate an Audio Overview
Here comes the magic part. NotebookLM has a feature called Audio Overview. Once your sources are uploaded, hit Notebook guide and then Generate under the Audio Overview option, and watch as NotebookLM starts spinning your notes into an audio narrative. The result is a discussion between two AI hosts—they’ll break down the topics, pull key insights, and banter like pros.
Step 4: Download and Refine
Once NotebookLM has generated the podcast, you can download it directly as an audio file. This lets you share it on platforms like Spotify or just keep it for your listening pleasure. It’s a mono file with a touch of AI’s digital sheen—not perfect, but convincing enough to pass as a casual conversation.
What to Expect from Your AI Podcast
The output is surprisingly natural—your AI hosts will throw in pauses, interjections, and even a few "ums" and "you knows" for an authentic feel. The AI duo takes turns, making sure that no one voice is monologuing for too long, which is crucial in keeping listeners engaged (and the secret sauce behind what makes it sound so good).
Here’s an example of a podcast generated with this process:
Keep in mind, for now there’s still a noticeable "AI vibe" to it. The voices aren’t fully customizable just yet, and the digital undertone might make some listeners pause. Google’s Illuminate project is working on adding more customization features, like selecting specific voices or adjusting the tone to better fit the content. In theory, NotebookLM could incorporate these features as well.
While NotebookLM is cool, it's no substitute for the warmth and wit of a human podcaster. The AI conversations are good—but not great. The dynamic range is limited, and while it adds some "natural" elements like hesitations, it can start to sound repetitive if overused. Plus, customization is pretty basic right now, with limited control over voices or personalities.
Another limitation: there's no spontaneity. True podcast magic often comes from those unscripted moments, the tangents, and the unexpected. AI hosts, for all their cleverness, can’t replicate the kind of serendipity that makes human conversation so engaging.