I’ve been digging into some new tech lately, and Google’s NotebookLM has been one of those mind-blowing tools that’s hard to shake. I stumbled upon it after reading an article on TechRadar. Before I knew it, I was sucked into a kind of rabbit hole—except, instead of wandering aimlessly, I ended up creating something wild: a podcast.
Yeah, it’s an actual podcast powered by AI, based on some of my own writing. This thing, NotebookLM, takes what you upload—articles, videos, whatever—and turns it into a conversation. And not just some monotone, robotic back-and-forth, but a conversation that feels real, like you’re listening to seasoned pros, people who know what they’re talking about. I’m telling you, it’s so convincing that if I didn’t know it was AI, I would’ve thought these were actual recordings of human hosts.
NotebookLM doesn’t just skim through your material; it digs deep. It picks up on the key points, expands on them, and weaves them into something that feels… organic. The AI understands the context, keeps the flow, and even brings in additional insights, almost like it’s one step ahead of what you’re thinking. I’ve played around with a lot of tech over the years, but this is different. It’s not just about spitting out information—it’s creating something that feels human, which is both fascinating and just a little bit eerie.
But it gets even better. Google recently dropped a big update for NotebookLM that ups the game. Now, you can use a “Customize” feature that basically lets you act as a producer. You hand the AI hosts your notes, give them a rundown of what you want them to cover, and bam, they take that and run with it. You’re not just sitting back and watching it do its thing—you’re involved, steering the conversation, shaping how things unfold. Plus, they added a background listening feature, which means you can keep working on other tasks while this AI-generated podcast plays in the background. Multitasking just leveled up.
Creating one of these AI podcasts is ridiculously simple. You log in with your Google account and upload your sources—text, PDFs, and even YouTube videos—and within a few minutes, NotebookLM spits out a fully formed audio file. The more sources you toss in, the more nuanced and broad the conversation gets. Once it’s ready, you can play it back, speed it up or slow it down, download it as a WAV file, and now—thanks to the latest update—you can share it with a public link. Yeah, it’s getting to that point where I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing AI-generated podcasts popping up on platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts soon.
So, I decided to test it out with something personal. I fed NotebookLM a chunk of writing about my journey through addiction and how I built resilience along the way. What came out was unreal. It was this conversation between two AI hosts, breaking down my battle with addiction, talking about discipline, mental strength, and all the stuff that shaped me. The AI wasn’t just reading my words—it was bringing them to life in a way that honestly gave me chills. It felt real. Too real.
Anyway, I’ve got the episode ready to go. If you’re curious about how AI can bring a story like mine to life, give it a listen and let me know what you think.
Stay disciplined. Stay resilient.
Jim Lunsford
Disclaimers:
Use of Artificial Intelligence: Jim Lunsford is committed to sharing authentic and meaningful content. To enhance the clarity and effectiveness of his writing, Jim utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool in the content creation process. While AI assists in organizing and refining his ideas, every thought, insight, and story shared on this website is genuinely his own. The use of AI does not alter the authenticity of his work; rather, it helps Jim communicate more effectively with you, his audience. Jim's goal remains to inspire, motivate, and connect, and AI is simply a tool that supports that mission.
Use of Affiliate Links: Some links on this website may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, Jim Lunsford earns from qualifying purchases.
Discover more from Jim Lunsford
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
