NotebookLM: My Second Brain for Research, Content & Podcast Creation

Your AI-powered research lab, second brain, and podcast studio

I’ve been a NotebookLM user since Day 1 , back when it launched in July 2023 as a quiet experimental tool from Google Labs. At first, it felt like a smarter version of Google Docs with a chatbot bolted on.

But over the last year, it’s evolved into something much more powerful—an AI-powered second brain .

I now use NotebookLM to:

• Digest complex regulations
• Compare legal documents
• Structure client presentations
• Brainstorm podcast episodes
• Summarize transcripts
• And even generate custom, conversational audio content

In this post, I’ll share my favorite features, real use cases, and how NotebookLM helps me think, create, and communicate more effectively—across roles.

Why NotebookLM Feels Like a Second Brain

You’ve probably heard the term “second brain” —a system for organizing your thoughts, research, and knowledge outside your head. Popularized by productivity expert Tiago Forte, it’s all about capturing information, connecting ideas, and turning insights into output.

NotebookLM brings this to life with:

• Multi-source grounding – Combine up to 50 documents (or 300 on premium)
• Mind map generation – Visualize relationships between topics
• Discovery tools – Surface related content to expand your thinking
• Response personas – Get answers in the tone of a PM, consultant, or researcher
• Audio overviews – Generate AI-hosted podcast-style summaries
• Multimodal input – Add PDFs, Docs, videos, transcripts, even podcast audio

Power User Note: Not Just Memory—It's Strategy

NotebookLM works best when you structure your inputs . I organize my notebooks by objective—like “Podcast Strategy,” “Legal Templates,” or “Startup Research.” I give sources clear names so I can reference them directly in prompts. It sounds small, but it makes the AI 10× more useful.

My Use Cases (with Prompts You Can Steal)

Here’s how I actually use NotebookLM across my workflows, plus tips to get the most out of each mode:

1. Understand Regulation

Goal : Unpack complex documents like GDPR or local compliance acts.

Persona Prompt :

You’re a legal consultant. 
Analyze these regulation PDFs and summarize GDPR compliance points.

Chat Prompt :

What are the main GDPR obligations in these sources? 
Provide bullets.

Podcast Prompt :

Generate a podcast-style overview of the key GDPR compliance points from these sources, explaining them in simple terms.

2. Compare Agreements

Goal : Quickly spot differences between NDAs, service contracts, or vendor terms.

Persona Prompt :

Act as a contract analyst. 
Compare termination and liability clauses in agreements A vs. B.

Chat Prompt :

What are the key differences in the termination clauses between source [Agreement A] and source [Agreement B]?

Podcast Prompt :

Generate a podcast segment discussing the pros and cons of the termination clauses in these two agreements.

3. Create Meeting Minutes

Goal : Summarize call transcripts into actionable takeaways.

Persona Prompt :

You're an executive assistant. 
From this transcript, create structured minutes: summary, decisions, and action items.

Chat Prompt :

Summarize the key decisions and action items from source [Meeting Transcript].

Podcast Prompt :

Generate an audio summary of this meeting, highlighting key decisions and next steps.

Pro Tip : Use NotebookLM’s discovery tool to enrich sparse transcripts with linked agenda items or policies.

4. Extract Key Takeaways

Goal : Find the signal in the noise—quickly.

Persona Prompt :

Act as a product researcher. 
Pull the top 5 takeaways from sources 1–4, and explain why they matter.

Chat Prompt :

What are the most important insights from source [Research Paper]?

Podcast Prompt :

Create a short audio summary of the key findings from these research papers.

5. Create Presentation Outlines

Goal : Draft pitch decks, product updates, or strategy briefs in a specific voice.

Persona Prompt :

You're a senior product manager. 
Create a 10-slide deck outline on this new feature rollout. 
Structure: Problem, Solution, Roadmap, KPI, Risks.

Chat Prompt :

Generate a presentation outline for [Topic] based on source [Document].

Podcast Prompt :

Produce an audio overview of this presentation outline, suitable for a quick stakeholder update.

Bonus : Ask it to rewrite the outline in the tone of a consultant or market researcher.

6. Podcast Episode Generation

Goal : Turn research into listenable, shareable content.

Podcast Prompt :

You are a podcast host specializing in [Topic]. 
Create an engaging script based on source .

Power User Note: Podcast Mode = Passive Learning Superpower

I’ve started exporting these audio overviews and listening to them during workouts or commutes. It’s a surprising way to internalize ideas without having to sit at a desk.

Tips for Podcast & Persona Modes

Persona Tips

• Be specific : “You’re a McKinsey consultant with 10 years of SaaS experience.”
• Control structure : “Give me a 5-point list with brief explanations.”
• Iterate naturally : “Expand bullet 3 with examples.”

Podcast Mode Tricks

• Use “Customize” to fine-tune the tone, pace, and segment order
• Assign personalities to each host for richer contrast
• Choose the episode duration should be (shorter, default, longer)
• Reuse personas from past notebooks for consistent brand voice

Bonus Use Cases You Might Not Think Of

• Repurpose Research : Turn client briefs into blogs, podcasts, and decks
• Create Training Content : Use mind maps + podcast mode to build microlearning
• Study Companion : Upload course PDFs and ask for flashcards or exam prep
• Trend Scanning : Feed in industry reports and ask for patterns over time
• Visual Thinking : Use mind maps to plan personal projects or startup roadmaps

Power User Note: Discover Mode Finds What You're Missing

When I hit creative blocks, I hit "Discover" and let NotebookLM suggest related sources. It’s like a smart librarian whispering, “Hey, did you check this angle yet?”

🤔 NotebookLM vs. Standard ChatGPT

Feature	NotebookLM	Standard GPT
Source-grounded answers	✅ Yes, with citations	❌ Often hallucinated
Podcast/audio generation	✅ Yes (hosted mode)	❌ Not native
Mind map creation	✅ Built-in	❌ Not supported
Visual + audio input	✅ Yes (PDF, video, audio, etc.)	⚠️ Partial support
Custom personas	✅ With tone, role, structure	⚠️ Prompt-dependent
Best for	Knowledge synthesis, content creation	Q&A, logic, raw ideation

Final Thoughts

As a Day 1 user, I’ve seen NotebookLM go from “nice experiment” to essential creative tool . It’s now part research assistant, part editor, and part podcast host—all in one clean interface.

If you're a builder, thinker, or storyteller who juggles information across formats, NotebookLM is your second brain in the cloud .

Ready to Try?

Start small. Upload something you’re trying to make sense of—an article, a brief, a regulation—and ask NotebookLM to explain it in your voice.

Or go big: create a full presentation, a podcast script, or a research brief.