If you’ve ever attended one of my workshops, you’ll know I’m a huge fangirl for Notebook LM. It has been truly transformative for my workflow. The ability to analyse and repurpose my own content, without it pulling from the wider internet, is incredibly valuable.
For example, I regularly upload my course materials to generate an audio version I can listen to on my walks. Beyond that, its tools for creating video overviews and reports are a fantastic way to make educational content accessible to all learning styles.
Last night, while preparing an audio overview for my morning walk, I stumbled onto something new. If you haven’t used this feature, Notebook LM can produce a podcast about your materials, complete with two AI hosts (with American accents, which is pretty good if you don’t mind the style). It’s a brilliant way to prep, and it’s available in more than 50 languages.
So, there I was, late at night, when I discovered the new interactive mode. It lets you engage directly with the podcast hosts, meaning you can ask them questions and they will answer you. Even knowing it’s still in Beta and a bit glitchy, it was very freaky. I had to sit with this question: Why am I perfectly happy using the mobile app to talk to ChatGPT, but asking a podcast host a question totally threw me?
I was half-worried I’d have AI-themed nightmares (I didn’t!), but when I woke up, I knew I had to write about it.
It’s funny how some tech features feel inspiring while others just make us feel… weird. Let’s be real: change can be scary, and new systems can definitely make you feel uncomfortable (they still do for me sometimes). But does that discomfort mean I’m going to stop exploring? Absolutely not.
I’ll keep testing, training, and creating. If you need a guide to support you as you learn new tech or get more familiar with AI tools, get in touch, or sign up for my newsletter below.