Companion videos

NotebookLM: turn any source into a personal knowledge base — companion videos

The article makes the case for NotebookLM as the AI tool you reach for when the conversation has to stay grounded in a specific set of documents — papers, transcripts, meeting notes, a course reader. The picks below cover both ends of how to use it: a structured "do it this way" walkthrough and a long catalogue of less obvious applications.

Primary pick

34:40

How To Master NotebookLM in 2026 (Free Course)

Paul J Lipsky

A clean three-step framing — curate sources, ask the right questions, produce final outputs — that maps almost one-to-one onto how the article tells you to think about NotebookLM. Recent enough (early 2026) to match the current UI, including Studio, audio overviews, and mind maps.

What you should get from this: Build a source-grounded research notebook and turn it into briefings, study guides or working notes.

Watch or know first: Have documents you are allowed to upload and a clear research question.

AI Expert note: NotebookLM is useful because it stays close to sources, but source limits, Studio outputs, sharing and data-use controls can change. Verify current Google Workspace and NotebookLM settings before uploading company material.

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Also worth watching

27:30

35+ INSANE Ways To Use NotebookLM (For FREE)

Matt Wolfe

Once you understand the basics, this is the right second video. Matt runs through a long list of less obvious uses — turning a book into a study guide, briefing yourself on a competitor from their content, generating mind maps from a folder of PDFs — that help you see how flexible the "grounded notebook" frame actually is.

What you should get from this: Expand NotebookLM from a summarizer into a repeatable research and learning workflow.

Watch or know first: Watch a basic NotebookLM walkthrough first.

AI Expert note: Idea lists can encourage over-uploading. Keep the source-grounding pattern, but classify documents first and avoid sensitive client, HR, legal or credential material unless the workspace controls are approved.

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