Though I’ve been using NotebookLM since it was still an experimental Google Labs project, back when there was no guarantee it would ever launch widely, my usage was pretty limited at first. For the longest time, I only relied on NotebookLM for studying. It was the perfect revision companion and quickly became the only tool I depended on for learning new concepts, testing my knowledge before exams, and basically my secret to staying ahead without burning out.

When I started realizing just how powerful NotebookLM can be, I realized that by not using it outside of studying, I was simply not using it to its maximum potential. I, then, integrated it into my day-to-day workflow and even began pairing it with apps I use for work, like Slack and Excel. Since then, I’ve discovered some pretty weird (but incredibly effective) ways to use NotebookLM that make my life easier,

Using NotebookLM to watch YouTube videos and even shows

Why watch it when you can read it?

I know how weird that might sound, but hear me out. NotebookLM accepts YouTube videos as sources, and one random day, I figured I’d see how well it could help me digest video content. Though I went in with extremely low expectations, I was surprised at how great a job NotebookLM did.

When it comes to YouTube videos, NotebookLM essentially uses the transcript of the video and processes the text transcription just like it would any other source. Though the final result isn’t always perfect since the transcript is seldom 100% accurate, it still does a solid job of capturing the key points. I don't use this method to watch videos I genuinely want to watch, like random vlogs from my favorite creators or tech reviews I've been really looking forward to.

Instead, I use it to speedrun through lengthy interviews I don't want to watch in full, course lectures, or other content where I just need the main ideas without sitting through every minute. All I need to do is create a new notebook and drop the video URL as a source. It’s saved me hours and hours of watching videos and scrubbing through them to find that one important moment or piece of information.

I also recently used NotebookLM to "watch" a show on Netflix, The Queen's Gambit. I had even lower expectations for this experiment than I did for the YouTube videos one, but it was a neat way to catch up on the storyline and key moments without committing to watching every episode in full.

Though NotebookLM doesn’t accept videos as sources just yet, I uploaded in-depth episode summaries and video recaps. This way, I was able to get a solid overview of the plot and had enough knowledge about the series to enjoy reels and TikToks without feeling lost. Of course, I was able to do this in a fraction of a time it would take to binge-watch the series.

Preparing for interviews with NotebookLM

My go-to interview prep hack

No matter what field you’re in, the experience and feeling of giving a interview is typically all the same. And there’s really no escaping it either. Though I don’t have to give a lot of job interviews as a freelancer, when I do, I want to be fully prepared to make the best impression possible.

Now, there are a lot of AI tools out there that can help you prepare for interviews. But what sets NotebookLM apart is how you can customize and mold it to your own needs. Now, say I'm about to interview for a software engineering role at XYZ company.

With NotebookLM, what I can do is drop different sources related to the job I'm interviewing for, the company I'm interviewing for, and other general concepts like possible interview questions, industry concepts, and technical concepts, into a dedicated notebook. This essentially creates a personalized AI for that particular notebook that’s only familiar with the information I’ve fed it.

I then typically use the Interactive Mode within the Audio Overview feature, which lets you jump into the AI-generated podcast and act as a sort of a third host. What I do is ask the hosts any questions I may have about the job posting and company, and instantly get answers to help me clarify details or dig deeper into specific points.

The best part about NotebookLM for this use case is that it can't access the internet or use its own intelligence to answer any questions you may have. This means it won’t look for information on the web to fill gaps or guess answers. Ultimately, this keeps everything focused, accurate, and tailored to exactly what you need to know for your interview.

Turning NotebookLM into a personal finance assistant

The easiest way to track your spending

When I first started using NotebookLM, the last thing I'd have ever expected to use it for was managing my finances. But when I realized how seamlessly NotebookLM works with Excel, I figured it was worth at least trying to export my current financial data and see what it could do with it. So, that's exactly what I did. It’s now turned into a ritual I do at the start of every month, which I’ve found really helps me shape up my budget for the next one.

With NotebookLM, you can upload PDFs of your monthly (or annual) bank statements, and then ask the AI tool to break it down and help you analyze where all your money has been going. NotebookLM’s most underrated feature is the capability of asking questions you may have about your sources in completely natural language. Since NotebookLM is AI-powered, it can understand and respond to queries like, “How much did I spend on dining out last month?” or “Which category had the highest expenses?”

The Mind Map feature is also an absolute game-changer if your spending per month is as chaotic as mine is. For instance, the Mind Map generated from my bank statements typically divides into four nodes: Account Holder Information, Statement Details, Balance Summary, and Transactions.

I’ve tested out a lot of different financial trackers before, and I’ve never been able to stick to them for too long. I always find there’s too much setup I need to do, and I have to navigate different menus just to find a particular setting. It always feels like it’s a lot more work than it needs to be. I’m glad NotebookLM’s finally helped change that for me.

You aren’t using NotebookLM the way you should be

At the end of the day, the use cases above are definitely not what NotebookLM was originally designed for or what most people expect. But that’s exactly what makes it so powerful. It’s flexible enough to fit into your unique workflow, whatever that looks like, and it gets better the more you make it your own.