Creating Podcasts in Notebook LM: Your Complete Guide

Have you ever dreamed of starting your own podcast but felt overwhelmed by the thought of buying expensive gear, learning editing software, or spending hours recording and re-recording? What if I told you that today, you can create a complete, polished podcast episode—from idea to final audio—without even touching a microphone?

In this guide, we’re diving into Google Notebook LM, the AI tool that’s transforming podcasting forever. You’ll see how it can brainstorm topics, write scripts, generate natural two-person conversations, and even deliver a finished audio file that’s ready to upload.

Stick with me until the end—because you won’t want to miss any of the details that could get your podcast up and running fast. Plus, I’ll provide a list of podcasting platforms you can use right away to launch your show today.

What Is Google Notebook LM?

Google Notebook LM is an AI-powered tool designed to help you organize ideas, generate content, and now—even create audio. Think of it as your AI research assistant and creative partner rolled into one. You can upload documents, paste YouTube links, or provide text prompts, and Notebook LM will break everything down into summaries, outlines, and even polished scripts.

Its newest update makes it even more powerful: you can now generate actual audio podcasts inside Notebook LM. That means you’re not just writing or planning—you can produce a complete podcast episode without ever picking up a microphone.

What Is a Podcast?

A podcast is a digital audio program—like an internet radio show—that you can listen to on-demand through apps like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts. Podcasts can be:

• Solo: one person narrating or teaching.

• Interview-based: a host and guest discussing topics.

• Conversational: two or more hosts sharing thoughts, debates, or stories.

• Narrative/Storytelling: scripted episodes, documentaries, or audio dramas.

Traditionally, podcasting required equipment (microphone, editing software, hosting platform) and technical know-how. With Notebook LM’s new audio features, much of that heavy lifting can now be automated.

Using Notebook LM to Create Your Podcast

Notebook LM helps with every stage of podcast production: planning, scripting, recording, and finalizing audio. Here’s how you can leverage it:

1. Planning and Idea Development

• Upload research articles, notes, or even a YouTube link, and Notebook LM will generate summaries and topic ideas.

• Ask it to create episode outlines or brainstorm titles that fit your niche.

• Example: “Summarize this YouTube lecture into 5 key takeaways for a podcast episode.”

2. Script Creation

• Notebook LM can draft a full script for you—either in monologue style or in dialogue form with two speakers.

• You can define personalities for each speaker (e.g., casual vs. professional, humorous vs. analytical).

• This allows you to create a conversational-style podcast even if you’re working solo.

3. Audio Generation (The New Feature)

This is where Notebook LM has changed the game:

• Take your script and instantly convert it into AI-generated audio with natural voices.

• Upload an audio file (like a recorded talk or interview), and Notebook LM can clean it up, structure it, and turn it into a podcast-ready episode.

• Provide a YouTube link, and it can generate a podcast episode summarizing and expanding on the content.

• Upload a digital book, article, or document, and Notebook LM can transform it into a summarized, engaging podcast episode for your listeners.

👉 And here’s the best part: if creators don’t want to go through the arduous process of recording and editing themselves, they can simply use the Audio Overview feature. This produces a fully completed, polished audio file in finalized podcast format—ready to publish.

4. Finalizing and Enhancing

• Notebook LM automatically generates show notes, timestamps, and summaries.

• It can draft social media captions and episode descriptions to promote your show.

• Export the finished audio or Audio Overview file and upload it directly to your hosting platform.

Final Thoughts

Podcasting used to demand equipment, editing skills, and lots of manual effort. With Notebook LM’s new audio capabilities, you can now:

• Create podcasts from scripts, uploaded audio, YouTube videos, or documents.

• Generate two-person conversations without needing a co-host.

• Skip recording and editing entirely by using Audio Overview, which delivers a ready-to-publish podcast episode.

In short, Notebook LM transforms podcasting from a complex production into a streamlined, AI-powered workflow—perfect for beginners and seasoned creators alike.

🚀 Start Podcasting Today: Hosting Platforms to Launch Your Show

Once you’ve created your podcast episode with Notebook LM, you’ll need a place to host and distribute it. Here are some popular options to get started right away:

• Spotify for Podcasters (Anchor) – Free hosting, automatic distribution to Spotify, and basic analytics.

• Buzzsprout – User-friendly, great for beginners, with solid analytics and marketing tools.

• Libsyn – One of the oldest podcast hosts, trusted for reliability, distribution, and detailed stats.

• Podbean – Affordable hosting with monetization features like ads and listener support.

• Castos – Advanced analytics, private podcasting, and YouTube integration.

• Transistor – Perfect for teams and businesses; allows unlimited shows under one plan.

• YouTube – Now supports podcast publishing directly. Great for discoverability and combining audio + video audiences.

• Apple Podcasts – Not a host itself, but essential for distribution. Many hosting services push your podcast here automatically.

• Amazon Music / Audible – Another fast-growing platform for reaching listeners.

• iHeartRadio – Expands your podcast’s reach to a large mainstream audience.

📌 Tip: Start with Buzzsprout if you’re new to podcasting. It’s simple, reliable, and gives you excellent analytics and distribution tools to grow quickly. Once you’re comfortable, expand to YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music for maximum visibility.