How to Create a Podcast with NotebookLM Audio Overviews

One of the most loved features of NotebookLM (now Gemini Notebook) is the Audio Overview: it turns your documents into a natural-sounding conversation between AI hosts, like a podcast made just for you. It's perfect for reviewing study material on a commute, digesting a long report while cooking, or helping a team understand a project. This guide shows you how to create one, customize it properly, and download it.

What exactly is an Audio Overview?

Google describes Audio Overviews as discussions between AI hosts that summarize and connect the key topics in your uploaded sources. They are meant to reflect your source content objectively rather than give the hosts' own opinions. You don't need a microphone, a script or editing software. The tool generates everything from what's in your notebook.

Because it's grounded in your sources, it's much more focused than a generic podcast on the same topic. If you add your class notes, the episode is about your class notes.

Step 1: Prepare your notebook

1. Open Gemini Notebook on the web (old NotebookLM links redirect there) and create a new notebook.
2. Add your sources: PDFs, Google Docs, web pages, YouTube links, pasted text, audio files and more.
3. Keep it focused. One topic per notebook gives a much more coherent episode.

You need edit access to a notebook to generate or delete an Audio Overview.

Step 2: Choose the right format

In the Studio panel, select Audio Overview. You can customize it before generating. Google currently offers four formats:

Step 3: Set language and length

Choose the language. Google lists 80+ supported languages, including Modern Standard Arabic, Egyptian Arabic, Urdu, Malay, Indonesian, Turkish, Bengali, French and several varieties of Spanish. By default, it uses the preferred language in your Google Account.

Then choose the length: Shorter, Default or Longer. At the time of writing, Longer is available in English only.

Step 4: Write a focus prompt (the secret to great episodes)

The prompt box lets you tell the hosts what to focus on and what level to speak at. This is where most people leave quality on the table. Compare:

• Weak: "Make a podcast."
• Strong: "I'm a beginner preparing for an exam next week. Focus on chapters 3 and 4, explain every technical term in simple words, and end with the five things I must remember."

Ready-to-use prompt templates

Audience: [beginners / managers / clients]. Goal: [understand / decide / review]. Focus only on [topic or section]. Avoid [what to skip]. End with [summary / action items / questions].

Explain this research paper to a smart 16-year-old. Use everyday examples and spend extra time on the methodology.

We are deciding whether to adopt this proposal. Cover the strongest arguments for and against, using only the sources, and list open questions at the end.

Step 5: Generate and listen

Start the generation. Google says it can take a couple of minutes, and it runs in the background, so you can create other outputs or keep chatting with your sources meanwhile. When it's ready, play it right in the Studio panel.

Useful controls:

• Playback speed: More → Change playback speed.
• Feedback: thumbs up or down to rate it.
• View custom prompt: in the three-dot menu, to see what instructions you used, handy for repeating a good result.

You can also listen while you explore citations and ask questions in the chat at the same time.

Step 6: Try interactive mode (talk to the hosts)

Interactive mode lets you join the conversation with your voice. When you create a new Audio Overview, select Interactive mode, start listening, and select Join. When the hosts call on you, ask your question. They answer based on your sources and then return to the episode.

Good to know, according to Google: interactive mode is currently English-only, works only on newly generated overviews, and your voice and transcribed interactions aren't stored or shared. You might notice small delays or audio glitches.

Step 7: Download or share your podcast

Download

In the audio player, select Download to save the file. You can then listen offline on any device.

Share a link

Select Share in the player. The notebook must be shared with the recipient or set to "Anyone with a link" with access to the full notebook. Public sharing is only available for consumer (personal) accounts, not Workspace Enterprise or Education accounts.

Share the whole notebook

People you share the notebook with can play the Audio Overview from their own Studio panel.

Need a backup of everything else? See how to download sources from NotebookLM.

8 ideas for using Audio Overviews

1. Exam revision: one episode per chapter, using the Brief for last-minute review.
2. Language learning: generate the same content in your target language.
3. Meeting prep: turn a long report into a 10-minute Deep Dive.
4. Feedback on your writing: use The Critique on your essay draft.
5. Decision making: use The Debate to hear both sides of a proposal.
6. Team onboarding: an audio tour of internal documentation.
7. Accessibility: helpful for people who learn better by listening.
8. Repurposing your own content: turn your blog posts or notes into an audio summary for yourself.

Limitations to keep in mind

• Accuracy: Google warns Audio Overviews, including voices, are AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies or audio glitches. Double-check important facts against the sources.
• Not a replacement for reading: it summarizes, so details and nuance can be lost.
• Rights: only use sources you're allowed to use, especially if you plan to share the audio publicly.
• Mobile differences: the mobile app may have limitations compared to the web.

Audio Overview vs. Video Overview vs. Slide Deck

If you'd rather watch than listen, the Studio panel also offers Video Overviews (narrated visual explanations), and if you need to present, Slide Decks export to PowerPoint. See our guide on making a PowerPoint with NotebookLM.

Summary

Creating a podcast with NotebookLM / Gemini Notebook takes just a few clicks: add focused sources, open Audio Overview in Studio, pick the right format, language and length, and write a clear focus prompt. Then listen, talk to the hosts in interactive mode, and download the file. Used well, it can turn hours of reading into a short, personalized episode you can listen to anywhere.

Frequently asked questions