Google’s NotebookLM was built to be an AI research assistant; a tool that can summarize PDFs, generate study guides or even turn your notes into podcast-style audio. It runs on Google’s Gemini models, developed by DeepMind, which means it’s smart enough to handle big, messy projects while staying grounded in your own sources. The standout features are easy to see and include source-cited answers, custom notebooks to separate projects and visual tools like note boards and timelines.
But after spending time with NotebookLM, I realized it can be so much more than a workplace sidekick. Some of my favorite uses aren’t for professional purposes at all; they’re fun, personal and sometimes entertaining. Here are five unconventional ways I’ve been using NotebookLM and why I think this tool is worth a try.
1. Turning family chaos into a podcast
Most days I can't believe my family doesn't have a reality show. The stuff that happens is so ridiculous, funny and unbelievable that I all but wonder where the hidden cameras are. Remember that show "Punk'd"? Yea, that feels like my life as a mom with three grade school kids.
Between school newsletters, sports schedules and family group chats, my week is overflowing with information and hilarity (if I don't laugh, I'll cry). So, I did what anyone who tests AI for a living might do and combined my love for AI with my love for my crazy family; I uploaded all the texts, schedules and funny quips from my journal and uploaded it all to NotebookLM. Then, I asked for an audio overview.
What I got back was a two-host “podcast” recapping my family’s week like it was breaking news. We listened to it in the car on the way to soccer last night and couldn’t stop laughing at how Reality Show-like it made our lives sound.
2. Building a personalized trivia game
If you're like me, you're always looking for ways to keep the family off their screens and entertained around the dinner table. I'm always trying to get the conversation going and the arguing ("I can hear you chewing!") at a minimum.
So I fed NotebookLM a mix of my son's fifth grade homework assignments, vacation notes, plus, simple and silly facts, then asked it to generate quiz questions.
Suddenly we had our own “Jeopardy!” night at home — except the categories were all about us.
3. On-demand book review
I uploaded a summary and a few chapters of my YA sci-fi novel into NotebookLM, and it instantly generated a podcast-style dialogue. It sounded like two hosts on a radio show breaking down my book in detail. It was as if I was overhearing critics and fans discussing my story on air.
If you are working on any creative projects or have just completed one, using NotebookLM could be an interesting way to experience it from a different perspective. By hearing my book in this way, I noticed details that I hadn’t heard before, which is helpful for making tweaks and polishing drafts.
As an avid reader, I also recommend trying this with your favorite books. It’s like having an on-demand book club. You can even ask the “podcasters” questions and they will respond.
4. Life coach on demand
Speaking of asking questions, another use I’ve found for NotebookLM is as a life coach. I dropped in a few journal entries and goal lists and asked the AI to spot themes and help me get to my goals faster.
Within seconds, it told me what I complain about most (ouch), drafted a pep talk and even wrote a “letter from my future self.” It was half therapy, half motivation and, although it’s no replacement for a human life coach or therapist, it’s great for visualizing goals and having an audio to replay at any time.
5. Remixing my grandmother’s recipes
Cooking dinner for my family during the week is usually about getting something on the table fast enough so we can get out the door to soccer practice, gymnastics or other activities. It’s more about speed and function and less about crafting a homemade masterpiece.
But on one rainy Saturday, I recently uploaded a bunch of my grandmother’s old recipes to NotebookLM to upgrade our dinners. I asked NotebookLM to suggest something new based on pantry staples and even asked it to rewrite the instructions with healthier, modern options. It also rewrote the instructions so the kids could help and created “fusion” recipes that I would never have attempted on my own. The results were surprisingly delicious! While the setup of scanning the recipes was a bit tedious, the results were worth it.
The takeaway
NotebookLM may have been built for research, but that’s not where it ends. Whether it’s remixing dinner plans, turning family chaos into comedy or playing around with fiction, I’ve found it’s just as useful, and often more fun, outside of professional use cases.
And that’s what makes me keep coming back to this useful tool; it adds something unexpected to my everyday life. Let me know in the comments how you use NotebookLM.
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