100 Episodes Later: Celebrating NotebookLM as a Game-Changer
How an LLM Tool Transformed My Classroom, Writing, and Podcasting Journey
Reaching the milestone of my 100th podcast episode feels both surreal and deeply rewarding, yet it’s a milestone I once thought impossible. As an autistic Gestalt Language Processor, the very idea of podcasting—speaking extemporaneously and coherently—was daunting. For someone like me, whose verbal processing thrives on structure and familiarity, the stress of creating and delivering a podcast felt almost insurmountable. Yet, here I am, celebrating this achievement. Central to this journey has been NotebookLM, an LLM-powered collaborator that has transformed my workflow. For me, as both a GLP and an English Language Learner, the challenge of organising thoughts, synthesising information, and producing meaningful content is immense. Google’s NotebookLM has been a game-changer, helping me navigate these complexities and overcome my fear of improvisation. My podcast was always intended to support those for whom engaging with the written word—even with technology like text-to-speech—wasn’t an option. Whilst Substack offers a functional text-to-speech feature, it can’t match the dynamic and engaging nature of this newer technology. NotebookLM has not only revolutionised how I create content for my Substack but also how I translate that content into something more accessible and entertaining for a broader audience. At the same time, it has empowered my work as a teacher, enabling me to support my students—many of whom are GLPs and ELLs—with accessible, tailored resources. Today’s article reflects on how NotebookLM has bridged these worlds, transforming what once felt impossible into a powerful and inclusive reality.
The Challenge Before NotebookLM
Before NotebookLM, the challenges I faced as an educator supporting students with IEPs felt monumental. Differentiating instruction for such a diverse range of learners (AUT, OHI, and SLD) was an entirely analogue, offline process—time-consuming and often disjointed. The task of tailoring resources to meet individual needs demanded immense effort, and whilst I could see the gaps in accessibility, addressing them with the tools I had was a constant struggle. Now, I can create dedicated notebooks for my students, filled with curated resources, and seamlessly share them within our course’s learning management system. This has transformed the way I work and how my students engage with their learning.
In my writing and podcasting, the barriers were just as significant. I always have a vision for where I want an article to go, but that vision often spirals into a full autistic deep dive, dense with detail and complexity. This level of depth, whilst valuable, isn’t always accessible or engaging for every reader or listener. NotebookLM fills this gap beautifully. It creates concise, entertaining summaries of my lengthy articles, allowing diverse audiences to connect with the content. It does the same for academic sources I provide to my students, turning dense material into something they can actually use and understand.
The need for tools that prioritise organisation, comprehension, and accessibility cannot be overstated. NotebookLM not only meets those needs but elevates my practice, allowing me to focus on what truly matters—engaging and empowering my students and readers.
Discovery and Early Impressions of NotebookLM
My introduction to NotebookLM came through a feature in a newsletter, and I was immediately curious about what it could do for me. It didn’t take long to dive in—the interface was intuitive, and the platform included an initial notebook filled with helpful resources to guide me through the workflow and user experience. From the start, it felt accessible and practical, offering a clear sense of how it could integrate into both my teaching and writing practices.
Some features stood out right away. Source-grounded responses made it easy to interact with dense academic materials, whilst note-taking tools allowed me to organise and refine ideas efficiently. The ‘deep dive’ audio overviews were particularly intriguing, creating engaging summaries that made even complex content easier to digest. For text-based sources, its text-to-speech functionality, though straightforward, added another layer of accessibility, acting as a simple reader for the materials loaded into my workspace.
What truly resonated with me, though, was how well NotebookLM complemented my processing style as a GLP and my needs as an ELL. Much of the research I encounter is dense and often impenetrable at first glance. NotebookLM gave me the ability to screen papers effectively, identifying those that would be genuinely helpful while filtering out the rest. It was a tool that not only adapted to my workflow but actively improved it, empowering me to tackle challenges I’d previously struggled to manage.
Impact in the Classroom
NotebookLM has had a profound impact on my classroom practice, transforming how I support my students, particularly those with IEPs and my ELLs. Its ability to create accessible study guides, FAQs, and tailored materials has been a game-changer. By uploading course materials and academic sources, I can use NotebookLM to generate resources that break down complex concepts into manageable, understandable chunks. These tools give my students a clear path through challenging content, allowing them to engage with their learning in ways that weren’t possible before.
The interactive features have also significantly improved engagement in my classroom. For instance, I can create scaffolding activities that encourage students to ask questions and explore topics at their own pace. With NotebookLM’s focus on source-grounded responses, my students can see exactly where their answers come from, building their confidence and comprehension. For ELLs in particular, this clarity is invaluable, as it reduces the cognitive load of navigating unfamiliar academic language whilst helping them build skills for independent learning (with the audio functions supporting their speaking / listening goals).
Perhaps the most remarkable benefit has been the time NotebookLM saves in lesson preparation. With its support, I can focus on targeting the student with the greatest need for accommodation and support. What’s amazing is that this approach ends up benefiting every student in my class. The resources and strategies I develop for one student often apply universally, creating a highly inclusive environment where all students can thrive. By taking on much of the legwork in creating materials, NotebookLM has freed me to dedicate more time to what truly matters—connecting with my students, addressing their individual challenges, and celebrating their successes. It’s a tool that not only makes my work easier but also makes my classroom a more equitable and supportive space for every learner.
Revolutionising My ‘Podcasting Workflow’
I never set out to be a ‘podcaster.’ It wasn’t part of my plan, but when the tools became available, it felt like a natural extension of my work. NotebookLM has played a pivotal role in making this transition not only possible but successful. Its deep dive summaries have been instrumental in transforming my Substack articles into podcast-ready content. This has allowed me to engage a broader audience, turning readers into listeners with compelling, digestible versions of my work. The ability to summarise complex topics in an engaging way has removed the barriers I once faced when trying to adapt my detailed writing into accessible audio formats beyond simple narrations.
NotebookLM’s organisational capabilities have been equally transformative. With almost 1000 articles now published here on this Substack, the task of managing and synthesising this body of work could easily feel overwhelming. NotebookLM simplifies this by allowing me to categorise, refine, and highlight the most important aspects of each piece. It streamlines my process, ensuring that the essence of my writing carries through into the podcast format without losing its depth or nuance.
Thanks to Substack’s podcasting feature, the reach of my work has expanded significantly. Listeners can engage with the podcast not only through the Substack app but also on their preferred platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or any Podcast 2.0 app via RSS feed. This accessibility means that my content is now available wherever my audience feels most comfortable, bridging the gap between my written and spoken words in ways I never imagined.
Final thoughts …
NotebookLM has proven to be a transformative tool, not just for me but for what it represents to educators, writers, and professionals navigating complex challenges. Its ability to organise, synthesise, and present information in accessible ways has been invaluable in my work with my students. What makes it even more remarkable is that the essential features remain free to use, ensuring that this powerful resource is available to those who need it most. For that, I am deeply grateful (no, this is not a paid endorsement).
As an autistic GLP and ELL, I find NotebookLM’s design uniquely attuned to the needs of neurodivergent individuals and those working in multilingual or highly diverse environments. Its adaptability supports a wide range of processing styles and learning preferences, making it a game-changer for inclusivity and accessibility.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to deepen my integration of NotebookLM into my practice. I plan to explore new ways to use its tools in creating engaging resources for my students and crafting compelling content for my Substack and podcast. With each milestone, NotebookLM continues to empower me to achieve what once felt impossible, and I look forward to discovering its full potential in the years to come.