How do I use NotebookLM to research my own documents, notes, and transcripts?

NotebookLM answers only from the sources you upload (PDFs, docs, links, YouTube videos, audio) and cites the exact passage, which makes it far more trustworthy than a general chatbot for working over your own material. Founders use it to interrogate customer call transcripts, industry reports, legal documents and board packs, and to generate audio overviews they can listen to on a commute. Keep one notebook per project and it stays sharp; it is free to start.

A quick orientation. The real value is below: resources worth your time, from people who've actually done it.