What is this?

I am testing the publishing of a NotebookLM Video Overview of my original article:

This is completely AI written with slides and audio overlay with NotebookLM. I was pretty impressed, so I decided to share. In my 30 day challenge fashion, I will post the end-to-end process and show how I can automate it into just publishing off of my existing lists of 30 content.

Transcript

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Hey there, let’s talk about creative blocks.

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You know that feeling, right?

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When you’re just stuck, staring at a blank page, waiting for an idea to hit you?

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Well,

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today we are going to crack that code with a technique that is so simple,

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but so powerful,

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it might just change the way you think.

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Ready?

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Let’s get into it.

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Yeah, this.

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This is the look.

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That blinking cursor,

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the empty space,

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it can feel like so much pressure to come up with something,

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anything brilliant.

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It’s a feeling we all know,

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whether your thoughts are just stuck,

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totally scattered,

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or maybe they just decided not to show up today.

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But what if we could flip that?

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What if we could turn all that pressure into, well, play?

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That’s what this is all about.

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We’re gonna explore a framework that turns that scary blank page into a creative playground.

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And it’s all built around one simple, powerful rule.

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Make a list of 30.

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So what is this 30 list challenge?

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Well, it comes from a writer named Clemens Wan.

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And honestly, it’s this fantastic exercise in structured creativity.

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Let’s break down what it is and more importantly, why it works so well.

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Okay, so a list of 30 is pretty much what it sounds like.

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You pick a topic, any topic, and you just generate 30 items about it.

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But here’s the real key.

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The goal is not to have this perfect, polished final document.

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Nope.

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The real value is in what it calls the mental gymnastics.

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The process itself forces you to get past your own inner critic and dig deeper than

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just what you can remember off the top of your head.

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And this quote right here, it just nails the whole philosophy.

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It’s not about the end result.

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It’s about the journey your brain takes to get there.

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It’s the effort, the weird connections your mind starts to make when you push it a little.

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That’s where the good stuff is.

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It’s all about discovery, not performance.

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All right,

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so you’re probably thinking,

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okay,

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this sounds cool,

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I wanna try it,

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but where do I even start?

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The beautiful thing about this whole method is how simple it is.

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So let’s just walk through the first few steps to get those ideas flowing.

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No friction at all.

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First things first, get rid of any barriers.

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Use whatever you like to write with, a pen, your laptop, a giant whiteboard, it doesn’t matter.

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Find a place where you’re comfortable, where your mind can just wander.

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And then, and this is super important, just trust your gut.

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Start writing.

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For your very first list, pick something you know inside and out.

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Favorite movies, things you love about your hometown.

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Make it easy on yourself to just begin.

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Now, this is where it gets really interesting, the rules.

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These aren’t meant to box you in, they’re actually designed to set you free.

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Finishing within a day, that builds momentum.

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Not looking stuff up, that forces you to look inward, so the list is genuinely yours.

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And if you get stuck,

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the good old who,

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what,

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where,

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when,

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why,

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and how questions are your best friend for finding new angles.

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And, you know, as Clemens 1 puts it, getting to 10 should be easy, right?

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This just perfectly captures the vibe of the whole thing.

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That first third of the list is really just the warm-up.

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You’re just getting all the obvious easy stuff out of your head and onto the page.

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Don’t think too hard.

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Just go.

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Okay, so let’s keep going.

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Because after that first easy burst of ideas, almost everybody hits a wall.

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You’ll get to number 15, maybe 20, and just stop.

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But that slump isn’t a sign you’re failing.

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It’s actually a sign that the real creative magic is just about to start.

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So here’s how you get through it.

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So you’ve got two basic scenarios here.

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If you’re just kind of slowing down, take a look at what you already have.

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Can you expand on one of those ideas?

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Do you see any patterns forming?

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But if you are truly epically stuck, you got to jolt your brain.

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Ask the question in a totally new way.

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Step away from it for a couple of hours.

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Or, and this is my personal favorite, just start making ridiculous jokes about the topic.

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Seriously, laughter is an amazing way to break out of rigid thinking.

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So you’ve pushed through that middle part.

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You’re on the home stretch.

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What’s the mindset you need to actually get across the finish line?

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Well, these are the golden rules.

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This is the philosophy that makes the whole thing click.

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This might be the most important thing to remember.

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Those last five items are always the hardest,

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but they are also where the real breakthroughs live.

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You’ve used up all the obvious answers,

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so your brain is forced to make these new wild connections.

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Whatever you do, don’t quit at number 27.

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I promise your most interesting idea is right around the corner.

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Oh, this rule is so freeing.

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You have to let go of perfection.

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The mantra here is written, not perfect.

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This isn’t for a grade.

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It’s for you.

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It’s an exploration.

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So give yourself permission for it to be messy and weird and wonderfully human.

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It’s always about authenticity over polish.

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And seriously, above all else, this is supposed to be enjoyable.

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It’s a creative act of kindness to yourself.

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Think of it like you’re just having a conversation with your own brain.

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You get to be curious and playful and surprised by what you find in there.

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It’s not a chore.

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It’s a treat.

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And here is this awesome little tradition from the source material that I just love.

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Make your final item, number 30, special.

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It can be an inside joke only you get,

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a surprising twist,

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or just a really heartfelt summary of your thoughts.

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It’s like your personal signature on the list, a little reward for finishing the journey.

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Okay, so you’ve got the what, you’ve got the why, and you’ve got the how.

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You get the philosophy behind it.

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There’s really only one thing left to do, right?

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It’s time to go from just watching this to actually doing it.

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Time to become a writer.

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So I’m asking you directly, what’s your first list going to be about?

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It can be something fun,

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like 30 movies I love,

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or something a bit more reflective,

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like 30 Lessons from Corp That Life.

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Honestly, the topic doesn’t matter nearly as much as the act of just starting.

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So what’s the first thing that pops into your head?

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Go with that one.

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And that’s it.

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A simple, powerful secret to unlocking a potentially endless stream of ideas.

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If you want some inspiration,

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you can check out over 260 example lists and read a lot more from Clemens Juan over

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at listsof30.com.

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Thanks for tuning in and happy listing.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.listsof30.com