MSLs in driving territories have it rough. Hours behind the wheel means time you can’t spend catching up on emails, staying on top of the literature, or prepping for KOL meetings. An MSL friend who covered the middle of the US once told me that discovering audiobooks and podcasts changed her life. Suddenly, those endless drives became opportunities to learn and upskill. She could spend the time upskilling by listening to business books.

In my hack with Vivek Mukhatyar on how to use AI to prep for KOL meetings fast, he mentioned that he loves using AI to create podcasts out of scientific papers. My immediate thought? This is brilliant.

For many MSLs, staying on top of the literature is one of the toughest parts of the job. New studies are published daily, and falling behind isn’t an option if you want to bring value to your KOLs. AI-generated podcasts offer a way to bridge that gap. They can help you quickly absorb key findings while traveling or going for a walk.

But wait, there’s more. I did a bunch of experimenting with AI-generated podcasts on scientific papers and how MSLs can use them to help stay on top of the literature. Standard AI podcasts are great for quick, high-level overviews, but what if you could take this a step further and use the podcast to strategically prep for your meeting? Keep reading to learn how to turn papers into AI podcasts for better KOL meetings.

AI Disclaimer: Use It Responsibly

AI tools are incredibly powerful, but they’re not infallible. Sometimes they can misinterpret data or provide context that isn’t entirely accurate. This is why it’s critical to double-check the AI’s output against the original paper and use your expertise to validate the insights. AI should be a helper, not a replacement for your critical thinking.

By using AI responsibly, you can maximize its benefits while ensuring your KOL interactions remain credible and impactful.

Standard AI Podcasts: A Good Starting Point

To explore this idea, I tested two popular AI tools that can generate podcasts, NotebookLM and SciSpace, by uploading a random dermatology paper in JAMA. and clicking the “generate” button. The output was the standard podcasts produced by the tool. Both generated ~5-minute podcasts summarizing the study, and while the core content was similar, the delivery style varied:

• NotebookLM (listen to it here): Its podcasts were more engaging, with a conversational tone and a patient-centric perspective. It was a great high-level overview but definitely would require additional review of the publication.
• SciSpace (listen to it here): The podcasts were concise, data-driven, and slightly robotic, focusing on study methods and limitations. Ideal if you’re looking for a straight-to-the-point scientific summary.

Here are overviews on how to generate a podcast in NotebookLM and in SciSpace.

P.S. Combining the podcast feature in SciSpace with its paid features, like “Chat with PDF,” is amazing for critically evaluating papers. If you want to try this out, use my codes:

• MEDVALUE20 for 20% off monthly access
• MEDVALUE40 for 40% off yearly access

The bottom line: Both tools are fantastic for getting a quick overview when you’re pressed for time, but here’s where the magic happens: making it specific to the MSL role.

Taking It to the Next Level: Customizing the Podcast for MSL Pre-Meeting Planning

The standard podcasts were good, but I wasn’t wowed by them. NotebookLM allows you to customize the podcast content based on your needs, and this is where it truly shines. I wrote a prompt tailored to MSLs (get the exact prompt below so you can try it out 👇), and the results were a game-changer. The podcast didn’t just summarize the paper; it provided actionable insights for KOL meetings.

Here are some highlights of what the custom podcast delivered (listen to it here):

• MSL focused summaries: “For our MSLs out there prepping for KOL meetings, let’s cut to the chase, what the big takeaways?” “This is where you can really add value in those KOL discussions…” “How do we actually use this in those conversations with KOLs?”
• Adding value to KOLs: “And you can tailor it to their specific interests.” “…and show you really understand their priorities.”
• Acknowledging limitations: “This study used controlled trials and might not reflect the chaos of real-world scenarios”
• Conversation starters: “How do you see this research informing treatment decisions in your own practice?”
• Anticipated pushback: “I want to make sure our listeners are fully prepared to tackle any pushback they may get… and brainstorm effective arguments.”
• Strategic questions: “How do you see this data influencing treatment algorithms?”

This wasn’t just a summary. It was a tailored roadmap for deeper conversations with KOLs about the data.

The Custom Prompt That Made It Possible

Here’s the exact prompt I used with NotebookLM (get another prompt for pre-meeting planning and for uncovering what your KOL values):

“Summarize this study for a Medical Science Liaison preparing for a KOL meeting. Include key findings, clinical implications, study limitations, and strategic insights. Provide conversation starters, anticipated objections, and questions to engage the KOL.”

Add this prompt to the customized audio overview option (see screenshot below) in NotebookLM and then click “generate.”

It took several minutes and generated a much longer podcast (26 minutes), but the AI transformed the paper into a podcast that not only saved time but also provided suggestions for how to approach this conversation from the MSL perspective. Listen to it here.

Key Takeaways

1. Start with Standard Podcasts: Use AI tools like SciSpace or NotebookLM to quickly get a high-level overview of papers.
2. Customize for Impact: Take it a step further by tailoring AI podcasts with strategic prompts for better KOL meetings. Learn how else you can use NotebookLM for pre-meeting planning.
3. Use AI Responsibly: Always verify the content and add your expertise to ensure the information is accurate and relevant.

Download my AI Guide for Creativity & Productivity for more ideas on how to supercharge your productivity 👇.