We pulled the 37 prompts below from real conversations on Hush. They are the ones that consistently turn small talk into actual talk.
They are not lines. They are not openers in the gross sense. They are doors. If the other person walks through one, you have a conversation. If they do not, you have your answer.
Use them in voice notes, in chats, in the car on a long drive, or in the slow ten minutes before everyone falls asleep. Try one a day if you want a slower version of this exercise.
The opener that is not 'hey'
- What is the last thing that made you stop scrolling for more than a minute?
- What is something you used to be afraid of that you are not anymore?
- What is the smallest decision you have ever overthought?
- What is something you believe that most people you know would disagree with?
- If you could be incredible at one weird skill, what would it be?
For when a chat is stalling
- What is the song you would play if you needed someone to immediately get you?
- What is the most generous thing a stranger has done for you?
- What is a small ritual you do that nobody else would notice?
- When was the last time you cried laughing?
- What is the most useless thing you are weirdly good at?
- If your life had a soundtrack right now, what would the title track be?
Past the small talk
- What did you used to be sure about that you are not sure about anymore?
- What is something you would do if you knew it would not be misunderstood?
- What does your inner monologue sound like when you are not performing?
- What is the most honest sentence you could say about your last week?
- What is the thing you wish someone would ask you about?
- Where do you go in your head when you feel safe?
- What is something you are slowly becoming better at?
- What is a part of yourself you are still meeting?
Soft, deep, late at night
- Who taught you how to apologize?
- What is the kindest thing your body has done for you lately?
- What was the last thing that surprised you about yourself?
- When have you felt most like yourself recently?
- What do you carry that no one else can tell you are carrying?
- What does rest actually look like for you?
- What is something you have outgrown that you are still trying to fit into?
The fun ones
- If you had to give a TED talk tomorrow with no prep, what would you talk about?
- What is the most you have ever spent on something dumb that you would absolutely spend again?
- What is a snack only you understand?
- What is your unprovable favorite theory?
- What is your party trick that is not actually a trick?
- If we both got to skip the small talk, what would you want to know about me?
- What is a question I should ask you that I have not?
The closer
- If this conversation ended right now, what would you want me to remember?
- What is one thing you would want to say if you knew I was listening for it?
- What is a sentence you wish you got to say out loud more often?
- What is something I made you think of that you were not expecting?