You ever get asked, “What do you want to talk about?” and suddenly forget every thought you've ever had? Like your brain just throws up a "404 Error: Topic Not Found" sign? Yeah, same.

It’s funny how conversations work. Sometimes they flow effortlessly, and other times, they feel like an awkward dance where nobody knows the steps. But when a conversation clicks? That’s where the magic happens.

The Awkward Struggle of Small Talk

We’ve all been there—trapped in a conversation about the weather or the price of avocados, nodding like we’re deeply invested in whether it’ll rain on Tuesday. Look, weather matters, but does it really matter?

Some people avoid deep conversations because they worry about saying the wrong thing. Others just don't know where to start. And then there are those who treat every chat like a game show, firing off facts like, “Did you know bananas are berries but strawberries aren’t?”

Fun fact, though—that one's actually true.

How to Make Conversations Less Boring & More Fun

1. Ask Unpredictable Questions

The classics—“How are you?” and “What’s up?”—are fine, but let’s level up. Try these instead:

• “If you had to survive a zombie apocalypse with only the items in your fridge, how long would you last?”

• “What’s the weirdest thing you believed as a kid?”

• “Would you rather have a pet dinosaur or a pet robot?”

Boom. Instant interesting conversation.

2. Actually Listen

Most people listen just enough to reply—not enough to actually process what’s being said. But the best conversations happen when you’re engaged.

Take my friend Steve (fictional, but bear with me). One time, I told him about my dream to ride in a hot air balloon. He nodded and said, “Oh cool, I once saw a hot air balloon land in a grocery store parking lot.” What. Turns out, some guy miscalculated his landing and just floated down between shopping carts. This would’ve never come up if we hadn’t gone past the usual small talk.

3. Go Off the Rails—It’s More Fun That Way

The best chats are unpredictable. A discussion about vacations might turn into a deep dive on whether dolphins have names for each other. (Spoiler: they kinda do.)

Let conversations wander! Some of the best ideas come from random tangents.

The Bottom Line: Just Talk, and Make It Count

Talking isn’t just noise—it shapes how we connect, laugh, and learn. So the next time someone asks, “What do you want to talk about?”—go wild. Skip the boring stuff. Debate time travel. Discuss if dogs dream in color. Ask about their weirdest childhood fear.

You never know—you might end up with your new favorite inside joke.

So What Do You Want To Talk About?