What Do You Do If You're the Only Person Standing Alone?

this week we tackle how to show up to a full room, join group conversations, meet individual people, and think about why it feels so dang awkward to do this when - we’re all here to do it, most of the time?

Blog, Make Friends as an Adult, Social ConnectionErin PenpraseJuly 19, 2026meet new people, make friends as an adult, meet people in your 20s, meet people in your 30s, how to make friends, meet people without bars, social events for meeting people, conversation events, conversation startersComment

The First Date Mistake That Also Ruins Friendships

there’s a lot of first date advice on the internet, but this week we talk about an overlooked mistake that ruins both first dates - and friendships.

Blog, Make Friends as an Adult, Social ConnectionErin PenpraseJuly 12, 2026meet new people, make friends as an adult, meet people in your 20s, meet people in your 30s, how to make friends, meet people without bars, social events for meeting people, conversation events, conversation startersComment

The One Thing Happy Couples and Close Friends Have in Common

When we think about what makes a relationship good, we tend to think about the big stuff. But there’s one thing that shows up again and again in the relationships people actually feel safest in and closest in.

Blog, Make Friends as an Adult, Social ConnectionAshley KirsnerJuly 6, 2026meet new people, make friends as an adult, meet people in your 20s, meet people in your 30s, how to make friends, meet people without bars, social events for meeting people, conversation events, conversation starters, relationship tip, dating adviceComment

Why “Putting Yourself Out There” Is Such Bad Advice

at some point in our life, we have all been told we just need to “put ourselves out there” to get what we want. Friends, dates, even jobs. Even worse, more than once somebody around the crudité tray at the function thinks this is an appropriate pep talk following a break up, big life change, or other transition. Personally, I’ve never felt a lightning bolt of insight come through when someone suggests “putting myself out there”.

This week we explore why this advice rankles and the wisdom of having a plan in place.

Blog, Make Friends as an Adult, Social ConnectionErin PenpraseJuly 2, 2026meet new people, make friends as an adult, meet people in your 20s, meet people in your 30s, how to make friends, meet people without bars, social events for meeting people, conversation events, conversation startersComment

Questions to ask on July 4th that are actually interesting

July 4th can be a weird holiday to make conversation about. So, if you’re looking for better questions to ask this July 4th-- whether you’re at a barbecue, on a beach blanket, at a family thing, or trying to make conversation with someone you just met-- here are a few that go a little deeper than “so, any plans this summer?”

Blog, Make Friends as an Adult, Social ConnectionAshley KirsnerJune 29, 2026meet new people, make friends as an adult, meet people in your 20s, meet people in your 30s, how to make friends, meet people without bars, social events for meeting people, conversation events, conversation starters Comment

Scripts for Reaching Out to Someone You’ve Lost Touch With

Lost touch with someone you care about? Here are gentle, low-pressure scripts to help you reconnect with warmth and ease.

BlogMatt BrooksAugust 25, 2025connection, craving connection, friendships, reconnection, conversation starters, conversation tips Comments

Bridging Generations: Conversation Starters That Work for Any Age

Ever find yourself sitting across from someone decades older or younger, not sure what to say? Intergenerational conversations can feel intimidating—but they can also be some of the most rewarding exchanges you’ll ever have. In our latest post, we share simple, age-agnostic conversation starters designed to spark genuine connection and uncover common ground. Whether it’s at a family gathering, in the workplace, or at a community event, these prompts can help you skip the small talk and dive into stories, laughter, and wisdom.

BlogMatt BrooksAugust 18, 2025conversation starters, conversation, age, age gap Comment

How to Make Conversation Like a Pro

Is conversing causing you stress? You are far from the only one.

BlogAllison ScharmannMay 23, 2025conversation, conversation tips, how to have conversations, conversational anxiety, conversation starters, socializing, social anxietyComment

10 Questions to Ask Your Parents

When it comes to the people we see as caretakers, it’s easy for a one-sided dynamic to set in: They ask. You answer.

BlogAllison ScharmannMay 18, 2025conversation starters, conversation, skip the small talk, family, holidays, relationships, how to talk to family, how to connect with family, icebreakers for your loved ones, icebreakers for your family Comment

5 Tips for Socializing When You're Socially Anxious

Read on for more on how to put your best (social) foot forward.

BlogAllison ScharmannMay 2, 2025conversation, conversation starter, social anxiety, social anxiety reduction, socializing, conversation starters, friendship, communication, communication skillsComment

How to Get the Conversation Started

Read on for our favorite ways to skip the small talk and keep the conversation going.

BlogAllison ScharmannMay 1, 2025conversation starters, conversation, icebreakers, icebreakers for your loved ones, icebreakers that don't suck, communication, friendship, connectionComment

10 Questions to Ask Your Best Friend

Now wave those Valentines goodbye, because it’s Valen-time to show some love to your BFFs!

BlogAllison ScharmannFebruary 19, 2025friends, friendship, conversation, conversation starters, questions, connection, meaningful questions, meaningful conversations Comments

Halloween Costumes That Are Conversation Starters

Have you considered that your costume can break the ice for you?

BlogAllison ScharmannOctober 24, 2024halloween, conversation, conversation starters, icebreakers, party icebreakers, social anxiety, socializing, holidaysComment

How to Nail a Movie Date

Don’t let those old teen rom-coms fool you, movie dates aren’t all popcorn and drive-ins!

Allison ScharmannApril 18, 2024dating, date ideas, relationships, speed dating, icebreaker, conversation starters, love, romance Comment

5 Ways to Make a New Friend

Move over dating, the scariest part of adulthood isn’t finding love, it’s making new friends!

Allison ScharmannApril 11, 2024friendship, connection, skip the small talk, how to make friends, how to talk to anyone, how to make a new friend, friends, conversation, conversation starters Comments

The four words that change the way people talk to you

Imagine you’re hanging out with a friend.

You’ve been chatting for a bit, and they reveal something more vulnerable about themselves than they usually discuss with you. Maybe it’s admitting that they feel lonely at work, or maybe it’s talking about their history with depression. Whatever it is, it’s a level or two deeper than your usual conversations.

How do you respond?

Ashley KirsnerMarch 7, 2017communication, feedback, honesty, honest, get people to be more honest, get people to tell the truth, get people to open up, getting people to open up, vulnerable, vulnerability, gratitude, open, openness, active listening, thanks for telling me, thanks for sharing, thank you for sharing, s, skip the small talk, skipping the small talk, psychology, Skip the Small Talk, STST, how to skip the small talk, how to get people to open up, how to get people to open up to you, how to make friends, how to meet new people, healthy relationships, healthy relationship, how to make my relationship last, how to talk to people, how to improve communication, communicate, how to communicate, thank you for telling me, get people to tell you the truth, how to get people to tell you the truth, how to get people to be honest with you, how do i get people to be more honest with me, relationships, relationship, how to have a healthy relationship, how to have healthy relationships, how to have healthier relationships, talk big, talk big not small, how to have real conversations, conversation starters, conversation, conversations Comment

If you have trouble skipping the small talk, this might explain why

I recently found myself in two almost identical social situations with one small difference that changed everything about the way the interaction went down.

A few months ago, I had some new friends over my house when one of my friends took advantage of a brief silence:

“Can I ask you all a weird question?”

We all nodded and leaned forward a tiny bit in our chairs.

“Is a hamburger a sandwich?”

Ashley KirsnerMarch 7, 2017hamburger, sandwich, is a hamburger a sandwich, questions, skip the small talk, skipping the small talk, buy-in, consent, awkward, awkward situations, leadership, good leadership, going deeper, how to go deeper, deep conversations, how to have deep conversations, boundary, boundaries, how to skip the small talk, STST, Skip the Small Talk, how do I skip the small talk, talk big, talk big not small, how to get people to open up, how to get closer to, how to get closer to people, how can I get closer to, hamburgers vs. sandwiches, hamburger vs. sandwich, conversations, how to have better conversations, how to get better at communicating, communication, communicating, how to improve communication, communication problems, having communication problems, how to get people talking, icebreaker, icebreakers, how to be less awkward, socially awkward, healthy relationship, healthy relationships, relationship, relationships, managing relationships, conversation starters, how not to be awkward, social awkwardnessComment

Resources

Ready to Skip the Small Talk?