Before Breakfast Second Cup: Find your first question
Dec 6, 2025
Dive into the art of meaningful conversations with insightful questions that bypass small talk. Discover how a go-to question can deepen connections instantly. Explore techniques like reminiscing about 'mama's kitchen' for warm, nostalgic discussions. Uncover early spiritual backgrounds and spark joy with prompts about hobbies and travel. Learn to tailor questions to fit interests and maintain fresh engagements over time. This guide invites you to elevate your interactions and create lasting connections.
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Use A Go-To First Question
- Find a default, thoughtful first question to steer conversations beyond small talk.
- Use it to invite specific, memorable stories that reveal who people are.
Examples From Interviewers
- Laura cites Michelle Norris asking guests, "Tell me about your mama's kitchen," to quickly surface rich memories.
- She also mentions Krista Tippett's opening about childhood spiritual background to elicit core stories.
Ask About Work And Surprises
- Ask people what drew them to their work, or about their first job, to learn motivations and transferable lessons.
- Follow any scrap of information with, "What surprised you about that?" to deepen the exchange.