I watch and listen to the news (local, nationwide, and international) on tv, radio, and internet religiously. As to have material to start a conversation.

I get drunk and my brain magically conjures interesting talking points and witticisms that I would be incapable of while sober.

This is a really good question! I’m fortunate I guess because my circle of family and friends, there’s kind of an unspoken agreement that we don’t talk politics, unless there’s a couple of us together who know that we all pretty much agree. So this problem doesn’t come up too much for me. But if somebody even starts going down that road, I tend to try and steer it away to another topic. I don’t really prepare a topic in advance, I just pick something to talk about that the person and I have in common. Nowadays, it’s a little easier because even those on the right that I know are talking about Trump getting found guilty, so they are starting to steer away from supporting him and that gives us a common ground.

I love to ask people about what is was like where they grew up. What their parents did for a living, etc. I find if I ask just one question or two, people love to talk about themselves and will usually just start yammering away. From there, I can bounce off of that, like “I remember those” or something like that.

I just let others talk and pretend that I’m interested by asking questions about their stories. People love to talk about themselves. I just let them go. I try hard to sound sincere. Usually I pull it off even at the risk of sarcasm.

Usually not. I go with the ebb and flow of the conversation.

Two things I absolutely avoid: (1) Religion (2) Trump and politics in general

Anything else is OK to discuss.

Depends on the social situation. If it’s politicians, doctors or other professionals, I do research them to prepare. Otherwise a purely fun social engagement, usually not.

Topics I go to here are:
Hows your family
Any big plans for (insert holiday)
What do you do for a living
Where do you live

I never avoid politics or religion, if someone starts that conversation. I do not discuss money or anyone’s financials, obviously rude.

You can always use an outfit, shoes, hair etc…as a conversation starter or subject change.

No but I try to listen more than I talk and ask follow up question to whatever they have brought up.

I like when, eventually, they’ll ask about me and my life — but that sometimes doesn’t happen so we spend the whole time talking about them.

Which is weird to me. I think, “Did they even notice?”

I just ask what everybody’s reading, we all love to talk about books.