A Big Talk Book!!! 💛
Hi friends! Over 10 years ago, I skipped small talk to ask strangers: “What do you want to do before you die?” Big Talk grew into a movement — and now a book “Big Talk: How to Skip Small Talk, Make More Meaningful Connections, and Enrich Your Life!” which will be released by @tarcher_books an imprint of @penguinrandomhouse on February 24th, 2026. You can preorder the Big Talk Book today by clicking the link in my bio! Thanks for your support! 😊
This book is for everyone — for friends, family, coworkers, students, employees, community members, and yourself. It’s for anyone who’s ever wanted to deepen connections and have the kinds of conversations you see here on @makebigtalk . I hope it helps you strengthen your relationships, make new friends, and find a little more purpose and humanity in everyday life.
Thank you to all of you who’ve supported Big Talk and believed in these conversations from the beginning. If you’ve ever wanted to support my work — or bring more depth into your own life and relationships — please consider preordering the Big Talk Book today!
And thank you to @hospicenursejulie for introducing me to my amazing agent, @trinityjmcfadden ,my editor, @lbappleton at @tarcher_books and the incredible team at @penguinrandomhouse
Author headshot by @brielakin
#Book #MakeBigTalk #BigTalk #Tarcher #PenguinRandomHouse #KalinaSilverman
Today marks the 9-year anniversary of Big Talk! 😊🎉 It all began with this YouTube video I made one summer, where I walked up to complete strangers and invited them to answer the question, “What do you want to do before you die?” (Big Talk…Before I Die on YouTube).
Through this video, I hoped to show that no one needs to feel lonely. Instead, you can approach someone and start a conversation with a question that “skips the small talk” to nurture a deeper human connection.
Just one question has the power to transform your life - it certainly transformed mine! Big Talk went on to become a sort of grassroots global movement after I was invited to give a TEDx talk that generated over 6.5 million views on YouTube. Soon people all over the world were sharing their stories about how asking Big Talk questions helped them to repair and deepen their relationships, overcome mental health struggles, find purpose at work, or even fall in love.
I have since led Big Talk workshops for thousands of people all over the world. Just this morning, 125 Fulbrighters from over 65 different countries (Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Mexico - to name a few) participated in Big Talk. Two months ago, I traveled to New Hampshire to film Big Talk conversations for their statewide mental health campaign. A few days ago, a rising pop star used the Big Talk question card game at a dinner with his closest fans in Los Angeles. A U.S. senator has used Big Talk with his staff, as well as teachers at Harvard Medical School, and employees of Fortune 500 companies. Big Talk has truly been a passport to getting to know people from all walks of life from all over the world.
Thank you to everyone who has supported and believed in Big Talk throughout these years. There have always been challenges and bumps along the road, but I am so grateful that what began as a passion project has evolved into a deeply fulfilling career!
You can learn more at makebigtalk.com ☺️
Walt, 83, lost his home in the Altadena (Eaton) fire yesterday. For decades he has been helping kids, seniors, and people experiencing homelessness in his own community. Today we made Big Talk to help him share his story. I hope we can give back to him and help Walt in this devastating time for him. ❤️ Walt Butler’s GoFundMe linked in my bio. Along with the general GoFundMe wildfire fund. Thank you for your support.
#eatonfire #altadena #fire #makebigtalk #bigtalk #help #gofundme #kindness #palisadesfire #lafire #lafires
“She took her life on Halloween in red silk pajamas with gray lace, and she wrote me the most beautiful letter a mother could ever write to an adult child when they’re leaving this earth.”
Thank you, Sharon, for your vulnerability and strength in sharing your story and helping others coping with mental illness. Sharon Dunas is a Marriage and Family therapist, and served as President of National Alliance on Mental Illness in Westside LA for years as well as Executive Director. She offered pro bono services to families in need.
Resharing this conversation from a few years ago in honor of May’s Mental Health Awareness Month. If you are in a crisis and struggling or need help, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Call 988. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #suicide suicideawareness
I met a doorman who paints pictures of the dogs who live in the building where he works. I’m always enamored by people who find ways to add extra meaning, connection, and creativity to their roles in life. Thanks @artistantwian for making Big Talk! ❤️
They call him Shine ⭐️ It was an honor to @makebigtalk with someone who was so genuine and honest about his journey from living on the streets to pursuing his dream of becoming a musician.
Thank you to @newhorizonssea and @schultzfamilyfdn for supporting Shine and other young adults like him. This is the continuation of a series on youth homelessness we are sharing.
Thank you @andersoncooper for having me on yesterday!!! It was an honor to @makebigtalk with someone I’ve admired for his curiosity, kindness, and courage since I first aspired to become a journalist that leads with empathy for humanity.
When I was working to share stories during the LA Fires, Anderson DM’d me and I couldn’t believe it! This is a full circle moment and one of the biggest honors of my journey with Big Talk so far. I can’t wait to share our @makebigtalk conversation!
Big Talk on TV! 😊 This morning I went live on Good Day NY with @rosannascotto to discuss my work with @makebigtalk and share my new book “Big Talk.”You can order it through the link in my bio. Thanks so much for your support! 🩵
Happy Mother’s Day Hazel ❤️, an incredibly inspirational mama I had the honor of meeting on a sunset walk several years ago. Today we are still good friends so if you have a message you want to share with her, leave it in the comments and I’ll show it to her!
“I need a miracle.” 🥹 Let’s help Tom save his grocery store!!! Tom has helped the community so much often feeding people even when they can’t pay for groceries. This is small business week. In a world where it feels like so much is outside of our control, here’s one way we can help a genuine human being who always does the right thing for others. Tom’s @gofundme is linked in my bio. Thank you for your support. ❤️
I met @victorthegoodboss on Skid Row where he was helping people get off the streets to find a fresh start in life. It was an honor to @makebigtalk with you, Victor. ❤️
“Homelessness chooses you. It doesn’t matter who you are—you can experience homelessness.”
It was an honor to @makebigtalk with Kai, a young father who worked hard, showed up for his family—and still found himself without stable housing.
When he moved to Seattle, he connected with @newhorizonssea , whose support gave him the stability to keep working.
This story was made possible with the support of the @schultzfamilyfdn , who are working to address youth homelessness and expand access to resources like this.
Stories like Kai’s remind me that homelessness doesn’t always look the way we expect—and how much it matters to meet people with dignity, not assumptions. We never really know what someone is going through.
12,000 young people in Washington state are experiencing housing instability. The Schultz Family Foundation is proud to partner with organizations working to change that. Learn more at
