A friend says their small talk always dies after 'hi, how are you'. How would you help them keep it going?

A natural way to answer

My advice would be to listen for the hook in their answer and follow it. Ask open questions that can't be shut down with one word, and genuinely build on what they've said rather than jumping to a new topic. Conversations die when each line is a dead end.

Key phrases to use

• throw the ball back — return a question to the other person to keep the exchange going“She answered, then threw the ball back to me.”
• pick up on — notice a detail and respond to it“I picked up on her mention of Japan and asked more.”
• keep the ball rolling — keep an activity or conversation going steadily“A quick follow-up keeps the ball rolling.”
• build on — develop something further using what's already there“Build on what they said instead of changing topic.”
• run with it — take an idea or topic and develop it enthusiastically“Find what they love and let them run with it.”