465 Toastmasters Table Topics Questions
As you probably already know, Table Topics is the impromptu speaking section of a Toastmasters meeting. A selected guest is given a subject by the Table Topics Master for them to speak about. Guests can also volunteer instead of being chosen.
This puts the speaker under a certain amount of pressure because they need to speak on a given subject without any prior warning or research. But it also puts the Table Topics Master under pressure as well.
Pressure to find enough suitable subjects for as many Table Topics talks as is needed at that particular event. Which is where this article comes in. We have listed 465 subjects suitable to be used as Table Topics. Keep reading for the ultimate Table Topics subject guide.
Table Topics Subjects For Guests Or New Members

Listed below are subjects that are not overly difficult making it easier for guests or new members to formulate a brief talk. They include;
- What is your favourite song and why?
- What’s the weirdest food combination that you’ve ever eaten?
- If you had to eat the same meal every day of your life, what would it be?
- If your life was a TV sitcom, what would the title be?
- If you could change places with any animal for 24 hours, which would you choose?
- If you could have dinner with any fictional character, who would you choose and why?
- If you were stuck in a lift with a celebrity, who would you choose, and what would you talk about?
- What’s the funniest thing that happened to you as a child?
- If you had to describe yourself as a kitchen appliance, what would it be and why?
- What’s the weirdest thing you ever overheard in a public place?
- If you could rename anything in your home, what would you call it and why?
- If you could, what Olympic event would you introduce and why?
- If you were a professional wrestler, what would your stage name be?
- If you could only wear one colour for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
- If you were an alien visiting earth for the first time, what would confuse you and why?
- What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever texted to the wrong person?
- If your life had a theme tune, what would it be?
- What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever been caught doing when you thought nobody was watching?
- What’s the most awkward situation you’ve ever been in?
- What’s a weird habit that you have that you don’t think anyone else has?
- What’s the funniest nickname that you have ever been given?
- If you were a vegetable, which one would you be and why?
- What’s a ridiculous rule that you’ve heard or ever had to follow?
- If you could only communicate using quotes from films, which one would you choose?
- If you could be famous for something ridiculous, what would it be?
- What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve accidentally said on a zoom call?
- What’s the most useless talent you have?
- If your pet swapped lives with you for a day, what do you think they’d do?
- What’s the most ridiculous fashion trend that you secretly admire?
- If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be, and what would your weakness be?
- When was the last time you tried something new?
- How would you describe yourself in one sentence?
- What makes a person beautiful?
- What makes you proud?
- What is your most prized possession?
- What stands between you and happiness?
- Where do you find peace?
- Who do you trust and why?
- How many of your friends would you trust with your life?
- What are you sure of in your life?
- Why do you matter?
- When you think of home, what, specifically, do you think of?
- What makes a person beautiful?
- What did you want to be when you grew up?
- What is your greatest skill?
- What’s the next big step you need to take?
- What are you looking forward to?
- Who do you dream about?
- Who is the strongest person you know?
- How do you spend the majority of your free time?
- How are you pursuing your dreams right now?
- What makes love last?
- What or who has been distracting you?
- What are you looking forward to in the upcoming week?
- What are you uncertain about?
- What’s something most people don’t know about you?
- When you have a random hour of free time, what do you usually do?
- If you could relive yesterday what would you do differently?
- What makes you feel secure?
- What is your favourite sound?
- What is your favourite smell?
- What recent memory makes you smile the most?
- What music do you listen to to lift your spirits when you’re feeling down?
- What celebrities do you admire? Why?
- How would you describe your childhood?
- What is the number one motivator in your life right now?
- If you were given £1000 that you had to spend immediately, what would you buy?
- What is your biggest phobia?
- What was the last thing that made you laugh out loud?
- What is your biggest pet peeve?
- How many hours a week do you spend online?
- What is your favourite place on Earth?
- What bad habits do you want to break?
- What are you an expert at?
- What do you love to do?
- When was your first impression of someone totally wrong?
- Are you more like your mum or your dad? In what way?
- What questions do you often ask yourself?
- How would an extra £1000 per month change your life?
- What is your favourite time of the year?
- What things in life should always be free?
- What is something you have always wanted since you were a kid?
- What confuses you?
- What is the most recent dream you remember having while sleeping?
- In what way are you your own worst enemy?
- What is your favourite quote?
- What is your favourite fictional story? (novel, film, fairytale, etc.)
- What makes life easier?
- What job would you never do no matter how much it paid?
- What have you lost interest in recently?
- What could society do without?
- Where do you spend most of your time while you’re awake?
- What makes someone a hero?
- What stresses you out?
- When was the last time you felt lucky?
- What can someone do to grab your attention?
- What is the most insensitive thing a person can do?
- What do you usually think about on your drive home from work?
- What’s one downside of the modern day world?
- How would you describe your future in three words?
- If animals could talk, which one do you think would be the rudest?
- What is something that you believe everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime?
- If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be and why?
- What’s your favourite food that you could eat every day?
- What’s your favourite thing to do on a rainy day?
- If you were a character in a cartoon, which one would you want to be?
- If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be and how would you celebrate it?
- What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever made or built?
- What’s your favourite game to play with your friends?
- If you could live in any time period, past or future, which would you pick and why?
- If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?
- What’s one thing you would like to learn how to do really well?
- What’s the funniest joke you know?
- If you could have three wishes, what would they be?
- If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
- If you could go back in time and witness any event, what would it be and why?
- What’s a hobby or interest you’ve always wanted to pursue, but haven’t yet?
- What’s the most unusual or surprising thing on your bucket list?
- What’s the best trip you’ve ever taken, and why was it so special?
- If you had unlimited resources, what charity or cause would you support?
- What’s one thing you’ve done that pushed you outside of your comfort zone?
- If you had to describe your ideal weekend, what would it look like?
- What’s the most memorable gift you’ve ever given or received?
- How do you handle stress or challenges at work?
- What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on recently?
- What’s the best compliment you’ve received from a coworker or boss?
- What motivates you to do your best work?
- What’s your favourite family tradition and why?
- If you could trade places with any family member for a day, who would it be and why?
- What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened during a family gathering?
- If your family had a theme song, what would it be?
- What is one thing you think makes your family unique?
- What’s something you’ve always wanted to learn to do as a family?
- If your family could go on a TV show together, which one would it be and why?
- What’s the best meal you’ve ever had and what made it so memorable?
- What’s one food you didn’t like as a kid but enjoy now?
- What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever eaten?
- If you could travel anywhere in the world just for the food, where would you go?
- What’s your favorite family recipe or dish and why?
- If you could create a brand new meal, what would it be made of?
- What’s your favourite food to make when you’re feeling creative?
- What’s the most unusual food combination you’ve tried and liked?
- What’s the strangest food fact or trivia you know?
- What’s a food or dish that you think is underrated?
- If you could host a dinner party with a specific theme, what theme would you choose and why?
- Is there too much sport on TV?
- Is Christmas too commercialised?
- When should the Christmas tree be put up/taken down?
- Would you buy an electric car?
- What is your favourite public holiday and why?
- Are you a cat person or a dog person?
- If you could be a breed of dog, which would you be and why?
- Would you sooner be the funniest or cleverest person in the room?
- What’s the worst job you ever had?
- If you could bring back any fashion trend what would it be?
Table Topics Subjects For Intermediate Members

Below are questions for more seasoned members, these are more thought provoking and can be more of a challenge. They include;
- Do you think crying is a sign of weakness or strength?
- What life lesson did you learn the hard way?
- Who do you sometimes compare yourself to?
- What’s the most sensible thing you’ve ever heard someone say?
- What can you do now that you couldn’t do 12 months ago?
- If you had to teach something, what would it be?
- What makes you feel happy?
- Have you done anything lately that’s worth remembering?
- Which activities make you lose track of time?
- What makes you smile?
- What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
- When was the last time you listened to your own breathing?
- Which comedians do you find funny?
- Can you describe your life in 6 words? Then elaborate.
- Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
- Where would you like to go and why?
- What does it mean to be human?
- What do you see when you close your eyes?
- What 3 words would you use to describe the last 3 months of your life and why?
- If you could have one wish what would it be and why?
- What have you read online recently that’s inspired you?
- What can money not buy?
- When you think of home, what, specifically, do you think of?
- How many of your friends would you trust with your life?
- What’s your definition of heaven?
- Is it better to have loved and lost or to have never loved at all?
- When does silence convey more meaning than words?
- How do you find the strength to do what you know in your heart is right?
- How short would your life have to be before you would start living differently today?
- If you were forced to eliminate every physical possession from your life with the exception of what could fit into a single backpack, what would you put in it?
- Who do you think of first when you think of success?
- If today was the last day of your life, who would you call and what would you tell them?
- What do you have trouble seeing clearly in your mind?
- What is the number one thing you want to accomplish before you die?
- When is love a weakness?
- What did you learn recently that changed the way you live?
- What has been the most terrifying moment of your life so far?
- What have you done in the last year that makes you proud?
- For you personally, what makes today worth living?
- What is your fondest memory from the past three years?
- What makes up a happy life?
- How would the world be different if you were never born?
- What are your top three priorities?
- Why do we idolise sports players?
- What do you see when you look into the future?
- What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?
- What makes you angry? Why?
- What is the most valuable life lesson you learned from your parents?
- What are your favourite simple pleasures?
- What will you never do?
- If you could go back in time and tell a younger version of yourself one thing, what would it be?
- Excluding romantic relationships, who do you love?
- What is your earliest childhood memory?
- What book has had the greatest influence on your life?
- What three questions do you wish you knew the answers to?
- What’s the biggest lie you once believed was true?
- What’s the best part of growing older?
- What do you think is worth waiting for?
- In your lifetime, what have you done that hurt someone else?
- What is the greatest peer pressure you’ve ever felt?
- What’s been on your mind most lately?
- What chances do you wish you had taken?
- What motivates you to go to work each day?
- Where else would you like to live? Why?
- When was the last time you lied? What did you lie about?
- What is your greatest strength and your greatest weakness?
- What do you do with the majority of your money?
- When was the last time you lost your temper? About what?
- What motivates you to be your best?
- What made you smile this week?
- What will you never give up on?
- What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?
- When you look into the past, what do you miss the most?
- What makes you uncomfortable?
- What worries you about the future?
- If you had to move 3000 miles away, what one thing would you miss the most?
- Do you like the city or town you live in? Why or why not?
- When you look back over the past month, what single moment stands out?
- What’s the best part of being you?
- What do you do to relieve stress?
- How many people do you love?
- What is your saddest memory?
- What is your happiest memory?
- What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?
- Right now, at this moment, what do you want most?
- What’s your favourite true story that you enjoy sharing with others?
- What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in the last year?
- What was your last major accomplishment?
- Based on your current daily actions and routines, where would you expect to be in five years?
- Through all of life’s twists and turns, who has been there for you?
- Would you rather your child be less attractive and extremely intelligent or extremely attractive and less intelligent?
- What makes you weird?
- What do you do over and over again that you hate doing?
- What white lies do you often tell?
- What is the biggest change you have made in your life in the last year?
- Whose life do you think you’ve had the greatest impact on?
- What have you done that you are not proud of?
- What did life teach you yesterday?
- How would you spend your ideal day?
- What is the one primary quality you look for in a significant other?
- What is the best advice you have ever received?
- What do you admire most about your mother and father?
- If you had to be someone else for one day, who would you be and why?
- If you could live forever, would you want to? Why?
- What positive changes have you made in your life recently?
- Which one of your responsibilities do you wish you could get rid of?
- What is your biggest regret?
- Who makes you feel good about yourself?
- What’s something you don’t like to do that you are still really good at?
- What is missing in your life?
- What type of person angers you the most?
- What is your most striking physical attribute?
- What do you like most about your job? What do you dislike most about your job?
- How many hours of television do you watch in a week? A month? A year?
- What is the biggest obstacle that stands in your way right now?
- What is the number one quality that makes someone a good leader?
- What’s something you wish you had done earlier in life?
- How do you deal with isolation and loneliness?
- What is the closest you have ever come to fearing for your life?
- What do you know well enough to teach to others?
- What’s a quick decision you once made that changed your life?
- If you could do it all over again, would you change anything?
- What simple fact do you wish more people understood?
- When in your life have you been a victim of stereotyping?
- When did you first realise that life is short?
- What is the most insensitive thing a person can do?
- What’s the most important quality in a true friendship?
- If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
- If you could spend a day with anyone from history, who would it be and what would you ask them?
- What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make, and what did you learn from it?
- What is something you think people often misunderstand about you?
- What do you think it means to live a meaningful life?
- If you could spend a year learning about one topic, what would it be and why?
- What’s a risk you’ve taken that changed your life for the better?
- If you could spend a year anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
- What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?
- What’s something you’ve done that you’re really proud of, but don’t often talk about?
- What’s one thing you would change about the way people communicate today?
- If you could instantly learn any skill, what would it be and why?
- If you could choose one new skill to master that would benefit your work, what would it be?’
- What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
- What’s the best work related advice you’ve ever received?
- What’s one thing you wish people knew about your job?
- If you could redesign your workday, what would it look like?
- If you could switch roles with anyone in your company for a day, who would it be and why?
- What’s one accomplishment at work that you’re really proud of?
- What’s one thing that always boosts your productivity at work?
- If you had unlimited resources, what project would you want to start at work?
- If you could change one thing about your work environment, what would it be?
- If you could give advice to someone just starting in their career, what would it be?
- Would you rather speak another language or play a musical instrument?
- Do you prefer books or podcasts?
- Which do you prefer, B&Bs or Hotels?
- Would you rather have your name tattooed on your forehead or have no teeth?
- If you could live forever, would you want to?
Table Topics Subjects For Advanced Members

Below are even more thought provoking questions to be given to the most senior members present at the meeting. They include;
- Do you ask enough questions, or do you settle for what you know?
- What do you wish you spent more time doing 5 years ago?
- What’s a belief that you hold that others disagree with?
- Looking at your life, is there anything that you would have done differently if you were sure that nobody judged you?
- What’s the difference between living and existing?
- Is it possible to lie without saying a word?
- If a friend spoke to you the way you speak to yourself, would they still be your friend?
- What do you think will matter most to you when you’re 80 years old?
- Would you break the law to save a loved one?
- When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
- If you could get any message across to a large group of people, what would it be?
- Are you holding onto something that you need to let go of?
- Do you have anything that you regret not doing or being in your life so far?
- How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?
- Is stealing food to feed a starving child wrong?
- If the average human lifespan was 40 years, how would you live differently?
- What is important enough to go to war for?
- Would you rather be a worried genius or a happy fool?
- What are you most grateful for?
- How would you explain the American dream?
- If you could give a newborn baby one piece of advice, what would it be and why?
- What do you want most out of life?
- When should you act rather than weighing up the pros & cons?
- Besides our genes, what do we all have in common?
- Would you prefer less work, or more work you actually enjoy?
- Which is worse, failing or never trying?
- If you could choose one book that all secondary school students had to read, what would it be and why?
- Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
- What’s the biggest life lesson you’ve learned?
- If you could, what’s the one thing that you’d change about the world?
- If it’s true that we learn from our mistakes, why are we so afraid of making them?
- What’s the most defining moment of your life so far?
- What impact would you like to leave on the world?
- When life gets you down, what lifts your spirits?
- Have you ever regretted something you never said or did?
- Has your greatest fear ever come true?
- If you were told that you only had 5 years to live, what would you most like to do?
- Is it more important to love, or be loved?
- What’s the difference between falling in love and being in love?
- If you could go back in time and change one thing what would it be and why?
- Why do we think of others more when they’re gone?
- What gives your life meaning?
- What is the difference between innocence and ignorance?
- Can there be happiness without sadness?
- Can there be peace without war?
- Can there be pleasure without pain?
- What do you like most about yourself?
- Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
- What’s the one thing you’d like others to remember about you at the end of your life?
- Is it more important to do what you love, or love what you’re doing?
- What small act of kindness were you once given that you’ve never forgotten?
- Do you own your things or do your things own you?
- What’s the simplest truth you can express in words?
- If you looked into the heart of your enemy, what do you think you would find that is different from what is in your own heart?
- What makes you, you?
- How would you deal with someone in a position of power who wants you to fail?
- What are your top 5 personal values?
- What personal prisons have you built out of fears?
- What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?
- Is it ever right to do the wrong thing? Is it ever wrong to do the right thing?
- How would you describe freedom in your own words?
- If you could ask one person, living or dead one question who would you ask and what would you ask?
- If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
- What does peace mean to you?
- Who or what do you think of when you think of love?
- How do you define success?
- What is your greatest challenge?
- When do you feel most like yourself?
- If your life was a novel, what would be the title and how would it end?
- When did someone show you a surprising level of kindness and what did it mean to you?
- Is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
- If someone could tell you the exact day that you were going to die, would you want to know?
- What are three moral rules you will never break?
- What would you not give up even for a million pounds in cash?
- What does it mean to allow another person to truly love you?
- When you help someone do you ever think, “What’s in it for me?”
- How do you know when it’s time to continue holding on or time to let go?
- Beyond the titles that others have given you, who are you?
- Do you believe we’re the only beings in the universe?
- Can you think of a time when impossible became possible?
- Do you see to believe or believe to see?
- What life lessons did you have to experience firsthand before you fully understood them?
- What good comes from suffering?
- What do you understand today about your life that you did not understand a year ago?
- When should you reveal a secret that you promised you wouldn’t reveal?
- When you meet someone for the very first time, what do you want them to think about you?
- What has fear of failure stopped you from doing?
- At what point during the last five years have you felt lost and alone?
- What is one opportunity you believe you missed out on when you were younger?
- Who has had the greatest impact on your life, and why?
- Are you happy with where you are in your life? Why?
- How have you sabotaged yourself in the past five years?
- Who do you secretly envy? Why?
- Other than money, what else have you gained from your current job?
- What are you most excited about in your life right now, today?
- What do you sometimes pretend you understand that you really don’t?
- What’s something new you recently learned about yourself?
- What was the most defining moment in your life during this past year?
- What are the top three qualities you look for in a friend?
- What simple gesture have you recently witnessed that renewed your hope in humanity?
- Who or what is the greatest enemy of mankind?
- Where or who do you turn to when you need good advice?
- What was the last thing you furiously argued about with someone?
- What is the number one solution to healing the world?
- What is something you’ve had to let go of in order to grow?
- What’s a belief you’ve held onto that has shaped your life?
- When do you feel the most at peace with yourself?
- What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
- What do you think is the most important thing you can do to create positive change in the world?
- How do you handle situations that challenge your core beliefs or values?
- How do you stay grounded during difficult times?
- What is something you’ve always wanted to accomplish but haven’t yet, and what’s holding you back?
- What does love mean to you, and how has your understanding of it evolved?
- How do you define happiness, and do you think it’s something that can be sustained?
- What is a value or principle you hold that guides your decisions in life?
- What’s one thing you think society could do better to support mental health?
- What do you think is the key to maintaining good team communication in the workplace?
- Should social media platforms regulate free speech?
- Is artificial intelligence a threat to mankind?
- Is marriage still necessary in modern society?
- Do wealthy people have a moral obligation to give back to society?
- Would you rather know all the secrets of the world or remain blissfully ignorant?
- If money wasn’t an issue, how would you spend your life?
- Is enthusiasm caught or taught?
- Do you need to learn from the past to embrace the future?
- What was the biggest change you made in your life in the past year?
- What change do you most fear in the coming years?
- How did Covid change your life?
- What would you do to improve the education system?
- Would you rather spend 5 years in prison or 10 years in a coma?
- Can we understand good without evil?
- Do you believe humans are the most intelligent species on earth?
- Does nature or nurture form a person’s personality?
- What conspiracy theory has turned out to be true?
- If aliens landed on earth tomorrow and offered to take you with them, would you go?
- Which 3 people would you want with you if the zombie apocalypse were to take place?
- Is social media good or bad for society?
- Do you think flying cars will ever be a thing?
- Can science and religion coexist?
- If you were prime minister for one day, what would you do?
- Is daylight saving an asset or a curse?
- Which is more important, the journey or the destination?
- Is climate change fact or fiction?
- Should children under 12 be allowed to own a mobile phone?
- Could you live without a computer?
- Are ghosts real?
- If you were shipwrecked on a desert island what 3 things would you take with you?
- Do you believe in reincarnation?
- Which would you choose, living in the city or living in the countryside and why?
- When undertaking any task is speed or accuracy more important?
- Is there such a thing as luck?
- Why does toast always fall butter side down?
- Does the full moon really cause lunacy in people?
- What is the secret to success?
- Despite vast technological, economical and innovative progress, why do you think depression is on the rise for the masses?
So There You Have It
There are 465 questions that you can use when you’re asked to be Table Topics Master at Toastmasters. Remember to tailor them to the ability and experience of the participants. Remember to bookmark this page for future use.
SEE ALSO: 8 Networking Tips For The Socially Anxious
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 3 taboo subjects at Toastmasters Table Topics which are religion, sex and politics.
The three golden rules of Toastmasters are often understood as guiding principles to help members grow and thrive in the supportive environment Toastmasters offers. While not an official codified list, they’re commonly phrased like this; Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, Toastmasters is a safe space to learn, and mistakes are seen as opportunities to grow. Support and encourage others, everyone is there to improve, so giving positive, constructive feedback and cheering others on is key. Practice, participate, and be , growth comes from showing up, taking roles, and speaking regularly.
The three pillars are Communication, developing effective speaking skills through prepared speeches, impromptu speaking (like Table Topics), and evaluations. Leadership, building leadership abilities by taking on meeting roles, mentoring others, and serving in club officer positions or higher leadership roles. Personal Growth, gaining confidence, self awareness, and improving interpersonal skills through consistent practice and feedback in a supportive environment. These pillars work together to help members become more confident communicators and leaders.
