How do I ask for an informational chat? - what worked for you?

A friend suggested informational chats and I do not know how to ask. It has been a long 19 weeks. Some people reply with short answers. How do you phrase the request?

I asked what they wish they had known at my stage. People enjoy answering that.

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 11 months ago, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.