What happens when you build something you thought would work and then it doesn’t? And there’s no plan B.

Sutian Dong, Partner at Multitudes and Co-Founder of Global Women in VC, is fascinated with creating products, technologies, platforms, services, and communities that move humanity in a positive direction by not changing how we do things, but the way that we think and feel. After years of lucky breaks and things always just working out, Sutian found herself in uncharted territory when her original concept for Multitudes failed and she had no idea what came next. That moment of disorientation became the catalyst for profound self-inquiry that ultimately sparked the insights that created her new venture, Multitudes, which invests in and incubates ideas that explore the edge of human consciousness.

This conversation is a reminder that growth isn’t always a straight line and that the best ideas often happen when you give yourself permission to rest and reflect.

On this episode of Character, Sutian joins me to talk about:

• Why running a business is one of the rawest forms of self-expression

• The modalities Sutian used to move through processing failure and figuring out what came next

• Navigating discomfort to support your growth

• The relevance of spirituality in the modern world

• Using tools like astrology, tarot, and aura photography to access self-connection and build community

• The second-order effects of AI

• Multitudes’ approach to investing in initiatives at the edge of human consciousness

This episode was recorded at Love Letter, an aura photography studio, on the Lower East Side.

Learn more about Sutian’s work: https://www.sutiandong.com/Learn more about Love Letter: https://www.loveletter.nyc/

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 — The Power of Pause

00:52 — Meet Sutian Dong

02:10 — Childhood Dreams

04:17 — Growing Up Entrepreneurial

05:30 — From Structure to Self-Reliance

07:34 — When Success Stops Working

09:56 — Forced Introspection

11:50 — Feeling the Feelings

13:57 — Tools for Healing

16:35 — The Gradual Sunrise of Change

19:16 — Compounding Change & Self-Advice

20:58 — Redefining Venture Capital

23:01 — The Power of Belief Systems

24:08 — Following Curiosity

25:57 — Flux and Rebirth

27:10 — Searching for Meaning in Chaos

What does it mean to build a life around authenticity, intuition, and joy—even when it defies expectations?

Ariel Palitz, nightlife veteran, entrepreneur, and former NYC Nightlife Mayor, joins me for a conversation about defiance, self-discovery, and designing a life by trusting what feels good. Growing up in Manhattan, Ariel found herself drawn early to the freedom of nightlife as a place where she felt most alive. From experimenting with PR and music, to opening her own nightclub, to ultimately creating a career at the intersection of community, culture, and advocacy, Arielle’s story is one of resilience, intuition, and flow.

On this episode of Character, Arielle joins me to talk about:

• Growing up in a New York household that was glamorous but disconnected, and learning to rely on her own inner compass
• Discovering the authentic energy of nightlife as a place of freedom and expression from a young age
• Why experimenting with different jobs and industries was essential to finding where she truly fit
• The leap from working in PR to opening her own nightclub and later shaping NYC’s nightlife policy
• How she stays connected to herself through meditation, creativity, and joy-centered practices
• Lessons on trusting flow, protecting your peace, and the spiritual side of nightlife

SUBSCRIBE NOW:

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/character-with-anne-benveniste/id1645863102

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63UcUnBWGGxAjTiX9Q2RnN

FOLLOW ALONG:

Substack: https://annebenven.substack.com

Website: https://www.annebenveniste.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annebenveniste/

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What does it take to leave behind security and familiarity and start over in pursuit of purpose?

Brandon Ross, a former flight attendant turned massage therapist and founder of Romie Massage in New York City joins me for a story of reinvention, courage, and self-acceptance.

From a delayed blooming growing up gay in a conservative Christian household, to an angry rebellion as he built his first career as a flight attendant, and then switching it all up to create an entrepreneurial career around what energized him, Brandon’s story is one that anyone who dreams of more can learn from!

On this episode of Character, Brandon joins me to talk about:

• Navigating his love for dance and choreography while growing up in a strict religious household that didn’t embrace this self-expression

• The freedom and adventure he found as a flight attendant — and why it ultimately left him searching for more

• How he discovered massage therapy through years of travel, curiosity, and noticing the artistry of touch

• The leap of faith it took to leave corporate stability and build his own practice

• Lessons on identity, devotion over discipline, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who believe in your vision

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Meeting Brandon at a Buffalo party

01:15 – Wanting to be a choreographer

04:50 – Growing up in a strict household

08:10 – Flight attendant years & freedom in travel

14:30 – Discovering massage therapy

19:20 – Taking the leap into entrepreneurship

22:30 – Staying committed through challenges

26:20 – Devotion vs discipline

27:50 – Flow and alignment through massage

28:50 – Tools for reconnecting with self

SUBSCRIBE NOW:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@characterpod

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/character-with-anne-benveniste/id1645863102

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/63UcUnBWGGxAjTiX9Q2RnN

FOLLOW ALONG:

Substack: https://annebenven.substack.com

Website: https://www.annebenveniste.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annebenveniste/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/characterpod