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Today our son is 36 weeks and 2 days old- he’s been on the outside as long as he was on the inside.

I don’t know what time is anymore.

Today our son is 36 weeks and 2 days old- he’s been on the outside as long as he was on the inside.

I don’t know what time is anymore.

Today our son is 36 weeks and 2 days old- he’s been on the outside as long as he was on the inside.

I don’t know what time is anymore.

Today our son is 36 weeks and 2 days old- he’s been on the outside as long as he was on the inside.

I don’t know what time is anymore.

Today our son is 36 weeks and 2 days old- he’s been on the outside as long as he was on the inside.

I don’t know what time is anymore.

I am so excited to announce a full Branting-Shah collaboration: the audiobook for The Three-Legged Buffalo!

My mom Susan M. Branting wrote this fantastic middle grade book a few years ago and Lipica Shah volunteered to narrate it while I engineered. It also features a little introductory theme by my dad before he passed and that I expanded and updated for guitar.

This is such a special project and I’m really freaking proud of my Mom <3 You can listen on Audible or Amazon!

https://www.amazon.com/Audible-The-Three-Legged-Buffalo/dp/B0GR1X1M5F/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0

Grid worthy: baby’s first corpse flower! (It me, I’m the baby). What excellent timing at @nybg 🧟‍♂️🎃👻

Can confirm: it smells like rotting fish with an overtone of lily scented floral spray trying to mask someone’s bowel movement in a bathroom 😅

Plus an homage to our lil panther on #nationalblackcatday

Grid worthy: baby’s first corpse flower! (It me, I’m the baby). What excellent timing at @nybg 🧟‍♂️🎃👻

Can confirm: it smells like rotting fish with an overtone of lily scented floral spray trying to mask someone’s bowel movement in a bathroom 😅

Plus an homage to our lil panther on #nationalblackcatday

Grid worthy: baby’s first corpse flower! (It me, I’m the baby). What excellent timing at @nybg 🧟‍♂️🎃👻

Can confirm: it smells like rotting fish with an overtone of lily scented floral spray trying to mask someone’s bowel movement in a bathroom 😅

Plus an homage to our lil panther on #nationalblackcatday

Grid worthy: baby’s first corpse flower! (It me, I’m the baby). What excellent timing at @nybg 🧟‍♂️🎃👻

Can confirm: it smells like rotting fish with an overtone of lily scented floral spray trying to mask someone’s bowel movement in a bathroom 😅

Plus an homage to our lil panther on #nationalblackcatday

One week ago today @ebranting and I marked a very different kind of Labor Day.

Meet our son, Sanu Karl Shah-Branting 💙

Sanu (pronounced SAH-noo) means “mountain ridge” in Bengali, Karl was Eric’s beloved late father, and you can probably guess where Shah-Branting comes from 😉

Born slightly preemie at 11:09pm on August 20, 5 lbs 13 oz, 18 inches tall, Sanu joined our family after a lot of unexpected happenings:

An abnormal finding on the ultrasound at my routine 36-week exam resulted in us rushing over to the hospital, where I was informed the safest course of action for me and him would be to induce labor. But wait…my self-imposed maternity leave doesn’t start til the 25th! Cut to… 27 hours of labor later, I underwent a c-section because the umbilical cord was wrapped around baby boy’s neck, preventing progression of natural labor and dropping his heartbeat with every (endless) contraction.

And yet, despite every step of this adventure being the exact opposite of what I’d envisioned for my labor/delivery experience, I felt empowered and supported and heard and cared for the entire time. By my midwife, my doula, the medical and hospital staff at Mount Sinai West, and most of all by Eric, who never left my side and has been the most incredible partner as I begin to heal and as we figure out how to keep this new tiny human alive and thriving.

I have so many friends who had traumatic birthing experiences, and I am so eternally grateful that mine was positive. Unexpected and challenging, but positive.

I (we) are so tired and I am in so much pain (that is, slowly but surely, getting better day by day), and I can’t wait for our Sanu Bear to meet the village that has energetically welcomed him into this world. There is so much ugliness in the world right now, but this lil guy- he gives me hope.

One week ago today @ebranting and I marked a very different kind of Labor Day.

Meet our son, Sanu Karl Shah-Branting 💙

Sanu (pronounced SAH-noo) means “mountain ridge” in Bengali, Karl was Eric’s beloved late father, and you can probably guess where Shah-Branting comes from 😉

Born slightly preemie at 11:09pm on August 20, 5 lbs 13 oz, 18 inches tall, Sanu joined our family after a lot of unexpected happenings:

An abnormal finding on the ultrasound at my routine 36-week exam resulted in us rushing over to the hospital, where I was informed the safest course of action for me and him would be to induce labor. But wait…my self-imposed maternity leave doesn’t start til the 25th! Cut to… 27 hours of labor later, I underwent a c-section because the umbilical cord was wrapped around baby boy’s neck, preventing progression of natural labor and dropping his heartbeat with every (endless) contraction.

And yet, despite every step of this adventure being the exact opposite of what I’d envisioned for my labor/delivery experience, I felt empowered and supported and heard and cared for the entire time. By my midwife, my doula, the medical and hospital staff at Mount Sinai West, and most of all by Eric, who never left my side and has been the most incredible partner as I begin to heal and as we figure out how to keep this new tiny human alive and thriving.

I have so many friends who had traumatic birthing experiences, and I am so eternally grateful that mine was positive. Unexpected and challenging, but positive.

I (we) are so tired and I am in so much pain (that is, slowly but surely, getting better day by day), and I can’t wait for our Sanu Bear to meet the village that has energetically welcomed him into this world. There is so much ugliness in the world right now, but this lil guy- he gives me hope.

One week ago today @ebranting and I marked a very different kind of Labor Day.

Meet our son, Sanu Karl Shah-Branting 💙

Sanu (pronounced SAH-noo) means “mountain ridge” in Bengali, Karl was Eric’s beloved late father, and you can probably guess where Shah-Branting comes from 😉

Born slightly preemie at 11:09pm on August 20, 5 lbs 13 oz, 18 inches tall, Sanu joined our family after a lot of unexpected happenings:

An abnormal finding on the ultrasound at my routine 36-week exam resulted in us rushing over to the hospital, where I was informed the safest course of action for me and him would be to induce labor. But wait…my self-imposed maternity leave doesn’t start til the 25th! Cut to… 27 hours of labor later, I underwent a c-section because the umbilical cord was wrapped around baby boy’s neck, preventing progression of natural labor and dropping his heartbeat with every (endless) contraction.

And yet, despite every step of this adventure being the exact opposite of what I’d envisioned for my labor/delivery experience, I felt empowered and supported and heard and cared for the entire time. By my midwife, my doula, the medical and hospital staff at Mount Sinai West, and most of all by Eric, who never left my side and has been the most incredible partner as I begin to heal and as we figure out how to keep this new tiny human alive and thriving.

I have so many friends who had traumatic birthing experiences, and I am so eternally grateful that mine was positive. Unexpected and challenging, but positive.

I (we) are so tired and I am in so much pain (that is, slowly but surely, getting better day by day), and I can’t wait for our Sanu Bear to meet the village that has energetically welcomed him into this world. There is so much ugliness in the world right now, but this lil guy- he gives me hope.

One week ago today @ebranting and I marked a very different kind of Labor Day.

Meet our son, Sanu Karl Shah-Branting 💙

Sanu (pronounced SAH-noo) means “mountain ridge” in Bengali, Karl was Eric’s beloved late father, and you can probably guess where Shah-Branting comes from 😉

Born slightly preemie at 11:09pm on August 20, 5 lbs 13 oz, 18 inches tall, Sanu joined our family after a lot of unexpected happenings:

An abnormal finding on the ultrasound at my routine 36-week exam resulted in us rushing over to the hospital, where I was informed the safest course of action for me and him would be to induce labor. But wait…my self-imposed maternity leave doesn’t start til the 25th! Cut to… 27 hours of labor later, I underwent a c-section because the umbilical cord was wrapped around baby boy’s neck, preventing progression of natural labor and dropping his heartbeat with every (endless) contraction.

And yet, despite every step of this adventure being the exact opposite of what I’d envisioned for my labor/delivery experience, I felt empowered and supported and heard and cared for the entire time. By my midwife, my doula, the medical and hospital staff at Mount Sinai West, and most of all by Eric, who never left my side and has been the most incredible partner as I begin to heal and as we figure out how to keep this new tiny human alive and thriving.

I have so many friends who had traumatic birthing experiences, and I am so eternally grateful that mine was positive. Unexpected and challenging, but positive.

I (we) are so tired and I am in so much pain (that is, slowly but surely, getting better day by day), and I can’t wait for our Sanu Bear to meet the village that has energetically welcomed him into this world. There is so much ugliness in the world right now, but this lil guy- he gives me hope.

One week ago today @ebranting and I marked a very different kind of Labor Day.

Meet our son, Sanu Karl Shah-Branting 💙

Sanu (pronounced SAH-noo) means “mountain ridge” in Bengali, Karl was Eric’s beloved late father, and you can probably guess where Shah-Branting comes from 😉

Born slightly preemie at 11:09pm on August 20, 5 lbs 13 oz, 18 inches tall, Sanu joined our family after a lot of unexpected happenings:

An abnormal finding on the ultrasound at my routine 36-week exam resulted in us rushing over to the hospital, where I was informed the safest course of action for me and him would be to induce labor. But wait…my self-imposed maternity leave doesn’t start til the 25th! Cut to… 27 hours of labor later, I underwent a c-section because the umbilical cord was wrapped around baby boy’s neck, preventing progression of natural labor and dropping his heartbeat with every (endless) contraction.

And yet, despite every step of this adventure being the exact opposite of what I’d envisioned for my labor/delivery experience, I felt empowered and supported and heard and cared for the entire time. By my midwife, my doula, the medical and hospital staff at Mount Sinai West, and most of all by Eric, who never left my side and has been the most incredible partner as I begin to heal and as we figure out how to keep this new tiny human alive and thriving.

I have so many friends who had traumatic birthing experiences, and I am so eternally grateful that mine was positive. Unexpected and challenging, but positive.

I (we) are so tired and I am in so much pain (that is, slowly but surely, getting better day by day), and I can’t wait for our Sanu Bear to meet the village that has energetically welcomed him into this world. There is so much ugliness in the world right now, but this lil guy- he gives me hope.

One week ago today @ebranting and I marked a very different kind of Labor Day.

Meet our son, Sanu Karl Shah-Branting 💙

Sanu (pronounced SAH-noo) means “mountain ridge” in Bengali, Karl was Eric’s beloved late father, and you can probably guess where Shah-Branting comes from 😉

Born slightly preemie at 11:09pm on August 20, 5 lbs 13 oz, 18 inches tall, Sanu joined our family after a lot of unexpected happenings:

An abnormal finding on the ultrasound at my routine 36-week exam resulted in us rushing over to the hospital, where I was informed the safest course of action for me and him would be to induce labor. But wait…my self-imposed maternity leave doesn’t start til the 25th! Cut to… 27 hours of labor later, I underwent a c-section because the umbilical cord was wrapped around baby boy’s neck, preventing progression of natural labor and dropping his heartbeat with every (endless) contraction.

And yet, despite every step of this adventure being the exact opposite of what I’d envisioned for my labor/delivery experience, I felt empowered and supported and heard and cared for the entire time. By my midwife, my doula, the medical and hospital staff at Mount Sinai West, and most of all by Eric, who never left my side and has been the most incredible partner as I begin to heal and as we figure out how to keep this new tiny human alive and thriving.

I have so many friends who had traumatic birthing experiences, and I am so eternally grateful that mine was positive. Unexpected and challenging, but positive.

I (we) are so tired and I am in so much pain (that is, slowly but surely, getting better day by day), and I can’t wait for our Sanu Bear to meet the village that has energetically welcomed him into this world. There is so much ugliness in the world right now, but this lil guy- he gives me hope.

One week ago today @ebranting and I marked a very different kind of Labor Day.

Meet our son, Sanu Karl Shah-Branting 💙

Sanu (pronounced SAH-noo) means “mountain ridge” in Bengali, Karl was Eric’s beloved late father, and you can probably guess where Shah-Branting comes from 😉

Born slightly preemie at 11:09pm on August 20, 5 lbs 13 oz, 18 inches tall, Sanu joined our family after a lot of unexpected happenings:

An abnormal finding on the ultrasound at my routine 36-week exam resulted in us rushing over to the hospital, where I was informed the safest course of action for me and him would be to induce labor. But wait…my self-imposed maternity leave doesn’t start til the 25th! Cut to… 27 hours of labor later, I underwent a c-section because the umbilical cord was wrapped around baby boy’s neck, preventing progression of natural labor and dropping his heartbeat with every (endless) contraction.

And yet, despite every step of this adventure being the exact opposite of what I’d envisioned for my labor/delivery experience, I felt empowered and supported and heard and cared for the entire time. By my midwife, my doula, the medical and hospital staff at Mount Sinai West, and most of all by Eric, who never left my side and has been the most incredible partner as I begin to heal and as we figure out how to keep this new tiny human alive and thriving.

I have so many friends who had traumatic birthing experiences, and I am so eternally grateful that mine was positive. Unexpected and challenging, but positive.

I (we) are so tired and I am in so much pain (that is, slowly but surely, getting better day by day), and I can’t wait for our Sanu Bear to meet the village that has energetically welcomed him into this world. There is so much ugliness in the world right now, but this lil guy- he gives me hope.

Missing you today especially, Dad ❤️‍🩹 The first Father’s Day without you and my last Father’s Day without being a father myself. I know me becoming a dad would fill him with joy and pride and that our kid’s life will be poorer without a grandpa like him. He lives on in me and the way I will approach fatherhood. I couldn’t have asked for a better example 🥹

Done!!! Ok not gonna lie I was pretty grumpy for the first 7 miles… then the runners high kicked in and I felt (feel) great! Aside from h the sore feet 😅 Thanks for being inordinately excited and cheering me on from afar @lipicashah ❤️

I’m doing a thing! I’ve only run one other half marathon and… it was this same race years ago. This one will be bittersweet - I was supposed to run with @lipicashah but alas she’s off in Ohio! And also, the last time I ran this was with Dad. We ran the whole thing together, and near the finish line I suggested we speed up to finish strong…. He laughed and kept pace while I sped off to the finish line. He had spent the first part of the race trying to get me to speed up! He ran like a metronome and lamented slowing down in his later years. But he never stopped running; he loved it, it was his sanity. This one’s for you ❤️‍🩹

The film I’m currently mixing just got announced in Deadline! This one has been really special - a lovely and collaborative cast & crew as well as the challenge of such a music and rhythmically driven story. This is gonna be a good one, ya’ll, can’t wait to see it!!!

Hey @sundanceorg it’s my first time here! Supporting my amazing partner @lipicashah and her phenomenal nonprofit, @1497orgI am beyond proud of the work you and the team have put into the thoughtful and inspiring panels i witnessed today. You all have built a beautiful community space that feels inclusive and permissive of vulnerability and passion. So glad I can be here to support and thanks for letting tag along ❤️❤️❤️

Happy Birthday to my love @ebranting - I tried my best to bring your ridiculous vacation vision to Instagram life 😘

First show of the year!!! Come support our band, 60,000 Bees on Feb 7th in Asbury Park, NJ! We promise face melting and perhaps even disintegrating into as many as 60,000 Bees wearing human clothing. I’m ridiculously excited 🙌🔥

Today marks the end of our ritualized mourning for my remarkable father, a chain that began with his death on July 18th, continued through his celebration of life on September 15th, and ended today on October 28th. @sbranting1 @lipicashah and I scattered his ashes at the base of this aspen tree outside of Telluride, Colorado, the place where he and mom met, and I spoke these words. As we hiked back, I felt that the swaying trees, rushing stream, and whispering wind were paying him tribute. The last aspen covered in yellow leaves shimmered in the afternoon sun, and I felt lighter. We continue to mourn you in our hearts and carry you with us in our bones. I love you, Dad.