{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"What Makes a Family? Scott & Mark Hoying on Representation, Creativity, and Love","description":"You know Pentatonix \u2013 the multi-platinum selling acapella group is the number one most listened to musical acct of the holiday season.  Co-founder and Grammy winner Scott Hoying is currently starring in Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. Scott Hoying and his husband Mark are now also authors of an innovative picture book which features text that doubles as lyrics to a new, original Christmas song.  FA LA LA FAMILY celebrates the spirit of Christmas with a look at nontraditional families. The reviews are loving their new book: "A fun and festive dive into Christmas celebrations with diverse families."\u2015School Library Journal "Cozy and filled with love." \u2015Kirkus In this episode of Shifting Schools, Tricia Friedman sits down with Scott and Mark Hoying, creators and authors of a new children\u2019s book that challenges traditional definitions of family and centers love, creativity, and chosen community. Together, they explore why representation in children\u2019s literature matters, how creative collaboration shapes healthy partnerships, and what their journey toward modern, inclusive parenthood has taught them about patience, communication, and imagination. This conversation is especially relevant for educators, parents, and caregivers seeking stories that reflect diverse families\u2014and for anyone curious about how creativity prepares us for life\u2019s biggest transitions. Chapters 00:00 What Defines Family Today? 02:51 Creativity, Collaboration, and Partnership 05:46 Communication in Creative Relationships 08:51 Preparing for Parenthood Through Art 11:42 Why Representation in Children\u2019s Books Matters 14:27 Stories, Holidays, and Belonging ABOUT: Scott Hoying is a GRAMMY award winning and Emmy-nominated singer, songwriter, and arranger from the multi-platinum selling acapella group, Pentatonix. He co-founded the group in 2010 and has headlined hundreds of shows all around the world. He is currently starring in Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. He is very active in the LGBTQ+ community and works closely with The Trevor Project. How Lucky Am I? is his first picture book. Mark Hoying is a writer and marketing professional from Seattle, Washington. After graduating from the University of Washington, he met and began developing projects with his husband, Scott Hoying. He co-wrote the original Christmas single \u201cThank You\u201d on Pentatonix\u2019s holiday album and currently manages the girl group Citizen Queen. Fa La La Family is published by Macmillan Children\u2019s Publishing Group ","author_name":"Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators","author_url":"http:\/\/www.shiftingschools.com","html":"