What happens when a high school assignment becomes the beginning of something much bigger?

On this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno talks with children’s author and BioGuides creator Ariel Castillo Jr. about turning curiosity, creativity, and an interest in science into Tango in the Rainforest, a children’s book designed to make biology more engaging and approachable for young learners.

Ariel shares how a senior-year AP Biology project sparked the idea, why storytelling and poetry can help children connect with complex concepts, and what he learned while navigating the realities of writing, designing, and self-publishing his first book.

The conversation also explores the responsibility that comes with influencing young minds, including how creators can simplify information without losing its meaning and how educational content can encourage children to see learning as an adventure.

Ariel also offers practical advice for young people with ambitious ideas: research the landscape, seek guidance from people with experience, understand the risks involved, give yourself more time than you think you will need, and be willing to work through unexpected obstacles.

This episode is a reminder that meaningful influence often begins with curiosity but it grows when we take responsibility for developing our ideas and putting them into action.