SKILLS PAY BILLS: A Sew Loka Podcast | Podcast Guru

Details

Chicana fashion designer, Claudia Rodríguez-Biezunski, was introduced to sewing at a very young age by her immigrant parents. In 2013, she opened a sewing studio named Sew Loka. As a Mexican-American female business owner, Claudia is breaking down barriers, blurring societal norms and proudly welcoming BIPOC and underserved communities through affordable, edgy, and upcycled handmade goods. This SKILLS PAY BILLS podcast will focus on the local makers and creators that excite and inspire Claudia. The podcast is filmed inside of the "Sew Loka" sewing studio located in historic Barrio Logan, San Diego. Thank you for listening!!!

Recent Episodes

Skills Pay Bills TV #112 feat Shirish Villasenor @shirishtheartist #sewloka #sandiego #podcast

Send us Fan Mail San Diego muralist and installation artist Shirish Villasenor joins us to talk about art, motherhood, and creative rebirth. From painting Chicano Park murals and Comic-Con windows to dropping out of fashion school and finding her way back to creating, Shirish opens up about imposter syndrome, refusing to dumb down her work for anyone, and why your dreams are always valid, whether or not they pay the bills. We also get into her upcoming installation at Sew Loka, The Death Moth...

60 MIN

Skills Pay Bills #111 feat Melicha @melicha_art

Send us Fan Mail Claudia sits down with painter Melicha (Melissa Salgado) for a full hour of real talk - how they met, Melissa's creative process, the family traditions behind her work, her love of cactuses, and what's coming next. Melissa's Paint & Stitch: Nopalitos workshop drops June 28th, and her solo show Conceiving Tradition opens July 11th right here at Sew Loka. Don't miss it! https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreci...

64 MIN

Skills Pay Bills #110 feat. Selena Idioma @selenaidiomaart

Send us Fan Mail Claudia from Sew Loka talks with San Diego artist Selena Idioma about her creative journey, her artistic influences, and her upcoming first solo art show, "Love, Always," opening Valentine's Day at the Sew Loka sewing studio. Pull up and show some love! https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

52 MIN

Skills Pay Bills #109 - Slow Fashion Day Recap w/ Chris Carson (@bychriscarson)

Send us Fan Mail Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski of Sew Loka and Chris Carson from The Homegrown Project SD sit down to reflect on Slow Fashion Day 2025. The co-organizers share how the event started and discuss their favorite moments from this year's festival—from hands-on workshops to sustainability panels and fashion shows—and the community members who helped make it happen. They talk about what worked, what they learned, and give a sneak peek at plans for 2026, including expanded workshops an...

52 MIN

Movie Manny #8 - "Legends Never Die" A Sew Loka Short Story

Send us Fan Mail Movie Manny returns with exciting news about directing a new short film "Legends Never Die," starring his wife, Claudia from Sew Loka and shot in their Barrio Logan sewing studio. Discover how a simple clothing patch can be transformed into a beautiful cinematic experience! Manny also gives exclusive updates on upcoming Sew Loka collaborations with SDFC, Uniqlo, San Diego Wave, and more. He also shares the raw journey of balancing small business growth with creative aspiratio...

20 MIN