Advertise on podcast: SKILLS PAY BILLS: A Sew Loka 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, a walkable "romantic horror" piece about metamorphosis and the scars that come with change. Plus Guillermo del Toro, hidden Easter eggs in art, the power of a supportive art collective, and the great burrito debate. In this episode: Raising strong, creative girls while building an art careerLearning to trust yourself as an artistWhy gatekeeping hurts the creative communityFinding beauty in the strange and the spookyThe Death Moth installation, embroidery workshop, and merch dropThe Death Moth – Opening Night October 10 (World Mental Health Day) Sew Loka – 2113 Logan Ave, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92113 Follow Shirish: @shirishtheartist Follow Sew Loka: @sewloka  https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

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 appreciate you!

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!

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 and new partnerships. Whether you attended this year or are curious about the slow fashion movement in San Diego, Claudia and Chris offer an honest look at building a community event focused on sustainable fashion and local makers. Recorded at Sew Loka in Barrio Logan, San Diego 12/15/25  https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

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 aspirations and using filmmaking to cope and push through crazy times. Whether you're into clothing, film, or entrepreneurship, hopefully this episode will remind you to stop overthinking and just "make the thing."  https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

Send us Fan Mail Project Runway Season 14 winner Ashley Nell Tipton @ashleynelltipton⁩ joins us to share her journey as the first designer to feature plus-size models on the Project Runway stage. At 23, Ashley broke barriers in the fashion industry while navigating the intense pressures of reality TV. In this candid conversation, Ashley reveals the challenging behind-the-scenes reality of filming - from isolation and strict production rules to the emotional toll of competition. She opens up about how winning changed her life, the unexpected costs of sudden fame, and finding strength through her grandmother's memory and spiritual guidance. We also explore the vibrant San Diego sewing community and discuss the importance of connecting local designers and celebrating talent outside of major fashion hubs like LA. Ashley shares her vision for building stronger creative networks and supporting emerging artists. Topics Covered: Behind the scenes of Project Runway Breaking barriers in fashion The San Diego creative community Mental health and self-care Finding resilience through visualization Building creative networks A must-listen for fashion enthusiasts, aspiring designers, and anyone interested in the realities of pursuing creative dreams. #sewloka #sandiego #sewing #ashleynelltipton  https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

Send us Fan Mail Paul Chevallier @toofbush visits the @sewloka sewing studio in #barriologan to discuss #sewing #socialmedia #slowfashion shooting #videos creating #clothing and surviving in #sandiego  Recorded on 5/12/25 by @moviemannysd in Barrio Logan, San Diego, CA - 12:30pm PST  To learn more about Paul and @pleasetoofbush please visit Paul's website: https://www.toofbush.com To learn more about Claudia and @sewloka please visit Claudia's website: https://sewloka.com @sewloka @toofbush @skillspaybillstv @moviemannysd Skills Pay Bills TV #107 feat Paul Chevallier @toofbush #sewloka #sewing #sandiego #toofbush  https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

Send us Fan Mail Skills Pay Bills TV#106  feat. Chris Carson @bychriscarson  Chris Carson is an artist and cut and sew clothing designer living in San Diego, CA. Chris and Claudia talk about sewing, sustainability, San Diego, and slowing down. You can visit Chris in person at his clothing store "The Homegrown Project" @thehomegrownprojectsd 2440 Highland Ave, National City, CA 91950 Visit Claudia in person at her sewing studio "Sew Loka" @sewloka 2113 Logan Avenue, B, San Diego, CA 92113 https://sewloka.com/ @skillspaybillstv Documented by Manny Biezunski @moviemannysd  https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

Send us Fan Mail Manny and Claudia are back for a new season of Skills Pay Bills 2025. They talk about "Ryde or Dye" and celebrating 12 years of Sew Loka, reciting prayers of gratitude at USD, recording new reels for KittiePIG, creating soccer balls for SDFC, and what's next for Sew Loka in 2025. There is so much to talk about and to be thankful for! Thank you for listening, we appreciate you!!!   https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

Send us Fan Mail Skills Pay Bills #104 - Official Sew Loka Interview (Oct 2024) SEW LOKA 2113 Logan Avenue, Suite B San Diego, CA 92113 https://sewloka.com/shop @sewloka @skillspaybillstv  https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

Send us Fan Mail Movie Manny #7 - "A Complete Unknown: Why Bob Dylan Is Important"   https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

Send us Fan Mail Skills Pay Bills #103 - Beazie Beats @beaziebeats | DJ & Music Producer  Claudia @sewloka sits down with Beazie Beats @beaziebeats DJ & Music Producer Beazie moved to San Diego a few months ago and he has been ON FIRE! Discovering new talent, collaborating with local San Diego musicians and releasing new tracks, albums and videos on the daily! Watch and listen to learn more about Beazie Beats and find out where he's been and where he's going - the future is full of endless possibilities and we can't wait to see what Beazie and his team do next!  Available on all digital platforms!  https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/beaziebeatsandjohnnywalsh/move-on Stream on Spotify & Apple Music! https://open.spotify.com/album/3GMkkQUzBCaxHdSEn1fWTy?si=DN4Iw6POT32NKglTjrUS6w&nd=1&dlsi=9ba3b534110e49e5 https://music.apple.com/us/album/keys-to-the-city-vol-1-ep/1754358895 ‪@BeazieBeats‬  x Johnny Walsh - Move On (Official Music Video) Rnb/Trap/Soul https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqKZhax_0tw  https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

Send us Fan Mail Skills Pay Bills #102 - Johnny Walsh @johnnywalshcreatives Claudia interviews Johnny Walsh, a longtime friend and collaborator. Johnny has designed a bunch of our Sew Loka tee & flyer designs and you will see his branding work all over Sew Loka. Just recently, he rediscovered his love of singing, rapping and soul music! His talent is incredible and his hustle is unmatched! Enjoy the convo 3 Click here to watch and listen to ‪@BeazieBeats‬  x Johnny Walsh - Move On (Official Music Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqKZhax_0tw Available on all digital platforms! https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/beaziebeatsandjohnnywalsh/move-on Johnny Walsh Creatives Website https://johnnywalshcreatives.com Sew Loka IG  @sewloka Sew Loka Website https://sewloka.com  https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

Send us Fan Mail Movie Manny #5 - Alexx Catano @wearecatanation Manny and Alex talk movie theaters, drive-ins, home movies, and streaming. Also, they speculate on what's next for Comic Book movies... Watch on YouTube / Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Alex Catano is the host of the "We Are Catanation" Podcast, an audio podcast that highlights different artists and change makers in the San Diego community.  https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

Send us Fan Mail Skills Pay Bills #101 "Sew Loka Summer" feat Manny Biezunski @moviemannysd  https://sewloka.com/ Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!