Skills Pay Bills #108 - Ashley Nell Tipton @ashleynelltipton⁩

Behind every handmade garment at Sew Loka is a story of skill, heritage, and hustle. SKILLS PAY BILLS: A Sew Loka Podcast is where those stories unfold, hosted by Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski. A Chicana designer who learned to sew from her immigrant parents, Claudia now runs her own studio, creating a space that champions BIPOC and underserved communities through affordable, edgy, and upcycled fashion. This isn't just a business chat; it's a deep dive into the real, local economy of making things by hand. Each conversation pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to turn a craft into a livelihood, exploring the intersections of culture, identity, and entrepreneurship. You'll hear from fellow makers, small business owners, and community advocates about the barriers they face and the creative solutions they forge. Claudia brings her unique perspective as a Mexican-American female business owner to every interview, fostering discussions that blur societal norms and redefine success. Tune in for honest talk about profit, purpose, and the tangible power of skilled hands. This podcast is for anyone who believes that building something from the ground up-stitch by stitch, idea by idea-is one of the most radical acts of all.