Backward Sweater

Catherine Dennis
  • 5.0 (28)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

What happens when you realize you've been living your life with the sweater on backwards? Join Catherine, a 59-year-old mother of seven and gigi of three, as she shares her raw, honest journey of finding her authentic voice after decades of silence. This isn't just another self-help podcast - it's a deeply personal exploration of what it means to break free from the constructs that keep us small, to question the beliefs we never chose for ourselves, and to finally live authentically with "no itchy tag." Through messy, meaningful stories filled with pivots, pain, and profound transformation, Catherine creates a safe space where vulnerability meets courage. Whether you're navigating divorce, grief, financial struggles, or simply feeling like you're not living as your true self, you'll find connection, empathy, and hope in these conversations. Catherine's mission is simple: to speak to anyone who needs to hear that they have a voice, they have value, and it's never too late to turn your sweater around. Each episode is a reminder that our most difficult chapters often become our greatest teachers. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago IL Photo: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WA Production: Red Trux Productions Snohomish, WA

Episodes

  1. JAN 23

    Regrets and Reflections

    Catherine reflects on regret through a compassionate lens—less “what I should’ve done” and more “what I wish I could lovingly tell my younger self.” She shares a grounding quote about mountains (obstacles) and how the growth you earn while climbing them stays with you long after the hardship is behind you. From there, she talks candidly about how silencing your voice can shape major life decisions, and how she wishes she’d cultivated joy and identity earlier instead of trying to become who the world wanted her to be. Catherine also offers heartfelt reflections on parenting—moving from control and perfection toward connection, curiosity, and nervous system regulation—plus the ways divorce, grief, and financial insecurity impacted her kids. She closes with hope: mountains are inevitable, but with grace, resilience, and self-trust, what feels impossible today can become a distant view in the rearview mirror. 💬 What You'll Hear A powerful “mountain” quote and why obstacles can become opportunitiesCatherine’s take on regret: reflection without shame, compassion without rewriting your lifeHow silencing your voice (and listening to the loudest voice in your head) can shape your choicesWhat she wishes she’d cultivated earlier: joy, identity, and self-trustThe perspective shift of parenting adult children—and how every child experiences family differentlyUnsolicited (but loving) parenting advice: presence, eye contact, listening, and connection over perfectionWhy kids don’t need rigid control to become good humans—they need safety, love, and boundariesA reframing of “skills”: why bedwetting, emotions, and behavior are learned like riding a bikeReflections on divorce, bankruptcy, grief, and the hope that time can soften even the hardest seasons✨ Takeaway Regret doesn’t have to be punishment—it can be a gentle teacher. When you look back with compassion, you can keep the wisdom without carrying the shame. And when you parent (or re-parent yourself) with connection over control, you create the kind of safety that lasts. ⚖️ DisclaimerThese stories are mine — told through my eyes, my lens, and my lived experience. Each person moves through life in their own way. I own these stories, and I share them to inspire us all to live truthfully, freely, and as our most authentic selves. 🌿 Connect with CatherineIf this episode made you reflect on a time when you judged others or needed forgiveness yourself, share it with someone who showed you grace when you didn't deserve it. Follow Catherine on Instagram to keep following the story. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago ILPhoto: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WAProduction: Red Trux Productions Snohomish, WA

    22 min

  2. JAN 2

    Children

    Catherine answers the question people react to most—why she chose to have seven children while living in poverty. With humor and honesty, she walks through early motherhood, the chaos of raising four kids under five, and the reality of building a family without financial stability. A health scare (including hair loss and a frightening diagnosis) led her to believe she couldn’t have more children—until an unexpected pregnancy changed everything and became a turning point in her healing. From there, Catherine shares how foster care became part of her family’s story, with more than 30 children coming through her home, and how two adoptions ultimately reshaped the trajectory of her life and her kids’ lives. Looking back, she doesn’t glamorize the struggle—but she honors the love, resilience, and legacy that grew from it. 💬 What You'll Hear Why Catherine refuses to judge anyone’s decision to have kids—poor or notWhat it was like raising four children under five while barely getting byThe health scare that made her think her life (and motherhood) was about to changeThe surprise pregnancy she was told was impossible—and why it felt like healingWhy she became a foster mom, and what foster care is truly aboutHow adoption impacted her children and the “version of family” each child experiencedA full-circle moment: seeing her values show up in her adult children’s lives✨ Takeaway Your story doesn’t have to look perfect to be meaningful. Catherine’s journey is a reminder that love, consistency, and perspective can build a legacy—even when the external circumstances feel unstable or unfinished. ⚖️ Disclaimer This episode is for educational and inspirational purposes only and reflects Catherine’s personal experiences and opinions. It is not medical, legal, financial, or mental health advice. If you need support, please consult a qualified professional. 🌿 Connect with Catherine If this episode resonated, share it with someone who needs permission to release shame and honor their story. And if you’ve ever felt judged for the way your life looks “on paper,” send Catherine a message on social media and tell her: what part of your story are you learning to hold with more compassion? Follow Catherine on Instagram to keep following the story. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago ILPhoto: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WAProduction: Red Trux Productions Snohomish, WA

    21 min

  3. 12/12/2025

    Policing Era

    Catherine dives into her "policing era" - a time when she believed she was right about everything and everyone else was wrong. From picketing to lecturing friends about their life choices, she shares how her strict Catholic upbringing led her to judge others' bedrooms, politics, and personal decisions. But this embarrassing chapter became her greatest teacher in humility. Through divorce, bankruptcy, loss, and the forgiveness of those she hurt, Catherine learned that life's hardest lessons are often our most transformative ones. 💬 What You'll Hear The Policing Era Begins: Growing up in a strict Catholic household where church was never missed, even on vacation in the Wyoming wilderness Charismatic Catholic College: Transferring to a more religious school hoping it would complete her, while secretly meeting a "spicy guy" on the baseball field Justifying Everything: Using faith to justify living poor, submitting to her husband, homeschooling, and judging everyone else's choices The Judgment List: Picketing, lecturing friends about premarital sex and cohabitation, and warning people they'd burn in hell The Contrast: Being front and center with her kids (the beautiful part) while exhausting herself policing everyone else's lives Humble 101: Life's classroom teaching humility through divorce, bankruptcy, loss, public shame, and parenting alone The Power of Forgiveness: Every single person she policed - friends and family - still loves her and watched her evolve Receiving Love: Learning that true love means being forgiven and getting a second chance, which healed her nervous system Different Lessons Now: Moving from major life lessons to micro-focused heart work, like not caring what her kids do as a reflection of her The A/B Student: Now handling life's tests (like a surprise $500 IRS bill) with calm instead of panic ✨ TakeawayYour most embarrassing era might become your greatest teacher. When you think you're the judge of everyone else's choices, life will enroll you in Humble 101 until you learn the lesson. The people you hurt with your judgment can teach you what real love looks like through their forgiveness. Everyone is in the school of life, just in different classrooms with different teachers. The sooner you learn your lessons, the less they appear on the test. Humility is the most beautiful of the virtues. ⚖️ DisclaimerThese stories are mine — told through my eyes, my lens, and my lived experience. Each person moves through life in their own way. I own these stories, and I share them to inspire us all to live truthfully, freely, and as our most authentic selves. 🌿 Connect with CatherineIf this episode made you reflect on a time when you judged others or needed forgiveness yourself, share it with someone who showed you grace when you didn't deserve it. Follow Catherine on Instagram to keep following the story. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago ILPhoto: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WAProduction: Red Trux Productions Snohomish, WA

    20 min

  4. 11/21/2025

    Love

    Catherine opens up about love in its many forms - from the exhausting performance-based love of her past to the transformative power of being loved "just because." She vulnerably shares the profound loss of her partner David during COVID, how grief became a catalyst for change, and her journey to finding love again with someone who teaches her she doesn't need to perform to be worthy. 💬 What You’ll Hear Agape Love: Understanding unconditional love and how it was the only love Catherine felt comfortable givingPerformance-Based Love: Growing up believing she had to earn love through achievements, appearance, and over-givingThe Comparison Trap: Watching friends in effortless relationships while she obsessed over perceived flawsDating Disasters: From the guy with the clinker in his eyelash to repelling men who actually wanted to love herMeeting David: Finding someone who loved her in her "broken divorced self" without requiring performanceMarch 23rd, 2020: The devastating day David died suddenly of a heart attack during the first day of COVID lockdownMoving Through Grief: Walking to move grief through her body and the mistakes of dating too soonLeveraging Loss: How David's death became the catalyst for coming home to herselfBack to the Apps: Four months later, downloading dating apps and learning about ENM and poly via GoogleFinding Love Again: Meeting her current partner who teaches her "this is not a call to action" - she can simply receive✨ Takeaway Love doesn't require performance. You don't have to earn it through achievement, appearance, or over-giving. The exhausting pattern of proving your worth can be broken. Sometimes profound loss becomes the catalyst for discovering you're worthy of love simply for being who you are. Finding home within yourself first allows you to show up authentically in relationships - and that's when real love finds you. ⚖️ Disclaimer These stories are mine — told through my eyes, my lens, and my lived experience. Each person moves through life in their own way. I own these stories, and I share them to inspire us all to live truthfully, freely, and as our most authentic selves. 🌿 Connect with Catherine If this episode made you reflect on the ones you love, share it with them to let them know how much they mean to you. Follow Catherine on Instagram to keep following the story. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago ILPhoto: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WAProduction: Red Trux Productions Snohomish, WA

    33 min

  5. 10/31/2025

    God, Google, and My Newfound Faith

    Episode Summary:In one of her most vulnerable episodes yet, Catherine opens up about questioning and ultimately transforming her deeply held religious beliefs. From her strict Catholic upbringing to searching the Bible for a way out of her marriage, she reveals how Google became her unexpected lifeline — and how she discovered a more personal, loving faith that allowed her to live authentically without fear of eternal punishment. 💬 What You’ll Hear Religious Foundations: Growing up with Jewish, Mormon, and Catholic influences in a deeply structured householdThe Sacred Marriage Trap: How the concept of mortal sin kept her feeling bound by duty and shameSearching for an Exit: Reading Scripture daily, desperate to find freedom beyond the belief that only death could release herGoogle as Savior: How simple searches became her lifeline toward clarity, autonomy, and truthFaith vs. Freedom: The internal tug-of-war between religious obligation and personal liberationCatholic Friends’ Advice: The well-meaning counsel that told her there was “merit in suffering” — and how she chose otherwiseThe First Night Alone: The counselor’s words that led to a powerful moment of peace and self-discoveryNewfound Spirituality: Discovering a faith that’s personal, nonjudgmental, and rooted in love instead of fear✨ Takeaway “I thought I was walking away from God — but I was really walking toward the version of Him that had been waiting for me all along.”⚖️ Disclaimer These stories are mine — told through my eyes, my lens, and my lived experience. Each person moves through life in their own way. I own these stories, and I share them to inspire us all to live truthfully, freely, and as our most authentic selves. 🌿 Connect with Catherine If this episode touched your spirit or helped you see faith through a different lens, share it with someone who’s finding their own way back to themselves. Follow Catherine on Instagram to keep following the story. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago ILPhoto: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WAProduction: Red Trux Productions Snohomish, WA

    14 min

  6. 10/10/2025

    Mustaches, Orthotics, and Diets

    Episode Summary:In this raw and relatable episode, Catherine opens up about the early insecurities that shaped her self-image — from mustache teasing in the cafeteria to size 11 orthotics and Weight Watchers at age ten. With humor, vulnerability, and heart, she explores how childhood experiences and cultural conditioning can twist our self-perception — and what it takes to finally wear our confidence right-side-out. 💬 What You’ll HearThe Mustache Chronicles: Cruel cafeteria comments, endless electrolysis, and finally embracing the razor with pride Big Feet, Big Problems: Size 10–11 shoes in fifth grade while friends wore ballet flats Diet Culture at 10: Growing up on Weight Watchers and learning to detach self-worth from the scale The Weigh-In Moment: A sixth-grade memory that shaped how she saw herself Missing Out on “Normal”: The ache of not fitting beauty standards or getting the “cute boyfriends” Reframing the Narrative: Turning “flaws” into features and finding power in difference Entertaining the What-Ifs: Practical ways to challenge the limiting beliefs we inherited about our bodies ✨ Takeaway“I spent years trying to fit into a world that told me I was too much, too big, too hairy — until I realized maybe the world just needed to learn to use razors.” :) ⚖️ DisclaimerThese stories are mine — told through my eyes, my lens, and my lived experience. Each person moves through life in their own way. I own these stories, and I share them to inspire us all to live truthfully, freely, and as our most authentic selves. 🌿 Connect with CatherineIf this episode made you laugh, cry, or see yourself a little differently, share it with someone who needs that reminder today. Follow Catherine on Instagram to keep following the story. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago ILPhoto: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WAProduction: Red Trux Productions Snohomish, WA

    14 min

  7. 10/10/2025

    The Sweater Metaphor

    Episode Summary:In this deeply personal and powerful premiere episode, Catherine introduces herself and the profound metaphor that changed everything — realizing her sweater, and her life, had been on backwards. What started as a simple wardrobe moment in her closet became a revelation about living authentically versus living according to others’ expectations. Through honesty, humor, and heart, Catherine explores how turning her sweater around became the start of turning her life around. 💬 What You’ll HearThe Origin Story: How a simple wardrobe moment became a life-changing metaphor Breaking the Silence: Catherine’s journey from people-pleasing to finding her voice Religious Constructs: Growing up with rigid beliefs and learning to question everything Marriage & Motherhood: Navigating 24 + years of marriage while losing herself The Divorce Decision: Why leaving felt like the hardest — and scariest — moment of her life Rebuilding from Nothing: From $27,000 a year to financial independence Unexpected Love: Finding romance, then meeting grief through unexpected loss, and healing after heartbreak Living Authentically: What it means to finally live with your sweater turned the right way around ✨ Takeaway“Sometimes that itch just becomes normal — until you realize you have a choice. You can turn it around.” ⚖️ DisclaimerThese stories are mine — told through my eyes, my lens, and my lived experience. Each person moves through life in their own way. I own these stories, and I share them to inspire us all to live truthfully, freely, and as our most authentic selves. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago ILPhoto: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WAProduction: Red Trux Productions Snohomish, WA

    29 min

  8. EPISODE 1

    Backward Sweater Trailer!

    Meet Catherine - a 59-year-old mother of seven and Gigi of three who spent decades feeling like something was just... off. Itchy. Uncomfortable. Wrong. Until she discovered her life's sweater had the tag in the front. In this powerful trailer, Catherine introduces the metaphor that changed everything and invites you into her world of messy, meaningful transformation. From religious constructs to failed marriage, from financial struggles to finding authentic love - her journey proves it's never too late to turn your sweater around. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago ILPhoto: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WAProduction: Red Trux Productions Snohomish, WA

    2 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
28 Ratings

About

What happens when you realize you've been living your life with the sweater on backwards? Join Catherine, a 59-year-old mother of seven and gigi of three, as she shares her raw, honest journey of finding her authentic voice after decades of silence. This isn't just another self-help podcast - it's a deeply personal exploration of what it means to break free from the constructs that keep us small, to question the beliefs we never chose for ourselves, and to finally live authentically with "no itchy tag." Through messy, meaningful stories filled with pivots, pain, and profound transformation, Catherine creates a safe space where vulnerability meets courage. Whether you're navigating divorce, grief, financial struggles, or simply feeling like you're not living as your true self, you'll find connection, empathy, and hope in these conversations. Catherine's mission is simple: to speak to anyone who needs to hear that they have a voice, they have value, and it's never too late to turn your sweater around. Each episode is a reminder that our most difficult chapters often become our greatest teachers. Theme Song Written and Composed by Trevor Lynch and Michaela Dennis and recorded by Trevor Lynch in Chicago IL Photo: Baumgardner Studio Yakima, WA Production: Red Trux Productions Snohomish, WA

Information

  • Creator
    Catherine Dennis
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Red Trux