Stroke It Guide Podcast
"Stroke It! Your Guide to Enhance every relationship, Especially You"
The podcast offers personal and professional growth advice from CEO's, CHO's and others rockin 'at life. It is for those wanting more peace, clarity, direction, passion, purpose, and happiness.
If this is you, let this podcast be your guide. This podcast will teach you how to care for yourself first then others. It will boost your confidence, self esteem and worth. You will become happy and fulfilled. So much so that you will have the power to give to others honestly and effectively.
Each episode offers positive self chatter featuring methods, tools, and coaching from Jenny herself towards creating positive mental health benefits first for yourself and then for the others around you as you lead from within your empire. Whether you use the STROKE IT guide on your spouse, your family members, your friends, or your executive, and management teams, applying what learned in these episodes will enrich how you DO LIFE with all those around you.
About the host:
Jenny Alday Townsend is a successful entrepreneur who has made it her mission to help others navigate the challenges of marriage, business ownership, and balancing both. After facing her own struggles in marriage and successfully overcoming them, she has developed a deep understanding of the complexities of relationships and the importance of effective communication. Jenny has since created The Stroke It Guide, which provides practical tools and strategies for individuals looking to improve their relationships. With a compassionate and empathetic approach, Jenny empowers her network to take control of their lives and relationships, and create a fulfilling and happy future for themselves.
Stroke It Guide Podcast
Ep 205 Is Your Need for Control Blocking Your Growth?
In this episode of The Stroke It Podcast, host Jenny Townsend sits down with international speaker and Operations Genius founder Joanna Zhang for a raw, uplifting conversation about self-love, codependency, and what happens when you stop living your life for everyone else. Joanna shares her journey from financial planner, wife, and mom moving through divorce and burnout to experiencing a soul awakening that changed how she works, leads, parents, and loves.
Together, Jenny and Joanna unpack what it looks like to move from people-pleasing and external validation to real self-acceptance, stronger boundaries, and a life that feels colorful again. They talk about the difference between pleasure and true happiness, how to refill your own cup, embracing feminine energy, and why letting go of control can actually make you a better leader at home and at work.
It’s honest, emotional, and hopeful—especially if you’ve been feeling drained, over-responsible, or stuck in a “gray” season of life.
Resources
Connect with Joanna Zhang on LinkedIn
Download Joanna’s free guide on reclaiming your time and energy through delegation
Learn more about Jenny’s book The Stroke It Guide
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
✅ How Joanna moved from codependency and external validation to a powerful soul awakening
✅ The moment she realized her life had turned “gray” and how she brought creativity and color back
✅ The difference between short-term pleasure and deep, sustaining happiness
✅ Why so many women, especially moms and high achievers, silence their own needs
✅ How true self-love naturally creates stronger, healthier boundaries
✅ Joanna’s “cup” analogy for burnout and why filling your own cup first changes everything
✅ Practical ways Jenny and Joanna protect their energy, from me-time to hobbies to rest
✅ How embracing feminine energy and letting go of control transformed their leadership, parenting, and relationships
✅ Joanna’s final challenge to stop just talking about self-love and truly live it
Chapters
00:01 Welcome and intro to Joanna and The Operations Genius
00:53 Joanna joins the conversation and shares her current season of life
03:25 Codependency, losing herself, and life turning “gray”
07:05 Jenny’s near-divorce, burnout, and healing journey
10:39 From self-worth and boundaries to deeper self-love
11:13 Pleasure vs happiness and redefining what fills you up
16:34 Boundaries, acceptance, and choosing love over fear
21:19 The “cup” analogy and why burnout happens
23:07 Me-time, hobbies, and respecting your own energy
26:50 Handling “energy suckers” and releasing responsibility for everyone else
34:48 Masculine vs feminine energy for women who lead and provide
Order Stroke It now at jennyaldaytownsend.com/book. Your order includes a signed copy, shipping and handling, and great Bonus items!
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Check out more about Jenny Alday Townsend by visiting http://www.jennyaldaytownsend.com
Did you know there are free downloads available on my website? Go to All Products | Jenny Alday Townsend and snag the 4 Ground Rules to Elevate your life. Planning your future? Develop your 1-3-5 and change your life path!
