She Worked with Post Malone and Lizzo—Then Realized Success Wasn’t the Answer

She Worked with Post Malone and Lizzo—Then Realized Success Wasn’t the Answer

Author: AJ Jones, Founder, MORE® — Aligned Reinvention Guide June 15, 2026 Duration: 47:06
What happens when you achieve everything you thought would make you happy, and still wake up feeling empty? In this powerful episode of Code 3: Life. Reinvented., I sit down with award-winning audio engineer, producer, speaker, and author Ali "AMAC" McGuire. After building a successful career working with artists including Post Malone, Lizzo, Kelly Rowland, Fetty Wap, and major record labels, Ali reached a breaking point. Despite the accolades, gold and platinum records, and industry success, she realized she had spent years chasing achievement while ignoring herself. Ali shares her journey from community college dropout to music industry success, how sobriety revealed a deeper struggle with overwork and self-worth, and the burnout that forced her to confront the uncomfortable question: "Why doesn't success feel the way I thought it would?" We explore authenticity, shame, purpose, self-compassion, and the framework she developed to help people reconnect with themselves before a crisis makes the decision for them. If you've ever felt trapped by your own success, questioned whether achievement alone is enough, or sensed that something important is missing despite having "made it," this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. Why success can become an addiction The surprising connection between burnout and self-worth How overworking became Ali's replacement for alcohol The difference between ego-driven goals and purpose-driven goals Why nobody teaches us to listen to our bodies The role of authenticity in creating a meaningful life How to know when you're living someone else's definition of success Why enjoying your life may be the most important goal of all Key Quote:"The only dream worth living is enjoying your life." – Ali AMAC McGuire Connect with Ali "AMAC" McGuire Website: amaculent.com Instagram: @amaculent YouTube: The Amaculent Mindset Email: info@immaculent.com To learn about MORE®, go to: bemorealigned.com.

AJ Jones has a story that gets your attention, but it's not where his story ends. Surviving two widowmaker heart attacks after a high-powered finance career at places like Schwab and BlackRock led to a doctor's order to retire. He chose a different path. Now, as the founder of MORE®, he acts as an Aligned Reinvention Guide, and this Code 3: Life. Reinvented. podcast is the conversation that follows from that choice. It’s born from the urgent realization that sometimes you have to tear up the old blueprint completely. Here, we move past simple motivational talk into the tangible, sometimes messy work of building a life and career that truly fits who you are. You’ll hear from AJ and a range of guests who have navigated their own pivots, discussing the practical strategies and mindset shifts needed to step off autopilot. The discussions naturally weave through business, career development, education, and personal growth, because reinvention doesn’t respect neat categories. Tuning into this podcast means listening in on honest dialogues about risk, purpose, and crafting a definition of success that has personal meaning. It’s for anyone feeling the nagging sense that there’s a more aligned version of their professional journey or daily life waiting to be built, and who wants to hear how others have started that construction.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 45

Code 3: Life. Reinvented.
Podcast Episodes
The Lie of Numb Success [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:01
In this solo episode of Code 3: Life Reinvented, I unpack numb success — the most dangerous place to live, because the world rewards you for staying there. Numb success is when life looks impressive on the outside but fe…
The Illusion of Safety: A Smarter Path to Career Reinvention [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:50
What if the move you’re craving isn’t a dramatic leap… but a measured, strategic shift you build step by step? In this episode of Code 3: Life. Reinvented., I sit down with Shannon Lundgren — a former Wells Fargo leader…
Redefining Success: From Achievement to Alignment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:06
Success. We chase it, sacrifice for it, and organize our lives around it. And then—quietly, unexpectedly—it stops working. In this solo episode, I unpack the moment many high achievers eventually face: when the definitio…
Being vs. Doing: A High Achiever’s Awakening with Steve Haggerty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:31
In this powerful and deeply human episode, I sit down with Steve Haggerty — former Hyatt executive, private-equity partner, and now a builder of transformational wellness retreats — to explore one of the biggest truths h…
Introduction of Be MORE Aligned [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:38
In this solo episode, I pull back the curtain on a huge truth I’ve been avoiding: I wasn’t building the wrong business — I was solving the wrong problem. After surviving my second widowmaker heart attack, I doubled down…