In April 2025, I had lunch with Matt Cox in Tampa two days before he interviewed me on his Inside True Crime show.
A few minutes in, it was easy to see why he’d had so much success upon his release from prison.
He was a good listener. He asked questions. It was clear he found value in the journey.
He never complained. Not about prison. Not the halfway house. Not how difficult things were through a 26-year federal prison sentence.
He talked about the lessons he learned. And it hit me while he was talking: this is why anyone has success after prison.
They focus on what they have rather than what they’ve lost.
They focus on what they can control rather than obsess over what they don’t have.
They don’t live with envy. Rather than feel jealousy for the success of others, they think to themselves: how can I learn from them and benefit? What can I do today to be better?
On Tuesday at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern, I’m interviewing Matt Cox live.
We’ll talk about his 26-year sentence, the lessons he learned in prison, and how he’s built a business that now influences millions of people, with more than a million subscribers alone on his YouTube channel.
This won’t glorify making money or success. It’s about how he did it: the incremental, daily action steps that put him in this position.
Anyone who’s been to prison, anyone who is justice impacted, deals with collateral consequences, regardless of the crime. I’ve always found value learning from others who overcame it, because they lay out a roadmap.
Matt Cox is an example we can all learn from.
Come join us live, Tuesday at 11am Pacific.
Thank you,
Justin Paperny
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Matt Cox?
Matt Cox was originally sentenced to 26 years in federal prison. He now hosts Inside True Crime on YouTube, a channel with more than a million subscribers.
How do I know Matt Cox?
I had lunch with Matt Cox in Tampa in April 2025, two days before Matt Cox interviewed me on the Inside True Crime show.
What will Matt Cox and I discuss in our live interview?
Matt Cox’s sentence, the lessons he learned in prison, and the daily actions that led to the business he’s built since his release.
When is the live interview with Matt Cox?
Tuesday at 11am Pacific, 2pm Eastern, live on YouTube.
Is this only relevant to people who went to prison for the same reasons as Matt Cox?
No. I frame the conversation around anyone who is justice impacted and dealing with collateral consequences, regardless of the crime.
Author Bio
I’m Justin Paperny, founder of White Collar Advice. I started building in prison with help from my friend Michael. The earlier you begin building the better.
