Welcome to The SPAC Podcast!

Episodes

July 24, 2025

Key Ingredients of a Well-Executed SPAC Transaction

What separates a successful SPAC from one that struggles? In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Mike Blankenship and Derek explore the key characteristics of high-performing SPACs in today’s market. With nearly 60 SPAC IPOs i...

Listen to the Episode
July 23, 2025

SPAC Guest Spotlight: Seth Farbman

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Mike Blankenship is joined by Seth Farbman, a seasoned entrepreneur and trusted name in the capital markets ecosystem. With a career spanning over two decades, Seth has founded and sold m...

Listen to the Episode
July 23, 2025

SPAC Sponsors & D&O Coverage: What You Need to Know

As securities litigation involving SPACs continues to rise, SPAC sponsors are increasingly finding themselves named in lawsuits. In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Mike Blankenship and Chaz Churchwell break down what spons...

Listen to the Episode
July 22, 2025

SPAC Guest Spotlight: Chaz Churchwell

🎙️ SPAC Guest Spotlight — Meet Chaz Churchwell From the U.S. Army to the boardrooms of public companies, Chaz Churchwell has spent nearly two decades helping leaders manage risk with precision and integrity. A U.S. Army Reser...

Listen to the Episode
July 21, 2025

What is a Serial SPAC Sponsor?

What separates one-off SPAC sponsors from those who build lasting platforms? In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Mike Blankenship speaks with James Graff, a veteran sponsor with over 14 years in the spac business, about wha...

Listen to the Episode
July 18, 2025

SPAC Guest Spotlight: James Graf

In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , co-host Mike Blankenship sits down with James Graff, CEO of Graff Global Corp and a veteran SPAC sponsor who’s been active in the space for over 14 years. James shares how he transitioned...

Listen to the Episode
July 18, 2025

Why are SPACs Gaining Traction Again in 2025?

After the historic SPAC boom of 2020–2021 and a cooling period that followed, 2025 is seeing renewed interest in the SPAC model. In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , Mike and Derek discuss why the market is turning back to S...

Listen to the Episode
July 17, 2025

SPAC Guest Spotlight: Derek Kearns

Derek is a Partner at Centri Business Consulting and the leader of the firm’s SEC, Financial Reporting & SPAC Practice. He has more than 25 years of accounting experience in both public and private industries. He joined Centr...

Listen to the Episode
July 16, 2025

Sponsor Compensation Explained

While the promote is often the most discussed form of compensation for SPAC sponsors, it’s not the only one. In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , we take a closer look at additional forms of sponsor compensation that may exi...

Listen to the Episode
July 15, 2025

How Do SPAC Co-Sponsors Work?

Co-sponsorships are becoming more common in the SPAC world—but are they effective? In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , we explore how co-sponsor structures are being used to combine financial backing with operational depth....

Listen to the Episode
July 14, 2025

What Challenges Cause SPAC Sponsors to Fall Short?

Not every SPAC reaches the finish line, and sponsors face a wide range of challenges along the way. In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , we explore patterns we’re seeing in the market that could impact a sponsor’s ability to...

Listen to the Episode
July 11, 2025

How Do Sponsors Structure a SPAC?

Launching a SPAC starts long before the IPO hits the market. Sponsors make foundational decisions that shape the deal’s structure—and its reception by investors. In this episode of The SPAC Podcast , we explore the key elemen...

Listen to the Episode
July 10, 2025

What Do PIPE Investors Look for in a SPAC Sponsor?

In the SPAC process, securing a PIPE—Private Investment in Public Equity—is a key step in bringing a deal across the finish line. PIPE investors not only provide essential capital but also help validate the target company’s v...

Listen to the Episode
July 9, 2025

What Investors Often Look for in SPAC Sponsors

This episode outlines five characteristics frequently seen among SPAC sponsors in the market today. These include having a verifiable track record in M&A, IPOs, or public markets; committing personal capital alongside aligned...

Listen to the Episode
July 8, 2025

How Do SPAC Sponsors Choose a Target Company?

In this episode, we explore the key factors that influence how SPAC sponsors select an acquisition target. Many sponsors focus on sectors where they have deep expertise or meaningful networks, helping them assess opportunitie...

Listen to the Episode
July 7, 2025

What Are SPAC Sponsor Lockups?

In today’s episode, we break down the role of sponsor lockups in SPAC transactions. Lockups are contractual periods where sponsors are restricted from selling their shares, often ranging from 6 to 24 months post-merger. These...

Listen to the Episode
July 3, 2025

The Rise of Performance-Based SPAC Promotes: What to Know

In today’s SPAC market, we’re seeing more sponsors incorporate performance-based earn-outs into their promote structures. These earn-outs typically delay sponsor equity until certain milestones are reached, such as stock pric...

Listen to the Episode
July 1, 2025

Warning Signs in SPAC Sponsors: What Investors Should Know

Backing a SPAC starts with backing the right sponsor team. But how can you tell if something’s off? In this quick episode of The SPAC Podcast , we walk through the top red flags to watch for before trusting a sponsor with you...

Listen to the Episode
June 30, 2025

Can Anyone Start a SPAC? The Truth About SPAC Sponsors

Who qualifies to lead a SPAC? It’s a question we hear often—and the answer might surprise you. In this short episode of The SPAC Podcast , we break down who can become a SPAC sponsor and what truly sets successful sponsors ap...

Listen to the Episode
June 27, 2025

Skin in the Game: Sponsor Risk Capital

You might think SPAC sponsors just show up and collect a payday. But the good ones? They put real skin in the game. Most sponsors invest millions of dollars in risk capital just to launch the IPO. If they don’t close a deal i...

Listen to the Episode
June 26, 2025

The Sponsor Promote: Perk or Problem?

Let’s talk about the SPAC ‘promote.’ Sponsors typically receive 20% of the company’s post-IPO equity. That’s the reward — or the ‘promote’ — for building the deal. But here’s the controversy: if the deal underperforms, the sp...

Listen to the Episode
June 25, 2025

SPAC Sponsor vs CEO Who’s in Charge?

Who’s really in charge — the sponsor or the CEO? Before the merger, the sponsor runs the show: raising capital, finding the target, and structuring the deal. But once the merger is complete? The CEO of the acquired company ta...

Listen to the Episode
June 23, 2025

What Is a SPAC Sponsor?

Let’s break it down — what exactly is a SPAC sponsor? A SPAC sponsor is the mastermind behind the deal. They form the entity, fund the setup, go public, and search for the private company to merge with. Think of them as the a...

Listen to the Episode
June 21, 2025

Launch as a Public Company

“Welcome to the Public Markets” Welcome back to The SPAC Podcast. This is our final episode in the SPECIAL series — a framework covering the seven key stages of the SPAC process. We’ve walked through: S: Sponsor Setup P: Publ...

Listen to the Episode