The SPAC Podcast
🎙️ Welcome to The SPAC Podcast — your front-row seat to the dynamic world of Special Purpose Acquisition Companies.
Hosted by Michael Blankenship, a leading capital markets attorney and partner at Winston & Strawn LLP, and Joshua Wilson, executive producer and capital markets advisor, The SPAC Podcast brings you candid conversations, insider insights, and sharp analysis from the people shaping the future of the SPAC market.
Whether you’re a sponsor, investor, founder, attorney, banker, or just curious about the mechanics and momentum behind SPACs — this show is your go-to source for education, strategy, and real-world stories from the dealmakers behind the deals.
🚀 What You’ll Hear
In each episode, we’ll unpack:
- The structure, lifecycle, and mechanics of SPACs — from IPO to de-SPAC
- Legal and regulatory insights that matter to sponsors and targets
- Interviews with founders, investors, and advisors who’ve navigated successful transactions
- Trends and forecasts from the front lines of capital markets
- Lessons learned, deal strategies, and ways to leverage SPACs as a growth vehicle
We’re not just watching the SPAC market — we’re talking to the people building it.
🎧 Meet Your Hosts
Michael Blankenship is the Office Managing Partner of Winston & Strawn LLP (Houston) and Co-Chair of the firm’s Capital Markets practice. He has represented over 100 public companies, private equity firms, and SPACs in IPOs, M&A, de-SPACs, and securities offerings. Known for his clarity, legal acumen, and deal fluency, Michael brings unmatched insight into the regulatory, transactional, and strategic forces shaping the SPAC space.
Joshua Wilson is experienced in investment banking and the founder of multiple media brands, including The Investor Relations Podcast. With over 2,000 interviews under his belt and deep experience in real estate, private capital, and investor engagement, Josh brings a fresh voice and strategic lens to every conversation — helping connect deals with the stories and people behind them.
Together, they bridge law, finance, and media — guiding listeners through the world of SPACs with clarity, credibility, and curiosity.
🌎 Who This Show is For
- SPAC Sponsors & CEOs
- Institutional and Private Investors
- Investment Bankers & Corporate Attorneys
- Venture-backed Founders and Startups
- Private Equity & Family Offices
- Finance Professionals and Capital Markets Enthusiasts
🔔 Subscribe, Follow, and Join the Conversation
This isn’t just a show — it’s a platform for education, connection, and business development in the SPAC ecosystem. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube. New episodes drop weekly.
Follow us on LinkedIn and share the show with colleagues, clients, and fellow capital markets pros.
The SPAC Podcast
Where sponsors meet stories, markets meet momentum, and strategy meets execution.
The SPAC Podcast
Why D&O Insurance Prices May Be on the Rise Again
In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, we sit down with Chaz Churchwell, Founder & Principal of Churchwell Insurance Agency, to discuss the shifting landscape of public Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance. With nearly two decades in the insurance industry and a reputation for guiding clients through complex coverage needs, Chaz shares why current D&O pricing levels may not be sustainable — and what market forces could be pushing costs upward.
From the role of reinsurance companies like Trans Re, to recent exits from the public D&O market, Chaz unpacks the financial realities facing insurers. He explains how profitability challenges, competition changes, and industry consolidations could influence pricing trends in the months ahead. Whether you’re a corporate executive, insurance professional, or capital markets participant, this conversation delivers valuable context in clear, straightforward terms.
Connect with the Guest:
Chaz Churchwell – Learn more about Churchwell Insurance Agency:
https://www.churchwellagency.com/about-our-agency/meet-our-owner/team-member/chaz-churchwell/
View all of their episodes here:
https://www.thespacpodcast.com/guests/chaz-churchwell/
Connect with the Hosts & The SPAC Podcast:
Michael Blankenship LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeblankenship/
Joshua Wilson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Thespacpodcast
Social Hashtags:
#SPACs #CapitalMarkets #DirectorsAndOfficersInsurance #Reinsurance #SPACPodcast #RiskManagement #InvestorEducation
Contact The SPAC Podcast:
https://www.thespacpodcast.com/contact/
Disclaimer:
Michael J. Blankenship is a licensed attorney and is a partner at Winston & Strawn LLP. Joshua Wilson is a licensed Florida real estate broker and holds FINRA Series 79 and Series 63 licensure. The content of this podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal, financial, or compliance advice. The views and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of any regulatory agency, law firm, employer, or organization.
Listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel, compliance professionals, or financial advisors to ensure adherence to applicable laws and regulations, including those enforced by the SEC, FINRA, and other regulatory bodies. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation, offer, or recommendation of any financial products, securities transactions, or legal services.
Let’s Connect on LinkedIn:
👉 Michael J. Blankenship - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeblankenship/
👉 Joshua Bruce Wilson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/
To Contact Us or Collaborate:
Mike (00:00): Do you think D&O insurance prices will stay low?
Chaz (00:03): No. Functionally, they can't. You've got a company called Trans Re, and Trans Re is a reinsurance company. Reinsurance companies are insurance companies that insurance companies buy insurance from. Basically, they're saying, "We're willing to take on this much risk, but anything beyond that, we want another insurance company to backstop everything so we don't have to keep a truckload of cash and capital." We can have insurance backstop some of that so we can keep more of our capital invested and making money for us.
Trans Re posted something about a month ago that shook the industry a little bit. They came out and said public D&O insurance is not profitable right now for most companies, and it's not profitable for the reinsurers. They expect that pricing has flattened and will need to increase to reach profitability. Some companies are already exiting the public D&O market. For example, Argo jumped ship on public D&O a couple of months ago. They’re the first, but they won’t be the last.
As competition declines and more acquisitions consolidate the market, we are likely to return to a place where D&O insurers can get profitable again.