The SPAC Podcast: Special Purpose Acquisition Company
🎙️ 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
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The SPAC Podcast
Where sponsors meet stories, markets meet momentum, and strategy meets execution.
The SPAC Podcast: Special Purpose Acquisition Company
What SPACs Must Prepare for in the Next 12–18 Months
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In this episode of The SPAC Podcast, Machua “Motsch” Millett, Chief Innovation Officer at Lockton Companies, shares his outlook on D&O risk for SPACs and de-SPACs heading into 2025 and beyond.
Drawing from decades of experience advising public and pre-public companies, Machua warns that we’ve seen this market cycle before: an uptick in activity, rising headlines, and inexperienced teams rushing in. This time, however, there’s a shift experienced sponsors are leading the way, and the litigation environment looks far less volatile than in past cycles.
He explains what boards and sponsors should be doing now to stay ahead of potential issues:
- Understand where risk appears in the SPAC lifecycle
- Design insurance programs that protect both the balance sheet and personal assets
- Partner with advisors who have been through it before
Connect with the Guest:
Machua Millett – Chief Innovation Officer, Lockton Companies
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/machuamillett/
View all of their episodes here:
https://www.thespacpodcast.com/guests/machua-millett/
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
Contact The SPAC Podcast:
https://www.thespacpodcast.com/contact/
#SPACs #CapitalMarkets #SPACPodcast #DandOInsurance #DeSPAC #RiskManagement #SPACSponsors
The views, opinions, and statements expressed by the guest are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The SPAC Podcast, its hosts, or affiliated organizations. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice.
Disclaimer: Michael J. Blankenship is a licensed attorney and 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 for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, financial, or compliance advice. All views and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of any regulatory agency, law firm, organization, or employer. Listeners should consult their own legal counsel, compliance teams, or financial advisors to ensure adherence to applicable regulations, including SEC, FINRA, and other industry-specific requirements. This podcast does not constitute a solicitation or recommendation for any financial products or services. Let's
Connect on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeblankenship/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabrucewilson/
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Michael Blankenship:
Let’s say you’ve got your crystal ball out, what D&O risks should SPACs be preparing for over the next 12 to 18 months?
Machua Millett:
Anytime I see a market environment like we’ve had over the last six months, it sets off some alarms because I’ve seen this movie before. Back in 2018–2019, there was a wave of interest in SPACs. You had a mix of experienced and inexperienced teams, and that created risks people didn’t fully understand.
It brought increased attention from lawyers, regulators, and underwriters, and ultimately led to the insurance pricing spike and tighter scrutiny we saw post-2020.
So when I hear “SPACs are back” headlines on LinkedIn, I hesitate. The truth is, SPACs never left. They’ve always been a viable way to take a company public, depending on the situation. Not every company should go public via SPAC, just like not every company should IPO.
What we’re seeing now is a return to experienced teams, and I believe that means lower litigation risk going forward.
From a D&O insurance standpoint, that means SPACs should:
- Know where risk occurs in the lifecycle
- Build insurance programs that protect the company’s balance sheet and the personal assets of officers and directors
- Be proactive, not reactive, with risk strategy