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 Energy and Decarbonization Remain Spring Valley’s Focus
Chris Sorrells shares why Spring Valley remains committed to the energy and decarbonization sectors. From AI infrastructure to power security, he discusses how global shifts are reshaping the energy landscape and where the next opportunities lie.
Guest: Chris Sorrells – Chairman and CEO of Spring Valley
Connect with Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-sorrells-5a6a836/
Watch more episodes at: YouTube.com/@UCiOCVRrRqqmq20QNV9I43Zg
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:
🎙️ https://www.TheSPACPodcast.com/contact/
Disclaimers:
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.
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/
👉 ...
Mike Blankenship: So Springs, Valley's focus on energy resources and decarbonization has really stayed consistent. So what kept those sectors compelling for you all?
And where do you see the most real opportunity right now.
Chris Sorrells: So we started in that sector be because it's where our sub matter expertise resides. I've been in, in the energy and Decarb worlds back all the way to the mid nineties. We feel like that's where our edge is. So that's where we started.
Our sponsors also are very large energy oriented, private equity folks, so again, you stay within your swim lanes. Those are massive markets, and so there's a, a tremendous amount of opportunity, so don't need to spend a lot of time looking at other segments. The thing that is driving these markets now is really AI infrastructure.
The crypto ai electrification, and it's making us rethink. The power supply source, be it front of meter, behind the meter the reliability the cleanliness of it, the security of it fuel products, inputs really a complete overhaul of how we think about it. Do we harden the grid?
When you're dealing in the data center market, it's a high nines market. 99.9% doesn't cut it from a power supports source. And when you look at the growth that is being projected for ai and I, my gut tells me not all of it will materialize. It never does.
'cause the developers are out there chasing and people are making substantial investments. Or, earmarking substantial investments. Not all of which will be done but even a, a decent fraction of what's out there is gonna put a lot of strain on the power. And you have to have creative options.
And I think right now you're seeing that, with Nuke and who five years ago would've thought nuclear power small modular nu nuclear power could be a potential power source for a data center. Few people saw that. So I think there's a lot of neat opportunities for people to rethink the paradigm of what has happened in the past and what will happen in the future.