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
Which SPACs Has James Invested In And Why
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SPAC selection isn’t about volume. It’s about sponsors.
James C. breaks down the SPACs he’s invested in and why sponsor quality has become the defining factor in today’s market. From Churchill to Betsy Cohen and Cantor-backed vehicles, his approach prioritizes experience, capital access, and deal credibility.
This clip offers a clear framework for how investors are thinking differently in 2024 and 2025.
Connect with the Guest: James Campanella
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
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/
👉 ...
So what are some of the SPACs you've invested in?
You know, early on I was in a lot of the Thunder bridge, SPACs, uh, G Dine skills. Uh, but for me, I like to really focus on the sponsors. Churchill has been a sponsor. This is their 10th spac.
I've invested in just about all of them. Uh, for 2024 and 2025 being that kind of the SPAC market is coming back into a resurgence, I really looked at and focused at sponsors. So this last year had a portfolio on, uh, of 10 SPACs with uh, a few of the sponsors. So it was the Canner SPACs, which are five of them.
The Cohen SPACs, which are two two, um, Churchill SPACs, and there was one BTC development, spac. So I've been in those 10 names for the year. Uh, probably about 18 months 'cause they started in May of 24. You started to see the issuance tick up. Obviously with the election, I think this administration and the regulations are gonna be very positive for the SPACs.
So over the last year I've been really focusing on sponsors. 'cause what happened in, earlier in the years, everyone was doing a spac. There were three, 400 SPACs looking for targets. That to me, you know, posed a problem. Um, when you look at Churchill 10 and inflection stocks trading at 20 warrants are trading at 10, should be real easy to get a pipe done.
So I really tried to focus on quality sponsors and that's what I did over the last year. And as I see as we come out of this, um, you know, the government's closed, no issuance. Um, we're gonna see a lot of sponsors, uh, file. I think for me it's gonna be focusing on those high quality sponsors for a number of reasons.
One, you know, the yield's gonna be there, but two, you're gonna get a yield play with upside. If you invested in Churchill 10, uh, you're up 125% in a spac, which is supposed to be a yield instrument, CEPT, which is a cannabis pac, you're up 22%. So that portfolio of 10 names over one year is up 19%. So imagine having a yield portfolio of 4%, your benchmark's probably the 10 year and you're up 18, 19% with no downside risk.
So those are the type of trades I'm looking for going forward.