The DESPAC Podcast
The DESPAC Podcast gives private company leaders the guidance, structure, and truth they need to approach SPAC and DESPAC transactions with confidence. Hosted by Chaz Churchwell, the owner of Churchwell Insurance Agency. The show focuses on the real work required to become a disciplined public company. Each episode cuts through confusion and delivers practical insight from operators, CFOs, auditors, attorneys, bankers, SPAC sponsors, PIPE investors, and advisors who understand the process end to end. Chaz started this show out of frustration. He has seen too many companies rush into the public markets without the systems, controls, and governance needed to survive. His commitment is simple. Help leaders avoid preventable mistakes and build the internal discipline required to thrive after the deal closes. As he says, he is tired of seeing companies go public only to be crushed in the courts because they were not prepared. The vision of the show is to be the leading catalyst for disciplined private companies exploring DESPAC deals built for long-term public success. The mission is to arm leadership teams with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate SPAC transactions wisely and win on the public stage. Each conversation gives you a clear view of what public readiness demands. You learn how to evaluate if your company is a real fit for a SPAC, how to prepare financial controls that withstand scrutiny, and how to build a governance structure that protects your company. You hear how auditors assess your internal processes. You understand what regulators expect. You learn how PIPE investors make decisions. You get direct guidance on investor communication, forecasting discipline, board readiness, and the standards that define public-company performance. The show serves founders, CEOs, CFOs, COOs, controllers, general counsels, private equity partners, and advisors who want to understand the process without spin. Whether you are preparing a portfolio company for a public exit or exploring a SPAC for the first time, this podcast gives you the insight needed to lead wisely. What makes The DESPAC Podcast different is its focus on preparation over hype. You hear the truth from experts who have lived through successful transitions and from those who have witnessed failures up close. You learn what to do, why it matters, and how to protect your company from the operational, financial, and legal risks that catch most teams off guard. If you are considering a SPAC or DESPAC path, this podcast helps you build a clear public-readiness roadmap. If you are already in the process, it helps you strengthen your systems and avoid missteps. And if you have already gone public, it gives you the tools to stabilize, communicate, and operate with more discipline. The DESPAC Podcast is built for leaders who want clarity, accountability, and a serious understanding of what it takes to succeed as a public company. It is a resource you can trust as you prepare for one of the most demanding transitions in business. Chaz Churchwell built this platform to help you win.
Episodes
This episode provides a quick market update on the SPAC ecosystem and discusses how legal trends and governance practices are shaping the next cycle of deals.
Chaz Churchwell explains why securities litigation has dropped dramatically since the peak SPAC boom and outlines steps SPAC sponsors and targets can take to protect themselves moving forward.
The episode also explores why governance, valuation discipline, and strong advisory t...
Investment bankers play a critical role in the SPAC and DESPAC process, yet their work often happens behind the scenes.
In this interview, host Chaz Churchwell sits down with Jesse Busch of iBankers to unpack the mechanics of taking a company public through a SPAC merger. Jesse shares insights from two decades of SPAC market experience, explaining how boutique investment banks help guide private companies through deal structuring, c...
In this episode, host Chaz Churchwell speaks with Mohammad Hasham, Partner at Cohn Reznick, about the critical role CFO advisory teams play in helping private companies prepare to become public.
Mohammad specializes in capital markets advisory and works with companies navigating IPOs, SPAC mergers, and public company readiness.
The conversation explores how accounting advisory teams support CFOs throughout the public company transiti...
In this episode, host Chaz Churchwell interviews Caitlyn Van Valin, Head of U.S. Sales at Odyssey Trust Company, to discuss the role transfer agents play in helping companies transition into the public markets.
Caitlyn explains how transfer agents serve as the gatekeepers of shareholder records, issuing and tracking shares while supporting companies during corporate action events like DESPAC transactions.
The conversation explores th...
In this episode, host Chaz Churchwell interviews Alexandra Low, Cayman counsel at Appleby and one of the leading advisors supporting SPAC IPOs and DESPAC transactions.
Alexandra shares her perspective from working with international deal teams, U.S. law firms, and SPAC sponsors executing public listings through Cayman-structured entities.
The conversation explores:
- Why the Cayman Islands dominate SPAC incorporation
- How private comp...
In this episode of The DESPAC Podcast, host Chaz Churchwell interviews Chris Cottone, Vice President at Greentree Financial, a family office active in IPO and SPAC advisory since 1999.
Chris shares practical insight from years of experience advising companies through both IPOs and DESPAC transactions.
Topics covered include:
- What types of SPACs targets should evaluate
- How promote structure and dilution impact outcomes
- The importance...
In this episode, host Chaz Churchwell interviews Peter Goldstein, founder of Exchange Listing and sponsor of Emmis Acquisition Corp.
With over 25 years in capital markets, Peter shares a candid comparison between IPOs and DESPAC transactions. He explains why 80% of the preparation process is the same, but the engines driving each path are fundamentally different.
Topics covered include:
- Market-driven price discovery versus negotia...
In this international episode, Chaz Churchwell interviews Daniele D’Alvia, Director of the Banking and Finance Law Institute at Queen Mary University of London and founder of SPACs Consultancy.
Daniele offers a global perspective on SPACs, examining the boom and bust cycle of 2020–2022 and what it revealed about governance, sponsor incentives, valuation discipline, and investor confidence.
Key discussion points include:
- Why redemp...
In this episode of The DESPAC Podcast, Chaz Churchwell interviews Jordan Darrow, founder of Darrow IR, to discuss the strategic role of Investor Relations in the DESPAC process.
Jordan shares insight from representing SPAC sponsors and operating companies across multiple market cycles. He explains why IR should be engaged early, how investor positioning influences valuation, and why small-cap public companies require disciplined com...
Going public through a DESPAC puts companies under a spotlight most leaders underestimate.
In this episode, we sit down with Jon Uretzky, founding partner of PULP Law Firm, one of the most recognized securities litigation firms in the microcap and small-cap markets.
Jon explains why DESPAC transactions attract disproportionate regulatory and shareholder scrutiny, how SEC actions trigger cascading class-action lawsuits, and why FINRA...
In this episode, host Chaz Churchwell is joined by Seth Farbman, CEO of VStock Transfer, for a deep, practical discussion on the role transfer agents play in DESPAC transactions and ongoing public-company operations.
Seth shares insight from decades in capital markets, explaining how transfer agents serve both issuers and shareholders, why communication failures create real financial risk, and how early preparation changes outcomes....
In this episode, host Chaz Churchwell is joined by Elliot Goldstein of Federal Filings, a veteran EDGAR agent and capital markets operator, for a detailed conversation on the realities of SEC filings during DESPAC transactions.
Elliot explains how filings are prepared, why formatting and XBRL tagging create risk, and where private companies consistently fall short when transitioning to public-company standards. From version control ...
In this episode, we are joined by Long Long, a veteran SPAC sponsor and capital markets operator, for a deep discussion on what truly drives successful DESPAC transactions.
Long shares his journey from corporate finance to leading SPACs and explains why many deals fail long before they ever reach the market. From lack of internal coordination and unrealistic expectations to poor governance and weak readiness, this episode breaks dow...
In this episode, host Chaz Churchwell is joined by securities attorney Morris Zarif, founder of Zarif Law Group, for a deep conversation on legal readiness, governance discipline, and the hidden risks private companies face when pursuing a DESPAC transaction.
Morris brings more than a decade of capital markets experience and breaks down what he consistently sees go wrong for targets that wait too long to prepare. From corporate gove...
In this final episode of The DESPAC Podcast Go Public Series, host Chaz Churchwell and SPAC attorney Michael Blankenship of Winston & Strawn walk through the last step of the Go Public Framework: C – Continuing to Evolve.
Public companies operate in a dynamic environment where regulations shift, risks change, and shareholder expectations intensify. Long-term viability depends on continuous adaptation, disciplined execution, and ...
In this episode of The DESPAC Podcast Go Public Series, host Chaz Churchwell and SPAC attorney Michael Blankenship of Winston & Strawn break down the seventh step of the Go Public Framework: I – Institutionalizing Discipline.
Institutional discipline is the foundation of long-term public-company success. It includes regulatory compliance, governance structure, transparent reporting, investor communication rhythm, and continuous ...
In this episode of The DESPAC Podcast Go Public Series, host Chaz Churchwell and SPAC attorney Michael Blankenship of Winston & Strawn walk through the sixth step of the Go Public Framework: L – List and Launch.
Listing day is the milestone many founders anticipate. But far from being just a celebration, it is a coordinated, highly visible event that sets the tone for how the market views your company.
Listeners will learn:
• What...
In this episode of The DESPAC Podcast Go Public Series, host Chaz Churchwell and SPAC attorney Michael Blankenship of Winston & Strawn break down the fifth step of the Go Public Framework: B – Building Market Trust.
Building market trust is one of the most important requirements for a successful DESPAC transaction. It is not enough to structure a strong deal. The market must believe in the company, the leadership, and the plan.
L...
In this episode of The DESPAC Podcast Go Public Series, host Chaz Churchwell and SPAC attorney Michael Blankenship of Winston & Strawn break down the fourth step of the Go Public Framework: U – Undergoing Diligence.
Diligence is the phase where every detail of your business is examined. This review includes legal compliance, financial accuracy, internal controls, risk disclosures, governance readiness, operational viability, and...
In this episode of The DESPAC Podcast Go Public Series, host Chaz Churchwell and SPAC attorney Michael Blankenship of Winston & Strawn unpack the third step of the Go Public Framework: P – Positioning the Deal.
Positioning determines how the market will perceive your company, your credibility, your economic structure, and your partnership fit. This step defines the trajectory of the entire DESPAC transaction.
Listeners will learn...
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