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The DESPAC Podcast

The DESPAC Podcast

Di: Chaz Churchwell
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A proposito di questo titolo

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 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.


© 2026 The DESPAC Podcast Economia Finanza personale Gestione e leadership Leadership
Episodi
  • IPO or DESPAC? The real answer is more nuanced than most founders realize.

    IPO or DESPAC? The real answer is more nuanced than most founders realize.
    Feb 25 2026

    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 negotiated valuation
    • Why redemption risk is real and often misunderstood
    • Structural dilution and sponsor discipline
    • How to avoid inflated valuations that lead to post-close collapse
    • What foreign filers must understand before listing in the U.S.
    • Why public readiness should begin 12–24 months in advance
    • The importance of shareholder communication and long-term vision

    Peter emphasizes that going public is not about how you list. It’s about how you perform after the bell rings.

    For founders, executives, and boards evaluating a DESPAC or IPO, this episode offers practical insight grounded in real market cycles.

    If you want to understand the capital markets beyond headlines and hype, this conversation is essential listening.

    THE DESPAC PODCAST STANDARD LEGAL DISCLAIMER

    The DESPAC Podcast is for informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Smooth Stone Capital, its affiliates, or any sponsoring organization.

    Nothing in this podcast should be interpreted as legal advice, investment advice, tax advice, or a recommendation to pursue or avoid any transaction. Discussions may reference SPACs, DESPAC transactions, securities regulations, or public-company readiness frameworks. These conversations are educational in nature and should not be relied upon when making financial or strategic decisions.

    Listeners should consult qualified legal, financial, and tax professionals before acting on any information discussed in this podcast. Any examples or scenarios mentioned are illustrative and may not reflect current market conditions or regulatory requirements.

    Participation by a guest does not constitute an endorsement of any company, strategy, product, or service. References to specific firms or individuals are for context only.

    Smooth Stone Capital and the DESPAC Podcast disclaim all liability arising from the use of or reliance on the information presented.
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    46 min
  • Is Your DESPAC Built on Governance or Just Hype?

    Is Your DESPAC Built on Governance or Just Hype?
    Feb 23 2026

    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 redemptions are a vote of confidence
    • The role of governance in preventing litigation
    • How sponsor promotes should align with value creation
    • The structural evolution of SPAC regulation in the U.S.
    • Why cultural alignment between SPAC and target is critical
    • How crypto, stablecoins, and financial innovation are influencing the next phase of SPACs

    Daniele explains that SPACs are not inherently flawed. They are contractual instruments that reward discipline and punish overpromising.

    For private companies evaluating a DESPAC, this episode provides clarity on how to approach valuation, governance, sponsor selection, and long-term public-market readiness.

    If you want to understand SPACs beyond headlines and hype, this conversation delivers both academic depth and practical insight.

    THE DESPAC PODCAST STANDARD LEGAL DISCLAIMER

    The DESPAC Podcast is for informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Smooth Stone Capital, its affiliates, or any sponsoring organization.

    Nothing in this podcast should be interpreted as legal advice, investment advice, tax advice, or a recommendation to pursue or avoid any transaction. Discussions may reference SPACs, DESPAC transactions, securities regulations, or public-company readiness frameworks. These conversations are educational in nature and should not be relied upon when making financial or strategic decisions.

    Listeners should consult qualified legal, financial, and tax professionals before acting on any information discussed in this podcast. Any examples or scenarios mentioned are illustrative and may not reflect current market conditions or regulatory requirements.

    Participation by a guest does not constitute an endorsement of any company, strategy, product, or service. References to specific firms or individuals are for context only.

    Smooth Stone Capital and the DESPAC Podcast disclaim all liability arising from the use of or reliance on the information presented.
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    41 min
  • When Should IR Enter the DESPAC Process? The Answer Most CEOs Miss

    When Should IR Enter the DESPAC Process? The Answer Most CEOs Miss
    Feb 16 2026

    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 communication strategies to survive volatile markets.

    Topics include:

    • Timing IR engagement in a DESPAC
    • IR vs. PR: understanding the difference
    • CEO mindset and ego in public markets
    • Interest rate environments and small-cap performance
    • Capital access through SPAC vs. traditional IPO
    • How IR protects and enhances shareholder value

    This episode delivers a practical framework for leadership teams who want to transition from private to public with clarity and discipline.

    If you are evaluating a DESPAC or planning to go public, this conversation provides tactical insight you can apply immediately.

    THE DESPAC PODCAST STANDARD LEGAL DISCLAIMER

    The DESPAC Podcast is for informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Smooth Stone Capital, its affiliates, or any sponsoring organization.

    Nothing in this podcast should be interpreted as legal advice, investment advice, tax advice, or a recommendation to pursue or avoid any transaction. Discussions may reference SPACs, DESPAC transactions, securities regulations, or public-company readiness frameworks. These conversations are educational in nature and should not be relied upon when making financial or strategic decisions.

    Listeners should consult qualified legal, financial, and tax professionals before acting on any information discussed in this podcast. Any examples or scenarios mentioned are illustrative and may not reflect current market conditions or regulatory requirements.

    Participation by a guest does not constitute an endorsement of any company, strategy, product, or service. References to specific firms or individuals are for context only.

    Smooth Stone Capital and the DESPAC Podcast disclaim all liability arising from the use of or reliance on the information presented.
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    51 min
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