The QTS Experience
Subscribed: 5Played: 253
Subscribe
© Copyright 2019 All rights reserved.
Description
The most valuable commodity on earth today is data. How we make it, use it, move it & protect it. Join David McCall as he invites guests from all industries to talk about how they use data to drive their business & innovation in their market.
238 Episodes
Reverse
Nuclear is getting sexy again, and it’s all AI’s fault. I’m sitting down with Brian Smith to talk about why big tech is reopening Three Mile Island and why splitting atoms is the most exquisite way to power our digital future. Let's get glowing!
Guest & Company Links
Guest: Brian Smith
Company Website: Idaho National Laboratory
Studies & References
Kairos Power & Google PPA: Partnership for reactor deployment in Tennessee.
Crane Clean Energy Center: Microsoft/Constellation partnership to reopen Three Mile Island.
Idaho National Laboratory (INL): Lead laboratory for Nuclear Energy Research.
The Advance Act (2024): Federal legislation reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP): DOE public-private partnership initiative.
Join me and Robert Bryan from Enercon as we dive into why nuclear power is finally having its "Cubs win the World Series" moment. From extending plant lives to 80 years to "drawing your box" for work-life balance, we’re getting pragmatic about the grid's future.
References & Guest Information
Guest: Robert Bryan, Enercon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-bryan-b7828714/
Company: Enercon Engineering: https://www.enercon.com/about/
Referenced Entities:
Idaho National Labs (GAIN Program): https://gain.inl.gov/
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC): https://www.nrc.gov/
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): https://www.tva.com/
Three Mile Island (Constellation/Microsoft Project): https://penncapital-star.com/economy/microsoft-describes-three-mile-island-plant-as-a-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity/
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant: https://www.southernnuclear.com/our-plants/plant-vogtle.html
I’m joined by Dan Golding to tear down the old rules of data center design. We explore the nuclear renaissance, why the fiber-to-power trifecta is non-negotiable, and why 600kW racks might require you to wear a face shield. It's time to stop resting on our laurels.
External References & Links
Idaho National Lab (INL): Referenced in transcript as "Gaidu National Lab" regarding SMR scale calculations. https://inl.gov/
Commonwealth Fusion Systems: Mentioned regarding Google’s power purchase agreement for the first plant in Virginia. https://cfs.energy/
Nvidia: Referenced regarding the 600kW rack roadmap. https://www.nvidia.com/
Open Compute Project (OCP): Mentioned regarding upcoming discussions on cooling infrastructure. https://www.opencompute.org/
Guest Connections
Guest: Dan Golding, CTO and Apple/Google Veteran.
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgolding/
Jim McDermott drops a provocative idea: a Digital Monroe Doctrine to keep compute close to home while partnering with Canada and Mexico. We geek out on why moving bits beats moving electrons, power gravity, and how prosperity next door keeps everyone happier (and scorpions cooler).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesacmcdermott/
Steve Altizer—mechanical legend and self-proclaimed closet architect—offers a fresh way to look at the modern data center. From the rise of prefabricated white space to liquid cooling’s growing pains, he lays out where the industry is headed and why the old concrete box might finally be ready for an upgrade. It’s smart, honest, and unexpectedly fun.
Santiago Suinaga grew up in Mexico City with a Macintosh and a dad obsessed with tech. 19 years later, he sold his data center empire and now runs Infrastructure Masons full-time. We talk power, community drama, AI boom, and why the industry needs to stop working in silos.
Guest LinkedIn: (33) Santiago Suinaga | LinkedIn
Infrastructure Masons: https://www.imasons.org
I sat down with Uptime Institute’s Rose Weinschenk – a former psychology researcher turned data-center truth-teller. Rose brings a rare talent: understanding the humans behind the hardware. We dig into how people actually behave in high-stakes environments, why mentorship still matters, the trouble with poaching, and what it really takes to build trust in an AI-powered future. It’s thoughtful, nerdy, and full of moments that make you wonder why more psych majors aren’t running critical infrastructure.
References & Links
Uptime Institute 2025 Staffing Survey Report: https://intelligence.uptimeinstitute.com/resource/2025-staffing-and-recruitment-survey-results-and-crosstab-files
Rose Weinschenk: https://intelligence.uptimeinstitute.com/author/rweinschenk
Uptime Institute: https://uptimeinstitute.com/
Structural engineer Kurt Lindorfer joins the QTS Experience to explore what happens when design goes beyond the code. From intelligent structures and base isolation to hula-dancing data centers, we blend serious seismic insight with humor—because protecting billions in data deserves a little swagger.
Join me as Manja Thessin from AFL dives into the wild world of data center densification–think packing 10x more fiber into racks without turning techs into contortionists. We geek out on AI's fiber frenzy, modular magic, and why spreadsheets are so last decade. Buckle up for this eye-opening chat!
Guest Links
Manja Thessin's LinkedIn Profile: (31) Manja Thessin, RCDD, RTPM | LinkedIn
Company Website (AFL): https://www.aflglobal.com/
Joe Rozza joins me to explore how passion, purpose, and practical sustainability collide. From Florida’s drainage ditches to corporate water stewardship, we dig into resilience, governance, and how real business value flows when companies stop treating sustainability like a side project. Dive in—this one’s deep.
External References
Jimmy Carter's book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" (referenced regarding PLO formation and water diversion): https://www.amazon.com/Palestine-Peace-Not-Apartheid-Carter/dp/0743285034
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Infrastructure Report Card (referenced for U.S. infrastructure grade of D): https://infrastructurereportcard.org/
Net Zero Carbon commitments (general reference to corporate pledges): https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/11/net-zero-emissions-cop26-climate-change/
Guest Links
Joe Rozza's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-rozza-p-e-bcee-a8143b12
Ryan Companies Website: https://www.ryancompanies.com/
Brent Trenga joins me to spill on why construction is stuck in the Stone Age while we run space-age data centers. We geek out on circular economies, ethical capitalism, and why data centers should be built like Legos—easy to snap together, just as easy to snap apart—so growth and reuse don’t come with carbon regret. Tune in for laughs and lightbulb moments!
References to Studies, Reports, Data, or External Agencies
Katerra (failed mass timber company) – Company history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katerra
Sidewalk Labs – Alphabet project https://www.sidewalklabs.com/
Guest Links
Brent Trenga's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-trenga-a077278
Company Website: Kingspan Insulated Panels North America https://www.kingspan.com/us/en-us/product-groups/insulated-panels
I've got Luke Saladyga sharing his wild ride from nukes on subs to hyperscale data centers at Google and now Oracle. We dive into operational maturity, high availability nines, and why curiosity beats repetition every time – because who wants boring when you can automate the chaos?
Studies, References, and External Mentions
Myers-Briggs personality test (referenced in leadership course): https://www.myersbriggs.org/
Open Compute Project (initiated by Meta): https://www.opencompute.org/
Nvidia GTC conference and GB200 GPUs: https://www.nvidia.com/gtc/
IEC 61850 standard (substation protocol): https://webstore.iec.ch/publication/6028
Guest Links
Luke Saladyga's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saladyga/
Oracle Company Website: https://www.oracle.com/
Sustainability in data centers boils down to slashing carbon footprints and waste—think Lean Six Sigma magic and robotic automation. I geek out with Joel Chakkalakal on decommissioning hacks, circular economies, and why ops folks deserve a seat at the design table. Let's make our industry greener, one velcro trace at a time!
Studies, References, Data, or External Agencies
Lean Six Sigma: https://www.asq.org/quality-resources/six-sigma
Open Compute Project (OCP): https://www.opencompute.org/
IEEE Working Group on Data Sanitization (IEEE P2883): https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/2883/10711/
Nomad Futurist: https://nomadfuturist.com/
Pegasus Logistics: https://www.pegasuslogistics.com/
Guest Links Joel Chakkalakal's
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chakkalakal
Company Website (Critical Risk Solution): https://www.criticalrisksolution.com/
I'm diving into the grid's growing pains with Raiford Smith! Raiford says the grid is a balloon dog—squeeze it here, make it an anteater there. We unpack the stress
on aging infrastructure and explore innovative fixes. Join us for a charged QTS Experience!
He went from pouring pints to powering platforms—and once dreamed of being the next great Irish basketball star (don’t we all). Cathal Quinn and I discuss big builds, mental health, and why Ireland is still punching above its digital weight class.
Referenced Reports / Concepts
FLAP-D: Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin as major European DC hubs
Compound growth of the EU data center market: Estimated 15–20% YoY over 3–5 years (no direct link, summary from guest)
The concept of Ireland missing the “first wave of AI” due to energy constraints
Guest Links
Cathal Quinn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinn-15099837/
MOY Group Company Website
Sean James spills on sustainable tech, smart designs, and why flops spark wins. Plus, how to hired by a Hyperscale in 3 easy steps—proof nice guys finish first! Join me for a hilarious, eye-opening chat!
References
Duke University Study: Duke University's Energy Initiative. https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/sites/default/files/publications/rethinking-load-growth.pdf
Don Saddaway (MIT): TED Talk. https://youtu.be/Sddb0Khx0yA?si=NMTm50HkE-WmovR5
Guest Information
LinkedIn Profile: Sean James https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-james-6592524/
Company Website: Microsoft https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/
What do you get when you mix solar panels, shipping containers, and sheer willpower? A data center in the wild. Dagi Berhane joins me to talk trust, technology, and why availability should come before sustainability. Also, what happens when your cloud has no internet? (Spoiler: Dagi builds one.)
Guest Links
Dagi Berhane’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dagi-berhane/
Salesforce Website: https://www.salesforce.com/
References & Studies Mentioned
Salesforce 1-1-1 Philanthropic Model: https://www.salesforce.com/company/philanthropy/
Red Fox Data Center Initiative: https://redfoxsolutionsgroup.com/
The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen: https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=46
Habitat for Humanity: https://www.habitat.org/
What do AI, energy, and rural America have in common? Everything. Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak joins me to talk about working together—across communities, industries, and the aisle—to tackle tough challenges with common sense and shared purpose, from Wahpeton to Washington.
Guest Info
Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak – U.S. House of Representatives: https://fedorchak.house.gov
References & Mentions
National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC): https://www.naruc.org
U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee: https://energycommerce.house.gov
Applied Digital (Ellendale, ND): https://applieddigital.com
David Wright – U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/organization/commission/wright.html
What if we stopped asking “what’s left?” and started asking “what’s possible?” In this episode, JP Buzzell helps us shake off the doom and gloom with a fresh take on what’s next for power, AI, and the people building the future. He’s all about big ideas, smart grids, and working together to get things done. If you’re tired of hearing “that’ll never work,” this one’s for you. Optimism is on the table—and it might just power the next generation of data centers..
#QTSExperience #JPBuzzell #QTS #Eaton #SmartGrid #PowerInnovation #DigitalInfrastructure #NextGenDataCenters
References
Eaton: https://www.eaton.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuabuzzell/
Data Center Value Chain: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7267080936431751168/
ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy): https://arpa-e.energy.gov/
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): https://www.nrel.gov/
David McCall sits down with John Coster, the master electrician turned systems thinker, to explore why AI might break your systems — and why your best defense is a little philosophy, a lot of collaboration, and maybe a good spreadsheet. Expect humor, reflection, and big questions about human flourishing.
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States