The QTS Experience

Ep244 Rob Coyle - Stop Hoarding Your Tech - Why a Bigger Pie Beats a Secret Recipe

Last year, I grabbed lunch with Rob Coyle and his son, Reid. While Reid was easily the most entertaining person at the table, the conversation regarding the Open Compute Project (OCP) stayed with me for months. We finally sat down in the studio to discuss how we facilitate the tools that will enable humanity to thrive. From 800-volt power to open standards for Artificial Intelligence (AI), we are exploring how to make the technology pie bigger for everyone. Because let's face it: secret sauce is overrated when you can feed the whole industry.

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Welcome & Rob’s BBQ Explanation of OCP

00:02:58 – The “Bigger Pie” Story That Sold Leadership

00:05:06 – Rob’s 10-Year Journey from Member to Foundation

00:07:48 – Core Mission: Multi-Vendor Ecosystem + Accelerating Innovation

00:09:04 – Safe, Fast Conversations: How OCP Actually Works

00:12:24 – Biggest Wins: 21-Inch Rack & Liquid Cooling

00:15:51 – Real Aha Moments at Events & Demos

00:21:53 – Why OCP Events Feel Different (Continuum of Innovation)

00:28:23 – Efficiency at the Core + Server Re-Engineering Story

00:33:13 – AI Shift: From Components to Full Open Systems

00:39:53 – 800-Volt Power & the New Power Distribution Project

00:55:22 – New Open Data Center for AI Initiative

01:01:48 – Surprise Conversation: Education & NIMBYs

01:07:25 – How Anyone (Even Students) Can Jump In for Free

01:14:44 – What Excites Rob Most About the Future

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Ep243: Jason Coe on the People Chain – Making sure your team actually cares about the mission

We spend all day worrying about supply chains, but what about the "people chain"? Jason Coe and I dive into military-grade mission focus, the future of raised floors, and why a project is only as good as the team running toward the fire. Tune in to the next QTS Experience.

Chapters:

00:00 - The Data Center Symphony: Relational over Commodity

09:13 - The Decade Shift: Evolution from 1MW to 100MW+

18:54 - Structural Ceilings and Raised Floors Explained

22:30 - The "People Chain": Why Caring is the New Critical Factor

24:43 - Plan B is Making Plan A Work

31:25 - Coordination vs. Communication: Why Teams Keep Failing

34:18 - Project Management: Dominating the Last 10%

41:13 - High Density vs. Raised Floors: Is the Role Dead?

55:08 - Leadership Philosophy: People Do What You Inspect

1:10:18 - Revitalizing Communities Through Data Center Infrastructure

1:19:46 - Vetting Partners: The "Get It" vs. "Don't Get It" Mental List

1:31:00 - Listening First: Connecting with the Local Community

Thank you for visiting our channel, be sure to Like, Comment, and Subscribe!

For more information, go to https://www.QTSDataCenters.com

Learn More about QTS Data Centers on the QTS YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/users/qtsdatacenters

Think you have a great topic for a podcast or would like to schedule an interview with Dave? Send in your requests to podcast@qtsdatacenters.com

Ep 242 Roy Illsley: The Digital Independence Era— Your Local Infrastructure is Your Competitive Edge

Roy Illsley joins me to challenge the status quo of global data. We’re moving past "one-size-fits-all" clouds to an era of digital self-sufficiency. From why the US and EU are in a friendly race for autonomy to the bold prediction that our next data centers will be orbiting the Earth—don't get left behind.

References & Guest Links
Guest Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/royillsley/
Company Website: https://omdia.tech.informa.com/

Mentioned Organizations:
https://www.datacentercoalition.org/cpages/home
https://us.ovhcloud.com/
https://www.thalesgroup.com/en
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/

Ep241: David Quirk — Liquid Cooling Chaos, AI Reality, and the Future of Data Centers

David Quirk joins me to unpack liquid cooling, AI infrastructure chaos, and why the data center industry might be losing—and rediscovering—its collaborative DNA. We talk standards, disruption, and what happens when innovation moves faster than certainty.

References Mentioned

ASHRAE TC 9.9: https://tpc.ashrae.org/?cmtKey=fd4a4ee6-96a3-4f61-8b85-43418dfa988d

ASHRAE Standard 90.4: https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/about/government%20affairs/advocacy%20toolkit/virtual%20packet/standard-90.4-2022-fact-sheet.pdf

Guest Links

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-quirk-258b8b40/

Company: https://www.dlbassociates.com/

Ep240: Brian Smith: Nuclear’s Sexy Glow—The Exquisite Power Fueling the AI Revolution!

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.

 

Ep239: Robert Bryan: Nuclear Renaissance, SMR Realities, and Squeezing the Atom!

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 

Ep 238: Dan Golding: SMRs, Fusion, and Why Your Data Center is Just a Cold White Box

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/

Ep237: Jim McDermott on the Digital Monroe Doctrine, Power, and Data Gravity

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/

Ep236: Steve Altizer—From Big Boxes to Smart Modules: The New Data Center Frontier

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.

Ep235: Santiago Suinaga – From Mexico City Gamer Kid to Data Center Titan

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