The QTS Experience

Episode 224: Dagi Berhane – Building Data Centers Where There’s No Power, Water, or Patience

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/

Episode 223: Julie Fedorchak – AI, Energy Policy, and Other Energy Lessons (or How to Not Get Run Out of Town)

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

Episode 222: Joshua (JP) Buzzell: Abundance, AI, and Next-Gen Data Center Innovation

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/

Episode 221: John Coster — Systems Thinking, AI Disruption, and Why Philosophers Make Great Technologists

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.

Episode 220: Jim Gao – AI, Data Centers, and the Peanut Butter Apocalypse

AI is learning, growing, and optimizing our world—but can it make a proper peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Jim Gao joins David McCall to discuss how AI went from winning board games to optimizing data centers, why trusting AI is like supervising an intern, and how data centers might just become the next big "player" in AI’s game of efficiency.

Guest Links

Jim Gao’s Company (Phaidra): https://www.phaidra.ai/

Jim Gao on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimgao/ 

Episode 219: Carrie Goetz – Tech Careers, Mentorship & The Future of Digital Infrastructure

AI isn’t coming for your job—but it might take the boring parts! Carrie Goetz joins David McCall to talk about mentorship, career opportunities in tech, and how to make AI work for us (instead of the other way around). Plus, why data centers are the best-kept secret in the job market and how one simple trick can clean up your social media feed.

Guest Links:

Carrie Goetz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriegoetz/ 

Company Website: https://strategitcom.com/

 

External References & Resources Mentioned:

Carrie Goetz's Website & Resources: https://carriegoetz.com/

National Apprenticeship Programs for Data Centers: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/

Book by Carrie Goetz: Jumpstart Your Career in Data Centers – Available on https://www.amazon.com/ 

Episode 218: Dr. Paul Root Wolpe | Conflict Resolution, AI, and Building a More Peaceful Future

How do we transform conflict into peace? Dr. Paul Root Wolpe returns to discuss his mission to make Atlanta a global hub for conflict resolution. Can AI help in this process? Maybe—but should we trust it blindly? Probably not. This episode unpacks the balance between technology and human connection. Plus, Dave investigates Dr. Wolpe’s suspiciously youthful appearance.

• Dr. Paul Root Wolpe’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-root-wolpe-123456
• Emory University Conflict Transformation Article: https://news.emory.edu/stories/2024/04/er_wolpe_new_center/story.html
• Dr Wolpe’s Blog: A Different Future: https://paul.root.wolpe.family/ 

Referenced Reports, Data & Studies

European Conflict Resolution Cities (The Hague, Geneva, Oslo, Helsinki) – European Peacebuilding Database

Episode 217; Dan Crosby; Powering the Future – Dan Illuminates the Path to Smarter Energy and Data Centers

Dan Crosby sheds light on the exciting world of data center power, exploring innovative solutions for a sustainable future. Discover how microgrids, strategic partnerships, and a touch of optimism can power the data centers of tomorrow!

• Dan Crosby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-crosby-a58a3212/
• Legend Energy Advisors: https://legendenergyadvisors.com/

Episode 216: Craig Pennington; AI, Liquid Cooling, and How to Save a Data Center (& Your Marriage?)

Craig Pennington takes us on a journey from adventures with the Royal Air Force to rethinking data centers for AI environments. Tune in for GPU gossip, liquid cooling confessions, and why collaboration might just save us all! This episode is as electrifying as a 130-kilowatt cabinet!

Episode 215: Christine King, Chris Lohse; Nuclear Energy: Big Risks, Bigger Rewards, & Gummy Bears?

David McCall, Christine King, and Chris Lohse dive into nuclear power’s pivotal role in meeting rising energy demand and decarbonization goals. They explore AI-driven challenges, grid reliability, SMRs, microreactors, energy justice, and policy hurdles. Spoiler: even gummy bears find their way into this electrifying discussion on resilience and innovation.

 

Christine King: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-king-engineer/ Chris Lohse: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lohse-7033a2126/

INL: GAIN Program: https://gain.inl.gov/ Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): https://www.ferc.gov/

DOE Advanced Nuclear Liftoff Report: https://www.energy.gov/

ISO New England Report on Renewable Integration: https://www.iso-ne.com/

X-energy and Amazon Partnership Announcement: https://x-energy.com/

Kairos Power: https://kairospower.com/

TerraPower: https://www.terrapower.com/