The QTS Experience

The QTS Experience 228: with Joel Chakkalakal; Waste, Recycling, and the tubing at Schlitterbahn

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/ 

Episode 227: Raiford Smith – Balloon Dogs, Grid Stress, and Data Center Ingenuity

 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!

Episode 226: Cathal Quinn – From Rooftops to Resilience: Data Centers, Mental Health & Irish Grit

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

Episode 225: Sean James: Data Centers, Green Tech, and AI Adventures

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/ 

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/