The QTS Experience

Rob Hopewell’s been in data centers so long I keep accusing him of starting at 11 — UUNET, EdgeConneX, now running QTS sales. We get into why this AI moment isn’t the dot-com bust, why the phone in your hand is a data center, and how our industry can finally explain itself. Chapters: 0:00  From UUNET to now — the early internet, peering, MAE East/West 5:44  “Unprecedented” — solving first-time pro...

A West Texas frac company turned out to be one of the best-positioned energy players of the AI era. Luke Saladyga explains how that happened, why power got scarce so fast, and why the steadiest jobs of the next decade might be ones nobody told you to want. Chapters: 00:00:00 Welcome back on Star Wars Day 00:02:13 The perfect storm: how power got scarce 00:09:10 From Oracle to VoltaGrid: frack fiel...

Somewhere along the way “diesel” turned into a dirty word. Jim McDonald’s spent 30 years on the generators that keep 911, hospitals, and your data alive — and he’s a little tired of playing the villain. We get into what’s real, what’s myth, and why he still thinks everybody wins. Chapters: 00:00:00 Welcome, and the “luminary chair” 00:01:24 From the University of Delaware to founding MIRATECH (199...

We’re all chasing the same thing: safe, affordable, local power. Rahul Kar thinks we keep overlooking the easiest source of it — the power already sitting unused inside our own data centers. He’s convinced it’s hiding in plain sight, and he explains it with a kids’ story. Chapters: 00:00:00 From Boston to Redwood City: an engineer’s “five grand challenges” 00:06:53 Hammerhead AI for non-engineers:...

Most people think the cloud floats. Saurav Roychoudhury, a Capital University economist, ran the numbers on Ohio’s data centers and found concrete, copper, and a whole lot of jobs. We get into ripple effects, why community trust is the real bottleneck, and whether any of this is zero-sum. Chapters: 00:00:00 From Calcutta to Capital University: the unlikely data center economist 00:02:31 How the Oh...

Join us for a live discussion from Truist Park at the 2026 Atlanta Conn3ct Data Summit where we discuss the very real challenge of educating and attracting the work force of the future. 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.you...

Cosme Garcia didn't plan to work in data centers — a project manager got sick, somebody asked him to fill in, and three decades later he's still here, still curious, and still trying to be the least smart person in the room. We talk about wrenches, weather, and what to tell your kid. Chapters: 00:00 How Cosme Accidentally Ended Up in Data Centers 02:00 Exodus Communications and Learning Power and...

Bill Kleyman, CEO of Apolo, says the gigawatt era is here, and our industry has to grow up fast. We get into power as a relationship, the new physical security frontline, why every data center is becoming an AI data center, and what bravery actually looks like in this market. Chapters: 00:00 Cold Open: The Energetic Chipmunk on a Barrel of Oil 01:20 Welcome to the Gigawatt Era - Why It Is Already...

Ojonimi Bako's dad survived hepatitis C on a clinical trial at Gilead. Now Ojonimi builds the facilities where the next cure gets discovered. The CEO of Kaya connects construction chaos, AI-driven supply chains, and what it means to build something that outlasts you -- in under 90 minutes. Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction -- Ojonimi Bako, CEO of Kaya 00:00:53 From Accenture and Walmart Labs to Cons...

I sat down with Ivo Ivanov to talk interconnection, AI, latency, resilience, and why digital infrastructure has to get closer to people. Airports, robots, sovereignty, and even space made their way into this one. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Intro & Why Interconnection Matters Now 00:01:20 - Explaining Interconnection in Plain English 00:06:09 - Why the Internet Must Be Developed Further 00:08:45 - La...

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...

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+ 1...

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...

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....

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: Partners...

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 En...

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 calcu...

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, ner...

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 Websi...

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 r...

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...