The QTS Experience

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/