The QTS Experience

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/

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 External Agencies Katerra (failed mass timber company) – Company history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katerra  Sidewalk Labs – Alphabet project https://www.sidewalklabs.com/  Guest Links Brent Trenga's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-trenga-a077278 Company Website: Kingspan Insulated Panels North America https://www.kingspan.com/us/en-us/product-groups/insulated-panels

I've got Luke Saladyga sharing his wild ride from nukes on subs to hyperscale data centers at Google and now Oracle. We dive into operational maturity, high availability nines, and why curiosity beats repetition every time – because who wants boring when you can automate the chaos? Studies, References, and External Mentions Myers-Briggs personality test (referenced in leadership course): https://www.myersbriggs.org/ Open Compute Project (initiated by Meta): https://www.opencompute.org/ Nvidia GTC conference and GB200 GPUs: https://www.nvidia.com/gtc/ IEC 61850 standard (substation protocol): https://webstore.iec.ch/publication/6028 Guest Links Luke Saladyga's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saladyga/ Oracle Company Website: https://www.oracle.com/

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/ 

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!

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

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/ 

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/