Baxtel's Meet Me Room, A Data Center Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Cliff Federspiel, President and CTO of Vigilent, to explore how AI driven control systems are reshaping data center cooling, energy use, and operational reliability. Cliff shares his journey from academic research and HVAC controls to founding Vigilent during the 2008 financial crisis, and why predictive, model based AI is very different from large language models. The conversation dives into data center realities such as rising rack densities, liquid cooling, power constraints, and the operational value of reducing alarm noise. Along the way, Cliff reflects on leadership, transparency, convincing others to believe, and the hard lessons learned building a company through uncertain times.Chapters00:56 - Welcome Cliff Federspiel01:02 - Get to Know You in 60 Seconds04:14 - What Vigilent Does06:14 - Founding Vigilent09:28 - Energy Versus Reliability13:28 - Visualization And Sensors18:35 - AI Hallucinations Explained35:00 - Data Center War Story39:06 - Top PicksGet to Know Cliff Federspiel in 60 SecondsLate nights or early mornings? - Early morningsSweet or salty? - SaltyIntrovert or extrovert? - IntrovertFavorite food? - Peanut butterFavorite sport? - Endurance cyclingFirst job? - Painting house numbers on curbsSecret talent? - Convincing people to believeMeetings or email? - MeetingsAir cooling or liquid cooling? - Liquid coolingWho would play you in a series? - Daniel CraigData Center War StoryA skeptical operations team, a resistant BMS vendor, and a live decision to turn on AI control created a tense moment where trust, preparation, and real time proof would determine whether the deployment succeeded or failed.Top PicksBeware of Phone Theft While Traveling (link not verified) A practical travel lesson from London where phone snatching is common, reminding travelers to keep devices secure and out of sight.Waymo Autonomous Rides (link not verified) An example of self driving technology done well, highlighting how AI can improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.Tesla Full Self Driving (link not verified) A consumer example of AI reducing cognitive load by handling routine driving tasks while keeping humans engaged.Where to find Cliff Federspiel?Cliff Federspiel can be found at:LinkedInVigilent Resources MentionedVigilent Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

In this Baxtel Podcast episode, Eric Bell sits down with Wes Cummins, CEO of Applied Digital, to unpack how hyperscale AI data centers are being built far from traditional metros. Wes shares why power availability and fiber routes matter more than population density, and how rural communities like Ellendale, North Dakota benefit economically from large-scale campuses. He walks through Applied Digital’s evolution from Bitcoin mining facilities to purpose-built AI and HPC infrastructure, including lessons learned around InfiniBand design, power density, and future-proofing for NVIDIA’s roadmap. The conversation also explores grid power versus behind-the-meter generation, community misconceptions about data centers, and why long-term, investment-grade hyperscale contracts shape Applied Digital’s strategy. Chapters 00:59 – Podcast introduction 01:05 – Get to Know You in 60 Seconds 03:32 – Why rural North Dakota 05:23 – Latency and fiber routes 07:39 – Community impact of data centers 13:39 – Power usage and utility savings 18:55 – Pivot from crypto to AI HPC 24:35 – Data center design evolution 43:08 – Data Center War Story 45:11 – Top PicksData Center War Story A hidden manufacturing flaw in hundreds of megawatts of transformers threatened Applied Digital’s largest campus, forcing a race against time to source and replace critical equipment before the entire operation unraveled. Top Picks Early mornings - Getting up before everyone else creates uninterrupted time for focus, reflection, and better days overall. Sunrise travel ritual - Experiencing a city at sunrise offers calm, clarity, and a sense of owning the place before the crowds arrive. Where to find Wes Cummins? Wes Cummins can be found through the following official channels: Applied Digital Wes Cummins on LinkedIn Resources Mentioned Applied Digital NVIDIA H100 and Blackwell platform InfiniBand networking standard Marathon Digital Holdings CoreWeave

In this episode, Eric Bell sits down with Russell Fletcher to unpack what it really means to operate a modern power grid in Texas. Russell shares how ERCOT keeps generation and load balanced at 60 Hz, why transmission congestion matters as much as megawatts, and what “black start” recovery looks like when the grid goes dark. They revisit Winter Storm Uri, including how close Texas came to a statewide blackout, and discuss the growing challenge of fast-ramping AI data centers, behind-the-meter generation, and reactive power. Along the way, Russell connects lessons from Navy nuclear submarines to grid operations, where calm, training, and clear communication can make all the difference. Chapters 00:00 Eight minutes from blackout 00:55 Improv class origin story 02:17 Get to Know You in 60 Seconds 07:27 From submarines to grid 14:25 Governors, droop, and reserves 18:10 Winter Storm Uri ops 20:13 How black start works 26:20 Behind-the-meter generation risks 41:06 Data Center War Story 45:04 Top Picks Get to Know Russell Fletcher in 60 Seconds Late nights or early mornings? - “About 15 minutes in the afternoon… maybe 30.” New York or California? - New York Chicago or Dallas? - Dallas Sweet or salty? - Sweet Introvert or extrovert? - Both (depends on the time) Prefer a meeting or email? - Email (so he can ignore it) Phone or text? - Phone call Favorite food? - Strawberry cheesecake (and chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy) Favorite sport? - College football Who’s your team? - Georgia Bulldogs and UT Longhorns First job? - Catching rattlesnakes and selling them for antivenom Data Center War Story Mid-patrol on a nuclear submarine, a split-second mistake shuts down the reactor controls underway, and suddenly the whole engine room is watching the clock while senior leadership rushes in to review the logs. Top Picks Theatre & Academy - A community-based way to build confidence, think on your feet, and get better at real-time communication through improv and acting classes. ERCOT Grid and Market Dashboards - A simple, public view into what the Texas grid is doing right now, including demand, reserves, and generation mix. Resources Mentioned Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) CAISO Today’s Outlook PJM Data Viewer

In this conversation, Eric Bell speaks with Nick Kruse, CEO of GPC Infrastructure, about the evolving landscape of power generation for data centers. They discuss the importance of behind the meter solutions, the challenges posed by supply chain issues, and the implications of Texas SB6 on data center operations. Nick shares insights on site selection, gas supply, and the impact of non-attainment zones on power generation. The discussion also touches on innovative solutions for managing data center loads and debunks common myths about natural gas generation.Chapters00:00 Introduction01:53 Meet Nick Kruse in 60 seconds06:42 Understanding Behind the Meter Power Generation10:23 GPC Infrastructure: Company Overview and Operations14:44 Data Center Power Solutions and Backup Systems18:46 Project Sizes and Equipment Preferences22:43 Supply Chain Challenges in Power Generation26:25 Site Selection for Self-Generation30:27 Navigating Gas Supply and Pipeline Access34:23 Non-Attainment Zones and Their Impact38:35 Texas SB6: Implications for Data Centers42:31 Innovative Solutions for Data Center Load Management46:19 Myths About Natural Gas and Self-Generation50:25 Data Center War Stories and Lessons Learned54:21 3D Printing: A Useful Hobby and Practical Applications58:07 Conclusion and Contact Information

In this thought-provoking episode of Baxtel’s Meet Me Room podcast, we sit down with Pete Sacco, a seasoned entrepreneur and visionary whose journey spans data centers, AI, energy infrastructure, mysticism, and meditation. Pete shares how his 27-year career in the data center industry has evolved from engineering military-grade power supplies to founding PTS Data Center Solutions and, most recently, GrayWolf Data Centers. With unmatched clarity, he breaks down the future of AI infrastructure, decentralized power, and edge computing—while also revealing his deeply personal quest for inner peace and human connection. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the convergence of technology, energy, consciousness, and personal fulfillment. Chapters 00:41 - Get to Know Pete Sacco in 60 Seconds 04:25 - From Engineer to Visionary CEO 08:15 - Angel Investing and the Carnegie Model 14:40 - Discovering Inner Peace Through Meditation 18:56 - The Evolution of PTS and Launch of GrayWolf 27:48 - AI, Edge Compute, and Future Data Center Topology 32:45 - The Inspiration Behind GrayWolf’s Name 35:54 - Extropic TPUs and the End of GPUs 54:17 - Data Center War Story 58:52 - Top Picks: Meditation and Inner Engineering Data Center War Story While auditing a Samsung data center, Pete flagged a dangerous fire risk in the power bus duct system. Fifteen years later, the exact scenario he warned about made international news. Top Picks Living in Bliss – Pete’s book on balancing outward success and inner peace. https://petesacco.com Strategic Coach by Dan Sullivan – A business coaching system focused on unlocking individual potential. https://www.strategiccoach.com How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan – Book and Netflix documentary exploring psychedelics and altered consciousness. https://www.netflix.com/title/80229847 Extropic TPUs – Thermodynamic processors expected to revolutionize AI compute with 10,000x energy efficiency. https://extropic.ai Where to Find Pete Sacco Guest: Pete Sacco Personal Website: https://petesacco.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petersacco/ GrayWolf Data Centers: https://graywolfdatacenters.com Grid Seven Energy: https://gridsevenenergy.com InTuva Data Center Design: https://intuva.solutions PTS Data Center Solutions: https://ptsdcs.com

Mark Jobson is a global marketing executive known for driving measurable growth through strategic leadership across digital, product, brand, and analytics. With over a decade of experience, he has played a pivotal role in scaling PE-backed SaaS companies and building global brands in the data center and cloud services sectors. His marketing initiatives have generated more than $1 billion in pipeline, supported IPO readiness, and increased enterprise value across high-growth organizations.Mark has led go-to-market efforts across 25+ international markets, contributing up to 80% of new net business through modern ABM, product marketing, and demand generation strategies. He has built nine complete Martech stacks—including Salesforce, Eloqua, Marketo, and ZoomInfo—and integrated AI tools such as ChatGPT, Phrasee, and Fireflies to streamline operations. With a strong foundation in both data and creativity, he has also driven $2 billion in successful M&A marketing integrations. Mark thrives at the intersection of insight, innovation, and execution, building high-performance marketing engines that deliver lasting impact.

Jon Eaves is a veteran data centre builder, an edge evangelist, and the Founder & CEO of the industry’s fastest-growing edge data centre company.Drawing on more than 30 years of experience building data centres, Jon launched Edge Centres with a single test site in rural Australia. In under two years, he scaled the company to over 20 cutting-edge facilities across more than seven markets throughout APAC and beyond — and he’s only just getting started.

Adam Gibson is a specialist in Data Centres and has been working in the industry for 17 years on Design, Operation and Management in varied Executive, C-Suite and board positions. Alongside this skilled knowledge Adam's ability to design, develop Fibre Optic Network and Network Technology services has been proven a strong play in ANZ with multiple executive roles. With a global understanding of Data Centres and enabling partnerships, Adam’s driven passion for Digital Infrastructure, which includes, AI, Quantum Network and Quantum Computing, with new Technology and Data profiles has proven the ability to be a presenter, panellist and speaker at events globally. Being the next generation of Digital Professionals, Adam has started to seek further into the industry to support and create new opportunities to enhance the next Technology Revolution.

Chris Grundemann is a strategic technology leader dedicated to driving business transformation through innovative networking and automation strategies. As Executive Advisor, Network Infrastructure Strategy at Khadga Consulting, he helps organizations unlock the full potential of their network infrastructure through technological and cultural transformation. With 8 patents, two books, and extensive industry contributions, Chris is a recognized expert in interconnection, automation, and NetDevOps. A co-founder of the Network Automation Forum and Chair of OIX, he advises technology executives on modernizing network operations and implementing strategic organizational designs that support successful network automation adoption. A global speaker and thought leader, Chris brings deep expertise in aligning technology with business objectives.

Welcome to the Meet Me Room Podcast, where we uncover the cloud and the data center.