Baxtel's Meet Me Room, A Data Center Podcast

E10 - AI Cooling And Data Centers With Cliff Federspiel

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. Chapters * 00:56 - Welcome Cliff Federspiel * 01:02 - Get to Know You in 60 Seconds * 04:14 - What Vigilent Does * 06:14 - Founding Vigilent * 09:28 - Energy Versus Reliability * 13:28 - Visualization And Sensors * 18:35 - AI Hallucinations Explained * 35:00 - Data Center War Story * 39:06 - Top Picks * Get to Know Cliff Federspiel in 60 Seconds * Late nights or early mornings? - Early mornings * Sweet or salty? - Salty * Introvert or extrovert? - Introvert * Favorite food? - Peanut butter * Favorite sport? - Endurance cycling * First job? - Painting house numbers on curbs * Secret talent? - Convincing people to believe * Meetings or email? - Meetings * Air cooling or liquid cooling? - Liquid cooling * Who would play you in a series? - Daniel Craig Data Center War Story A 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 Picks * Beware 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: * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com] * Vigilent Resources Mentioned * Vigilent * Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

E9 - Building Hyperscale AI Data Centers in Rural America With Wes Cummins

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 Picks Data 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

E8: Inside ERCOT, Black Start, Winter Storm Uri, and AI Data Center Load

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

E7: Now We're Cooking with Gas! Behind the Meter Solutions with Nick Kruse

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. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:53 Meet Nick Kruse in 60 seconds 06:42 Understanding Behind the Meter Power Generation 10:23 GPC Infrastructure: Company Overview and Operations 14:44 Data Center Power Solutions and Backup Systems 18:46 Project Sizes and Equipment Preferences 22:43 Supply Chain Challenges in Power Generation 26:25 Site Selection for Self-Generation 30:27 Navigating Gas Supply and Pipeline Access 34:23 Non-Attainment Zones and Their Impact 38:35 Texas SB6: Implications for Data Centers 42:31 Innovative Solutions for Data Center Load Management 46:19 Myths About Natural Gas and Self-Generation 50:25 Data Center War Stories and Lessons Learned 54:21 3D Printing: A Useful Hobby and Practical Applications 58:07 Conclusion and Contact Information

Ep6 Pete Sacco

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 [https://petesacco.com] Strategic Coach by Dan Sullivan – A business coaching system focused on unlocking individual potential. https://www.strategiccoach.com [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 [https://www.netflix.com/title/80229847] Extropic TPUs – Thermodynamic processors expected to revolutionize AI compute with 10,000x energy efficiency. https://extropic.ai [https://extropic.ai] Where to Find Pete Sacco Guest: Pete Sacco Personal Website: https://petesacco.com [https://petesacco.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petersacco/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/petersacco/] GrayWolf Data Centers: https://graywolfdatacenters.com [https://graywolfdatacenters.com] Grid Seven Energy: https://gridsevenenergy.com [https://gridsevenenergy.com] InTuva Data Center Design: https://intuva.solutions [https://intuva.solutions] PTS Data Center Solutions: https://ptsdcs.com [https://ptsdcs.com]