Helena Totzenfeldt Exclusive Interview – Disinformation And Tribalism Are Two Of Our Time’s Greatest Problems

Helena Totzenfeldt was recently interviewed by RootsAndRoutesMag.com and below is the Q&A session we had with Helena.

Helena Totzenfeldt As Cover Story Interview – May 2025 Magazine Edition

Briefly describe your background, interests, and significant life experiences.

Born and mostly raised in Karlstad in Sweden, I always wanted to become an author, but it took until some fifteen years ago before I started that journey. Instead, I became an engineer in Computer Science, working most of my life in various roles in the IT sector.

Major Challenge: What has been a major challenge in your life and how did you handle it?

I probably have ADHD. In the early 70s, that was not a thing, and I was never diagnosed. I forgot things all the time, had problems staying focused, or the opposite sometimes. I remember my teacher, who was close to retirement, once saying to me that he had never had such an unstructured student in his entire life. In retrospect I realize that I did what therapy does today. I created rules and developed ways to navigate around my distractions, and that is probably why I became a software developer. I loved the art of programming. Create routines. And eventually, I became a manager that people hire because I am so organized.

Proud Moment: Share a personal or professional achievement you are proud of.

I have six biological children and one foster daughter. All are adult now. Parenting is my greatest achievement, even though I am far from proud of every second.

Daily Motivation: What keeps you motivated and inspired each day?

For the past fifteen years, writing about politics, primarily racism, has been my focus when not working. I don’t decide to do it. It just happens. It’s like the words write themselves. Right now I am focused on my newly created podcast, in Swedish and English, which aims to spread information and to share my viewpoints.

Community Contribution: How do you actively give back to your community or support others?

I hope to influence people through my writing. My goal is to make the world a bit kinder.

Message to Readers: What message or advice would you like to share with our readers?

Oh, there are many. Let’s go with “please check your sources and make sure you don’t stay in your bubble but also take in the opinions of the other side”. Disinformation and tribalism are two of our time’s greatest problems.