James Colquhoun Transcendence Interview

Transcendence - Live Life Beyond the Ordinary

Transcendence - Live Life Beyond the Ordinary is a new docu-series by internationally-renowned filmmakers James Colquhoun and Laurentine ten Bosch that explores the current state of our physical, emotional and mental health in a captivating new way.

Drawing on research and interviews by some of the world's most recognised celebrities, doctors and thought leaders including Novak Djokovic, Jim Kwik, Mark Hyman, Libby Weaver, Bruce Lipton, Wim Hof, Gabrielle Bernstein, Joe Dispenza and Marie Forleo to name a few, this inspirational FMTV original series is set to challenge the way people view health and ultimately lead them to question how they can live a better life.

Spanning over five fascinating episodes that individually tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time including overcoming stress, depression and anxiety, healing autoimmune conditions and chronic illness naturally, releasing fear & limiting beliefs and uncovering more purpose and fulfillment in life, Transcendence - Live Life Beyond The Ordinary, takes the viewer on a journey into the 'self' like no other docu-series before it.

Interview with James Colquhoun

Question: What is Transcendence - Live Life Beyond the Ordinary?

James Colquhoun: TRANSCENDENCE was born out of a deep passion to help people live life to the fullest. Sharing inspirational stories from some of the world's leading health and wellness advocates, doctors, entrepreneurs, speakers, and athletes, the film series explores what it means to move from a life of pain, sickness, and unhappiness to abundant energy, vitality, inspiration, and a life of purpose.


Question: What originally inspired the idea of this 5-part episode series?

James Colquhoun: Back in January, 2016, it was the start of a new year, and after spending time at a silent ashram, I arrived home to an email that stood out like none other. It was from Jelena Djokovic, wife of world tennis champion, Novak Djokovic, with a special invitation to attend a tennis match and meet Novak in person. Long story short, I was on a plane the next morning and after meeting them both, it turned out that Novak and Jelena were huge fans of our documentaries, Food Matters & Hungry for Change, and FMTV. We chatted all things health and wellness and Novak shared his personal story, which quickly lead to the idea of making another documentary to share with the world. Laurentine and I knew we had another documentary in us and not before long, we embarked on the journey of capturing world leaders, exceptional athletes, nutritional doctors, and high achievers to find out what it is was exactly that contributed to their ability to do the things they do and how everyday people can too. We travelled to Spain, America, United Kingdom, and we managed to pick up some interviews in our home country, Australia.


Question: Can you talk us through some of the challenges that the film explores?

James Colquhoun: The film goes into challenges that we face, both physically (food) and mentally (stress). But the biggest challenge that can be at the root of all the others, is the limiting beliefs that we have come to believe as true about ourselves and/or our circumstances. These beliefs can go unnoticed for many years, but their effect is detrimental, keeping us from taking the risks, or moving forward at all, the way that we should. These are what keep us from breakthrough and from living life true to our deepest self. And just on the other side of these limiting beliefs lies unlimited potential.

Question: When did you first begin to view health differently?

James Colquhoun: Our journey into health and wellness started ten years ago when my father was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, and anxiety. He spent five years bedridden on a cocktail of medications, gained over 50 pounds, and was offered no hope for recovery. We refused to accept his prognosis and started studying all we could on nutrition and healing the body naturally. Our research quickly convinced us about the power of real food and the body's own innate healing capacity. One big problem we encountered was that my father didn't take anything we said seriously, mostly because we weren't medical doctors. That's where the idea for the Food Matters film was born. After filming health experts all over the world, we took the footage back to my Dad and helped him get off his medications, change his diet, and turn his life around. Within three months he was off the medications, 50 pounds lighter, running daily, and restored to health. The transformation was unbelievable. We saw first-hand that with access to the right information, you can make better decisions for your health.


Question: How can we increase our health, today?

James Colquhoun: Education is a great starting point. The more you know, the more you can implement what you've learned into your life to impact your health. It's as easy as adding (or taking away) something small, whether that be a food or a habit, and seeing the change that follows. Then do it again! Then watch how far that momentum of success takes you!!


Question: How did releasing fear and limiting beliefs help some of the celebrities you interviewed for Transcendence?

James Colquhoun: Oh this is actually remarkable. To hear the breakthrough that these people found is truly inspiring and motivating to join them. For some, this meant reaching their full potential, becoming someone they never even dreamed they could be. For others, this meant realising what the human body is actually capable of. There is so much human potential that we can live our whole lives not seeing, but those we interviewed have tapped into it, exposed it, and now that we can see what is possible, we can hopefully do the same.


Question: What is the main message you'd like audiences to walk away with?

James Colquhoun: We hope this docu-series inspires people across the globe to discover the art of never giving up, thinking big, and living with purpose. We hope that people take a close look at how they view health and ultimately question how they can live a better life.


Question: Did you face any challenges when trying to raise awareness to these topics?
James Colquhoun: The main challenge we continually face is that people are creatures of habit. If someone has had a specific belief in regards to health their whole lives, how do you get them to consider something new? That is the challenge.


Question: How can we begin to live a more purposeful life full of fulfillment?

James Colquhoun: Identify it! Most of us don't take the time to stop and think through who we are, what we want to achieve, goals we have, etc. So take the journey into 'self', to find out who you are, and from that, let your beliefs, your goals, and your actions flow. Before you know it, you will be living life true to yourself, and you will be living it with purpose.


Question: Do you have a morning routine; can you share it with us?

James Colquhoun: First thing is to have an awareness of how lucky I am to be alive. I think the more you can connect with being grateful for your life the better frame of mind it can put you in, regardless of your challenges. Next is some form of breath work, movement and mindfulness. I always mix this up. Today it was a meditation followed by a surf. The day before I was on the road so it was just a meditation then walking through an airport! Next I really love starting with lots of hydration. Water, green juices, ginger shots, green drink, ginger-lemon detox drinks. Just helping my body to alkalise and gently awaken my digestive system. Sometimes I'll eat for breakfast, sometimes i wont. I really just tap into how I feel. Then I'm off ready for the day!


Question: What's next, for you?

James Colquhoun: Helping reprogram people's minds in a positive way. I think there is so much negativity in the world and its causing us to experience more depression, anxiety, overwhelm and a lack of true identity more than ever before. I partly blame the 24/7 news cycle and focus on 'death, pain, fire, destruction' and also the role of advertisers selling us products we don't need because they make us feel uncomfortable with our bodies or who we are. It's time to take our power back and live a full, happy and prosperous life and it starts first and foremost in the mind and I want to help support people with that transition on FMTV.


Interview by Brooke Hunter