The Mental Health & Wellness Show · Dr Tomi Mitchell

Clean Air, Clear Mind: How Indoor Air Quality Impacts Mental Health with Mike Dillon

·48 min·4 clips

The EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top four dangers to public health, with 50% of illnesses caused by it.

Dr. Tommy Mitchell hosts Michael Dillon, an entrepreneur focused on improving health through air and water quality. Dillon founded airwaterhealing.com and serves as vice president of a holistic wellness center in Florida. He combines scientific products with a mission to help people take control of their environmental health. Dillon shares that his mother’s “crunchy” approach in the 1980s involved chiropractic care and organic food, which he credits for his childhood resilience. His mother later recovered from illness at the OHI health institute in California through a raw vegan diet and mental health therapy. Dillon argues that modern society overeats and wastes nearly 40% of its food, unlike hunter-gatherer ancestors. He connects intermittent fasting and dietary changes to improved mental health and diabetes management. Dillon cites a 20-year thoracic lung study finding that weekly use of household cleaners reduces lung capacity equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes daily. He highlights that indoor air pollution ranks among the EPA’s top four environmental dangers, with 50% of illnesses aggravated by poor indoor air. Dillon references Dr. Alan Somersall’s book “The Fresh Air for Life,” which details these risks. He recounts a guest who said mold toxicity caused her more suffering than breast cancer, including suicidal thoughts. Dillon links air pollution in cities like Mumbai to higher depression rates and notes “winter blues” in northern regions due to lack of sunlight and vitamin D. He explains that snake plants, peace lilies, and aloe vera can purify air with minimal care, and buying directly from growers saves money. Dillon’s air purifiers use photocatalytic oxidation technology, mimicking sunlight to produce super oxide ions that clean air without filters. He simplifies the science by comparing it to magnets, where negative ions attach to positively charged pollutants, making them fall out of breathable air. Dillon recommends replacing chemical cleaners with vinegar and essential oils for safer cleaning. The episode maintains an educational and conversational tone, blending personal stories with practical advice. Listeners interested in holistic health, environmental wellness, and natural living will find actionable steps here. Those seeking strictly clinical mental health discussions or skeptical of alternative health approaches might prefer other content.

As heard by us

A home-focused wellness conversation linking indoor air and water to everyday health.

The episode treats indoor air quality as part of a wider conversation about mental health and wellness. Michael Dillon comes across as an entrepreneur tied to air and water products, and the discussion stays close to clean air, pure water, and the idea that a home can either…

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Why you'd press play

If your home feels off, start with the air you breathe.

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