In this episode of Success Leaves Clues, hosts Robin and Al sit down with Carl Aube, Co-Founder at Optimal U Inc., to explore how lifestyle medicine is transforming preventive health across Canada. 

With over 25 years of experience in healthcare innovation, Carl shares how Optimal U is bridging the gap between public and private care – empowering individuals to take charge of their health through data-driven assessments, personalized care plans, and actionable lifestyle changes. 

Carl discusses how small, daily habits create measurable, long-term health outcomes, and how wearables, genetic testing, and AI are helping Canadians stay healthier longer. He also explains how employers can integrate lifestyle medicine into benefits programs to boost productivity, reduce absenteeism, and lower healthcare costs. 

This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who believes “ignorance is bliss” when it comes to their health, and an invitation to start planting the seeds of wellness today. 

You’ll hear about: 

• From Sick Care to Preventive Care: Why Canada’s public system focuses on treatment, and how Optimal U fills the prevention gap. 
• The Six Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine: Nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress, social connection, and avoiding risky substances. 
• Data-Driven Health: How bloodwork, genetic screening, and wearables reveal what your body truly needs. 
• Ignorance Isn’t Bliss: Why knowing your health risks early empowers better choices and longer vitality. 
• Employers and Well-Being: How companies can use lifestyle medicine to reduce costs and build healthier, more engaged teams. 
• The Future of Personalized Care: How AI and continuous monitoring are making wellness more accessible and actionable than ever. 

If you’re a benefits advisor, HR leader, or parent looking to better support families through smarter healthcare access, this episode will open your eyes to how innovation and empathy can work hand-in-hand to change the future of care in Canada. 

We talk about: 

• 00:00 Introduction   
• 03:00 What Is Optimal U and How It Works with the Public System 
• 05:00 Prevention vs. Treatment: Why Lifestyle Medicine Matters 
• 07:00 The Six Pillars of Lifestyle Health 
• 09:00 Facing Your Health Fears and Taking Action 
• 12:00 From Data to Daily Habits: Sleep, Movement, and Nutrition 
• 14:00 How AI and Wearables Empower Real-Time Health Insights 
• 16:00 The Mission Behind Optimal U and Carl’s 25-Year Journey 
• 18:00 Breaking Down Healthcare Silos and Improving Referrals  
• 21:00 Integrating Lifestyle Medicine into Employee Benefits 
• 23:00 Real ROI for Employers: Productivity, Wellness, and Retention 
• 26:00 Lifestyle vs. Functional Medicine: What’s the Difference? 
• 29:00 Genetic Testing and the Power of Personalized Insights 
• 36:00 Working with Family Physicians and Navigating the Public System 
• 40:00 Collaboration Over Competition in Healthcare 
• 41:00 Planting Seeds of Health: Carl’s Vision for the Future 

Connect with Carl 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-aube/  
• Website: https://optimalu.ca/  

Connect with Us 

• LinkedIn: Robin Bailey and Al McDonald   
• Website: Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group