Life & Work with Robert Feiles of Studio City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Feiles.

Hi Robert, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a retired pharmacist whose life experiences have shaped me into an author dedicated to helping others navigate some of life’s most challenging transitions.
My journey as an author began when my wife’s mother lived to the remarkable age of 104. As she required assistance in her later years, I quickly realized the enormous complexity involved in caring for an aging parent. Families face a vast array of decisions regarding healthcare, financial implications, legalities, and care settings — all of which can be utterly overwhelming for caregivers. Determined to help others facing the same situation, I researched the responsibilities and strategies that caregivers can utilize to not only support their aging parents, but also protect themselves from burnout. The result was my book, Practical Strategies for the Caregiving of Aging Parents: A Guidebook for Navigating the Complexities of Caregiving with Compassion and Understanding.
Then, several years ago, my son’s ex-wife passed away unexpectedly, leaving behind two children — ages 16 and 15 — who needed a place to live. Unable to stay with her parents, as her mother had recently passed away and her father was unable to care for them, the children came to live with my wife and me. Our son was already living with us, so our home became a full house once again. We welcomed them wholeheartedly, and after some time sharing a room, we decided to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in our backyard so that our son could have his own space and each child could have their own room.
Suddenly, we found ourselves raising two teenagers again — and that experience opened my eyes to a critical gap in their education. These young people lacked essential life skills that schools simply do not teach: physical and mental health and wellness, personal finance, time management, conflict resolution, and many other foundational competencies needed to thrive as adults. I threw myself into researching these topics and wrote Teen’s Life Skills Guide to Thriving: Conquering Adulthood Before Graduation.
But my work didn’t stop there. I soon recognized that many adults had already graduated high school without ever acquiring these vital skills. For those emerging adults trying to find their footing in the real world, I am now developing a new book: Adulting Unlocked: Mastering Life Skills for Ultimate Independence for Emerging Adults.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been a fairly smooth road. I’m in no hurry, and I have plenty of time. Gathering information and putting it in a writable form is the struggle.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For many years, I was an independent pharmacist and proud small business owner. I owned and operated VT Pharmacy in Reseda, California, where I built far more than a business — I built a community.
From the very beginning, I believed that a pharmacist’s role extended well beyond simply filling prescriptions. I became an early advocate for patient consultation at a time when it was not yet mandated by law, recognizing that truly caring for patients meant taking the time to understand their needs, answer their questions, and empower them to make informed decisions about their health. This was not just a professional philosophy — it was a personal commitment.
Over the years, my patients came to rely on me not only for their medications, but for guidance, support, and a compassionate ear. I knew their names, their families, and their struggles. The relationships I formed went far beyond the pharmacy counter. When the time came to close VT Pharmacy, the outpouring of emotion from my patients was profound — many of them were moved to tears. That response was the greatest testament to what we had built together, and it remains one of the most meaningful chapters of my professional life.
It was this deep sense of care for others — first cultivated behind that pharmacy counter — that would go on to inspire everything I have written since.