Destiny Mizell

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My name is Destiny Mizell. I'm a dedicated editor, writer, and social media specialist based in Nashville. Welcome to my digital portfolio.

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MTSU Sidelines •

MTSU alumnus searched the world for answers, shares findings with students

Featured Photo by Destiny Mizell


Story by Destiny Mizell


Johnny Ruhl, 73, has dedicated the past 15 years of his life to teaching, offering guidance and lending a listening ear to Middle Tennessee State University students.


On most days, Ruhl can be found sitting beneath a willow oak tree in front of James E. Walker Library. Students have likely noticed him, even if most don’t pause to take a closer look. He’s the guy with the long, gray beard seated in a corner of the commons area betw...

From Forks to forever: The timeless charm of the ‘Twilight’ saga

If you want more news like this, sign up for the Sidelines weekly newsletter here! Find it in your inbox every Thursday afternoon.

Nearly 20 years after its release, “Twilight” remains a pop-culture sensation. This poses a question bigger than “Team Edward or Team Jacob?”

Why do we still like it?

With a “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” so-bad-you-can’t-look-away type of appeal, the “Twilight” movies (and books) are criticized by the masses for its production quality, plot and controversial ele

Embracing discomfort: A quest for freedom at SXSW

If you want more news like this, sign up for the Sidelines weekly newsletter here! Find it in your inbox every Thursday afternoon.

I ignored my SXSW confirmation email for weeks. My family and mentor practically forced me to go — and, more importantly, enjoy myself. Had I known it would be the most liberating experience of my life, I would have freed myself from my mind a lot sooner.

Middle Tennessee State University sent 10 audio production students to attend the festival in Austin, Texas. Th
Nashville Lifestyles •

Best Spots to Get Ice Cream in Nashville

Let’s get straight to the pint. There’s only so much that air conditioning and shade can help cool things down on a Music City summer day. Read on for one-of-a-kind ice cream spots perfect for lifting spirits and lowering temps. 

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

“Splendid” is an understatement. With both classic and unique flavors across the board in dairy, dairy-free, and gluten-free options, everyone can enjoy a scoop (or a couple) at this nationwide favorite. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams can be...
Nashville Lifestyles •

Nashville Moment: Giancarlo Guerrero

It all started with a standing ovation. When illustrious conductor (and later six-time Grammy Award-winner) Giancarlo Guerrero first came to guest-conduct Nashville Symphony 20 years ago, he didn’t know that he would eventually return as Music Director for 16 years. The beloved maestro leaves quite a legacy, championing works of prominent American composers through various mediums, and the Nashville Symphony commissioning and premiering nearly two dozen pieces and 21 commercial recordings under...
Nashville Lifestyles •

Where to Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day in Nashville

Gather around, bookworms, because Independent Bookstore Day is back on April 26. One of the biggest days of the year for local bookstores, the event evokes the importance of shopping locally and connecting with fellow readers year-round.

Read on for four must-visit indie bookshops in Nashville and how to celebrate the occasion with them. 

Novelette Booksellers

Nashville's only queer-owned bookstore, Novelette, is a groovy safe space for book lovers of all ages. At this local gem, books...
Nashville Lifestyles •

Magnolia Laine Opens First Tennessee Location

Here comes the bride! Bridal boutique Magnolia Laine is finally putting heels down in East Nashville, marking it as the brand's first Tennessee location. Magnolia Laine offers classic styles with an exceptional experience, accompanied by one-of-a-kind shopping appointments and a curated wedding gown collection. We chatted with owner Neely Cothron to get the scoop on Nashville's newest bridal shop and what makes the experience there special. 

WE NEEDED THIS: I was born and raised right outside...
Nashville Lifestyles •

3 Books to Add to Your Spring Reading List

Nothing beats the feeling of cracking open a new book, regardless of what chapter of life you’re on.

Not to mention that fresh book smell. Read on for three new books coming this month with lessons that guide through life’s seasons.

I Thought It Would Be Better Than This by Jessica N. Turner

Influencer, speaker, author, and mother Jessica N. Turner is speaking vulnerably with her new book I Thought It Would Be Better Than This. After losing her 16-year-marriage when her husband came out...
Nashville Lifestyles •

Music in the City 2025: An Evening with Jelly Roll

Nashville Lifestyles hosted its annual Music in the City event featuring a sold-out Q&A and performance with January cover star Jelly Roll at his new bar, Goodnight Nashville on February 20. 

Jelly Roll said it best: Music is medicine. Nashville Lifestyle's Music in the City event goes to show that his words ring true. The Nashville native put on a heartwarming and head-nodding show, reminiscing on days where singing on his own Broadway stage seemed impossible and playing hits that changed hi...
Nashville Lifestyles •

Black History Month in Nashville

Nashville owes much of its iconic identity to its rich Black history. 

From the voices that gave it the Music City moniker to the flavors and landmarks that define Nashville, there are countless ways to connect with the Black culture that has shaped Middle Tennessee. 

Music City Roots

If you think the name Music City came solely from Nashville’s colossal country music scene, think again. The signature nickname was originally credited to the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Nashville’s very own F...
Nashville Lifestyles •

Get the Scoop on Nashville Fantasy Ball

Nashville Fantasy Ball, the immersive brainchild of WolfHart Productions, is blurring the lines between fantasy and reality.

Through balls, soirées, and gatherings, NFB is working to bring dreams found in works of fiction to life. The elevated aesthetic, entertainment, vendor hall, photo opportunities, characters, storyline, and more are just a glimpse at the evocative nature of the experience.

Forbidden Fantasies: An Enemies to Lovers Affair at The Bedford on February 7 and 8 will be the...
Nashville Lifestyles •

Nashville Moment: Meredith Seacrest Leach

Sibling duo Ryan Seacrest and Meredith Seacrest Leach release their first-ever picture book, illustrated by Bonnie Lui and molded by childhood imagination.

Leaning on their childhood and firsthand accounts from the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, the brother and sister creatives emphasize the importance of dreaming big. They wish to inspire children to shoot for the stars and never stop, with the result being a celebration of wild wonder and overflowing ambition. Readers can purchase The Make-Belie...
Nashville Lifestyles •

Get the Scoop on Plus-Size Boutique Ari + Ava

When owner and successful plus-size fashion and beauty influencer Callie Richards moved to Nashville, she quickly noticed a missing piece amongst the city’s populous women’s clothing scene.

“I saw an ever-growing need as plus-size people were seeing themselves represented more to be able to experience shopping in the same way that their straight-sized counterparts do,” Richards says. “We felt like there was a gap in the market here not only for in-store boutiques but for a space that felt ele...
Nashville Lifestyles •

Get the Scoop on Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival

Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival returns, uniting people through music, art, food, and more for the 10th year in a row.

Gallivant through the gorgeous rolling hills and bask in the stirrings of fall weather at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin on September 28 and 29. Like its predecessors, this weekend will be packed with unforgettable memories forged in the all-embracing music scene, culinary delights, hand-crafted goods, and activities for fans of all ages.

This year’s lin...
Nashville Lifestyles •

Nashville Moment: Rea Frey

Award-winning, number one bestselling author, Book Doula, and Nashville local Rea Frey has done it again, placing another heartfelt and memorable novel under her belt. 

In Every Life explores love, impossible choices, and second chances, and will debut August 6. Frey is a lifelong wellness-lover and an accomplished writing coach who makes sure her dreams turn into reality with a story as interesting as her novels. We chatted with Frey about her latest novel, career journey, holism, and more....

Concert couture creates community, enhances show experience

If you want more news like this, sign up for the Sidelines weekly newsletter here! Find it in your inbox every Thursday afternoon.

It is no secret that concert attire becomes more of a spectacle each time a tour hits the road. Eccentric outfits fill social media feeds and concertgoers promenade in head-to-toe glam as they fill streets surrounding venues.

Of course the days of band tees and jeans at shows aren’t gone, but fans have grown much more expressive. The practice gained popularity in t

Emerging talent gets comfortable on Country Music Hall of Fame stage

If you want more news like this, sign up for the Sidelines weekly newsletter here! Find it in your inbox every Thursday afternoon.

Seventeen year old Miley Henderson strode onto the carpeted stage of Ford Theater in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

As the only teenager, she stood amongst established artists Maggie Baugh, Denitia and Jack McKeon for the Acoustic Guitar Project’s songwriter round, held earlier this month inside the vereated hall. The Acoustic Guitar Project is a global

Sweating 'All The Small Things': Blink-182's top four albums ranked

If you want more news like this, sign up for the Sidelines weekly newsletter here! Find it in your inbox every Thursday afternoon.

Dive into Blink-182’s top four albums, each a chapter in their rebellious pop-punk discography.

After weathering storms of hiatuses, lineup changes and personal struggles, Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker emerge triumphant. With a world tour and latest album “One More Time…” the band is reliving their days on the road. The reunion follows a bitter split i

MTSU alumni Chris Young and Jaelee Roberts light up Ole Red stage

Chris Young took to the stage at Ole Red happy to be anywhere but jail, so he told the crowd Wednesday as he perched on a wooden barstool.

Nashville Lifestyles’ annual Music in the City event came two weeks following Young’s arrest in Nashville, in which the charges have been dropped.

“I needed to address it in the beginning, so here we are,” he said.

Among others, Middle Tennessee State University College of Media and Entertainment sponsored the concert, proud to support Young, who attended

Top 5 standout performances at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards

The 66th Annual Grammy Awards performances fostered a night of connection and celebration through heartfelt intimacy and captivating visuals. The evening presented legends, pop sensations, rappers and everyone in between on stage, including a surprise duet. Women take the cake for best performances this year, but support from artists like Finneas and Luke Combs doesn’t hurt.

Ready to find out who stood out? Read on for the best Grammys performances this year.

The night’s most anticipated perfo
The Murfreesboro Pulse •

German Filmmakers Simon and Joshua Wesley Shoot Feature in Middle Tennessee, Telling of Holiday Romance and the Love of Jesus

Amidst the summer heat, two filmmakers brought Christmas to life in Murfreesboro and the surrounding areas.

The recently released film A Law for Christmas is a cinematic celebration of love and Christianity during the holiday season, woven against the backdrop of Middle Tennessee.

Though the film is set in Washington, D.C. and a fictional rural town called Snowpoint, a significant amount of it was filmed in Murfreesboro. The most-used shooting locations include Oflow Cafe, The Abbey Public Hou
The Murfreesboro Pulse •

Art Studio Tour: Decades-Long Tradition Celebrating One-of-a-Kind Treasures Continues Nov. 17–19

Since 1993, the Stones River Craft Association has hosted its annual Art Studio Tour around Murfreesboro and the surrounding area. The Art Studio Tour fosters a medium for local artists to showcase their eclectic works and for the community to visit their home studios and gain exposure to a variety of creators and their respective styles. The 2023 Art Studio Tour will take place Friday through Sunday, Nov. 17–19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

The four participating studios this year are Jona
The Murfreesboro Pulse •

Enriching the Community or Threatening Tradition? Murfreesboro Residents Cry Foul After City Proposes Baseball Stadium at Cannonsburgh

The debate on whether to place a minor league baseball stadium at Cannonsburgh, a Murfreesboro City Parks property, became a huge talking point in Murfreesboro last month.

In early September, Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland confirmed that the city had been contacted by developers looking to build a AA minor league baseball stadium somewhere in the heart of Murfreesboro. Local controversy unleashed after McFarland’s Sept. 7 Facebook post shared that he did not support demolishing Cannonsburgh

Catfeine: Sip coffee, cuddle cats

When Catfeine Cat Cafe opened, owners Curtis and Taura Byrd strived to facilitate at least 100 adoptions a year.

They quickly exceeded that goal, nearly doubling it annually.

Since welcoming feline-friendly customers in 2019, the business helped more than 750 cats — or three to five per week — find their “furever” homes.

Their business plan allows 15 to 20 cats to roam freely, make friends and pick their parents. They only host rescues vetted by Rutherford County Cat Rescue, Puurrrfect Paws,

Eight crystals every student needs to survive college

Overwhelmed with the hustle and bustle of balancing school, work and other life factors? Don’t worry, there’s a way to cope.

Crystals — a holistic approach to healing one’s mind, body and spirit — are said to cause a plethora of effects such as abundance, grounding and joy by interacting with one’s energy centers and mindset. This alternative medicine can be practiced through meditation or by simply carrying the crystal on your person.

“Whether or not someone believes in the power of crystals,

MTSU alumnus searched the world for answers, shares findings with students

Johnny Ruhl, 73, has dedicated the past 15 years of his life to teaching, offering guidance and lending a listening ear to Middle Tennessee State University students.

On most days, Ruhl can be found sitting beneath a willow oak tree in front of James E. Walker Library. Students have likely noticed him, even if most don’t pause to take a closer look. He’s the guy with the long, gray beard seated in a corner of the commons area between the library and the Business and Aerospace building. He stays

Murfreesboro Police Department Welcomes First-Ever Mental Health Co-Responder

Earlier this month, Murfreesboro Police Department welcomed their first-ever mental health co-responder due to a partnership between Volunteer Behavioral Health Murfreesboro and the department.

Feb. 9 was Heather Noulis’ first day. Noulis is an employee at Volunteer Behavior Health Murfreesboro but works with Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) at MPD alongside Police Officer and CIT Instructor Quentin Peeler and other officers.

“The responder [Noulis] will basically assist MPD by responding out to

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