Destiny Mizell

Hi there,

My name is Destiny Mizell. I'm a writer, editor and photographer based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Welcome to my digital portfolio.

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

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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

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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

Concert couture creates community, enhances show experience

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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

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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

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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
The Murfreesboro Pulse •

Chords for a Cause: Mac Frampton Trio Performs Oct. 22 Benefit Concert for We Remember You, Dementia Caregiver Support Group

The Mac Frampton Trio will take the stage on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m. at Murfreesboro’s First United Methodist Church (265 W. Thompson Ln.) for We Remember You’s second benefit concert.

The trio will engage attendees with a soul-stirring blend of gospel, classical and jazz music to show their support not only for those battling dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but also their caregivers. Admission is free, but donations to We Remember You are appreciated.

We Remember You is a local nonprofit

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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