Check Out Kalani Smith’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kalani Smith

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
At 26, I’ve lived a wild and unpredictable journey that’s taken me from behind a wedding camera to the halls of the Tennessee State Capitol to sleeping in the back of my Ford Explorer—all in pursuit of my dream of becoming a full-time content creator.

I started as a videographer, specializing in weddings, but found myself working as a legislative assistant at the Tennessee State Capitol. It didn’t take long to realize the 9-to-5 wasn’t for me. I gave up everything, moved into my car, and went all in on creating content, diving headfirst into the world of paranormal investigation. I spent weeks at a time streaming from some of the most haunted locations in America, building a massive audience drawn to my raw, unfiltered ghost-hunting adventures.

But I didn’t stop there. I took a sharp turn into the food world, particularly British cuisine, and somehow became a viral sensation in the UK. My brutally honest food reviews, where I compared British and American flavors, took off—suddenly, I wasn’t just known for chasing ghosts but also for taking on the best (and worst) of British food.

Now, I’ve built a career out of blending storytelling, adventure, and food in ways that keep my audience hooked. Whether it’s uncovering the mysteries of the afterlife or figuring out if a British sandwich is worth the hype, I’m all about pushing boundaries and keeping things entertaining.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Has it been a smooth road? What have been some of the obstacles?

Not at all. I started as a college football player, but a back injury ended that dream. I pivoted, earned two degrees in criminal justice, and landed a job at the Tennessee State Capitol—but then COVID hit, wrecking everything. I was broke, lost a business, and had to relocate to Salt Lake City, where I worked as a plumber and later a marketing director for a bourbon company just to stay afloat.

When I finally made it back to Tennessee, I took a 9-to-5 at the Capitol, but it wasn’t fulfilling. I was still struggling financially, picking up filming gigs on the side to make ends meet. When I finally decided to pursue content full-time, I had to live in the back of my Ford Explorer, while my wife stayed with her parents.

Beyond the financial struggles, I battled TikTok bans, content moderation issues, and monetization struggles, all while trying to build something from the ground up. There were times when I didn’t know if it would work, but I kept pushing forward.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a full-time content creator known for paranormal investigations, storytelling, and viral food reviews, with over a billion views across platforms. What started as a ghost-hunting video turned into a career—I’ve now conducted 125+ investigations worldwide, streaming and documenting my experiences.

I went from working at the Tennessee State Capitol to living in my car and traveling the country, chasing this dream. My mix of real paranormal encounters, humor, and entertainment has earned me 3M+ followers on TikTok and a dedicated audience across YouTube, Instagram, and Twitch.

Beyond ghost hunting, my UK food reviews unexpectedly made me a viral sensation overseas. I’m proud of how I took risks, adapted, and built a career doing what I love—exploring the unknown and keeping people entertained.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love how much the Nashville food scene has diversified over the years. I also love how many creatives are starting to move to Nashville!

What I like least about Nashville would have to be the pot holes and traffic!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Kalanighosthunter
• Facebook: Kalani Ghost Hunter
• Other: Tiktok: @Kalanighosthunter