Why a CV for a podcast pitch?

When I receive a pitch to be on my podcast, Washington Square On Air, I ask for a CV, resume or similar document. That similar document can be a messy list of degrees and jobs with or with accurate dates.  I don't care how the thing is formatted or how "pretty" it is. I sure don't care if it's 25 pages long.

My show looks at the intersection between the writer's writing life/publications and their "other life." If a pitch states that the writer is a philosopher I want to know what kind. Are we talking the everyday kind? The scholarly kind? If we're talking the everyday kind, I'll know that when I don't see a degree listed. If we are talking the scholarly sort, a CV helps me see what type of philosophy studied, researched and/or published. The CV also informs me regarding the writer's journey. MFA route? Craft books and self-determination route? Other? Personally, I've done both. Both are fine. But each are different. I'd say very different.

I realize a guest can answer these questions in a conversation, but the CV (or similar document) helps me prepare and shape the conversation. The show is only 30 minutes. I need to think about what previous guests have discussed and shape each conversation so it doesn't overlap with other episodes. I also look for opportunities to offer new perspectives on previously discussed topics.

What I don't want to do, work from a press kit. Using that same press kit everyone else has looked at is likely to result in the guest being asked the same questions. This is not fun for the guest. I'm likely to get canned replies. This works against the intent of the author, which is to build a conversation and community around them and their work. This path is also not fun for me. My responsibility, and joy, as the host is to find unique and intriguing aspects of the guest and their life and bring those into the conversation. 

Like some examples? Here are some non-writing topics I've pulled from CVs/resumes/similar documents: tango dancing, politics of hair, working in a wine-tasting room, working in the Coast Guard, professional gambling, Dungeons & Dragons, rock climbing, castle ruins... All of these connected to the writer's work and creativity.

Of course, the best way to hear the results of this request is to check out the show.