In the third episode of the A Dictionary of Ukrainian Emotions podcast, American actor, director, and producer Wayne Maugans, known for his work in theatre, film, and television, reads from The Peed-Upon Armoured Personnel Carrier, a play by Ukrainian playwright Oksana Grytsenko.

The play tells the story of life in a small village in southern Ukraine during the Russian occupation. The villagers, initially confused and terrified, watch the invasion unfold, unsure of how to react. Over time, their fear gives way to anger, and they decide to resist — though in an unexpected and unusual manner.

After Maugans reading, the podcast host, writer and translator John Freedman, engages in a thoughtful discussion with him, exploring the themes raised by Grytsenko’s work. How does fear reshape a community’s sense of security? What compels people to remain in occupied towns and villages despite the looming dangers? These reflections offer listeners deeper insight into how, even in the bleakest circumstances, human resilience and humour can transform despair into a bold act of defiance.

In the second episode of a Dictionary of Ukrainian Emotions podcast, star Kristin Milward reads Oksana Savchenko's powerful monologue, I Want to Go Home.

This emotionally charged piece portrays a woman living through the war, reflecting on how it alters people's lives, perspectives, and dreams. The author contrasts memories of past happiness and freedom with the harsh realities of the present. Although the protagonist is safe abroad, her thoughts continually return to her beloved Kyiv, where her heart and loved ones remain.

Following the reading, podcast host John Freedman, a writer and translator, speaks with Kristin Milward about her impressions of visiting Ukraine during the war. Kristin shares her experiences and highlights the importance of supporting Ukrainian culture in the face of Russian military aggression.

The first episode of "A Dictionary of Ukrainian Emotions" centres on Anastasiia Kosodii’s short play "How to Talk to the Dead", written in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The play was inspired by the horrors witnessed in cities like Bucha, Mariupol, and others.

The podcast itself grew from the anthology "A Dictionary of Emotions in a Time of War", initiated and translated by John Freedman and published by Laertes Press, under the leadership of Nina Kamberos.

In this debut episode, renowned American actress Alessandra Torresani performs a reading of Kosodii’s play, followed by an insightful conversation between Freedman and Kosodii about the work’s themes. The episode concludes with an interview with Nina Kamberos, who shares her experience publishing this important collection of Ukrainian plays, written during the first months of the war.