In this episode of Experience Over Expectation, host Mary McCorvey sits down with George Leone—former judge, federal prosecutor, and founder of Homecoming 250—to explore what it takes to turn a deeply personal mission into a national movement.
George shares the origin story behind Homecoming 250, a once-in-a-generation celebration honoring the 250th birthdays of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. From early conversations with his wife during the pandemic to securing support from every living Secretary of the Navy, George offers an inspiring look at grassroots leadership, legacy, and the power of collective remembrance.
You’ll hear:
- How a retired judge launched a 9-day national celebration
- Why Philadelphia is the heart of this historic commemoration
- Behind-the-scenes stories of working with the military, volunteers, and civic leaders
- The financial realities of throwing a party for the Navy and Marine Corps—and why it matters
- A preview of major events including ship tours, concerts, the Blue Angels, and the 100th Marine Corps Ball
This is more than an event. It’s a homecoming for service, sacrifice, and national unity.
🎙️ Don’t miss this intimate conversation about vision, leadership, and what it means to serve a legacy bigger than yourself.
Links & Resources:
Learn more or get tickets: https://homecoming250.org
Support the event: Donate to Homecoming250
Follow Mary: marymccorvey.substack.com
Mary McCorvey is a veteran of the Gulf War, founder of 7 companies, TV producer, author, radio host, and playwright whose life reads like a memoir—because it is one. From being implicated in a murder at 17 to surviving sarin gas exposure in Kuwait, Mary’s story is defined by resilience, reinvention, and one core question: What do you do… when life keeps rewriting the script?
After being diagnosed with terminal pulmonary fibrosis and told she had two years to live, Mary defied the odds. She rebuilt her life after betrayal, launched a mission to send students’ work to the Moon, and most recently, opened a locked box she’d carried for 35 years—unleashing a memoir-in-motion about love, memory, and healing.
Now the host of the podcast and author of the book, Experience Over Expectation, Mary brings wit, warmth, and depth to conversations about identity, aging, forgiveness, and second chances. She’s equally at home discussing trauma and tenacity as she is laughing through the absurdities of life.
Mary lives—and thrives—in Pennsylvania, with a story to tell and a mic in hand.
