There's no way MJ Coyle can erase his first day working on "Good Bones" with Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E. Laine from his memory. During a candid episode of the "Mina AF" podcast aired on Tuesday, October 24, the designer spilled the beans about his wild initial encounter with the HGTV duo, particularly Mina and her mom, Karen.
A Chaotic First Day: Hard-Boiled Eggs and All
According to MJ, it was classic Mina behavior that set the tone on his very first day. Karen, still an integral part of the company back then, was the first to arrive. MJ found himself in the middle of an intense verbal download before Mina walked in with a paper towel filled with hard-boiled eggs. "I thought to myself, 'This woman must be completely off her rocker. Who brings hard-boiled eggs to work? And now she's about to peel and eat them right in front of me on my first day!' It was surreal," MJ recounted with a chuckle.
Mina's Food Kicks and MJ's Long-Standing Role
Mina couldn't help but laugh as she explained her habit of obsessing over certain foods for months before moving on to the next thing. MJ joined the "Good Bones" team toward the end of Season 3, transitioning into Season 4, and eventually became Mina's longest-standing employee, working alongside her for nearly five years. That's a pretty solid run if you ask me.
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The Evolution of the Team and Relationships
Karen stepped away from the family business, Two Chicks and a Hammer, in 2019, but she continued to be a regular face on the home improvement series. However, things haven't been entirely peachy between her and Mina lately. In fact, Mina admitted during a September 20 podcast episode that she's kept her distance from Karen due to some unresolved tension. "Life's wild, and I've got a lot of amazing people around me who support me. But there are others who don't, and I'm not going to waste my energy on them," she explained.
As for MJ, he revealed that he hasn't stayed in touch with some of his former "Good Bones" costars since the show wrapped its eighth season. "I haven't spoken to Cory [Miller] in ages. Same goes for Tad [Starziak]. I had a brief conversation with Karen when everything wrapped up, but honestly, I think everyone just needs some space, time to heal, and a little breathing room," he shared.
Despite the distance from some of his former colleagues, MJ's bond with Mina remains as strong as ever. He's currently lending a hand with her lake house renovation, which is being showcased in an upcoming HGTV spinoff series. "We're filming the lake house project, and MJ pops in from time to time to help us with the demolition. I'm always experimenting with ideas, throwing them against the wall to see what sticks. If any new show ever takes off, MJ would definitely be one of the first people I'd invite to join me," Mina said enthusiastically.
