When two of the producers of “Naked and Afraid” spoke with Reality Blurred, they stressed the effort that’s made in telling a truthful story. That said, though, they also confirmed that there are times when the crew steps in and influences events in a way that typically ends up on the cutting room floor.

And some of it’s completely understandable. Executive producer Steve Rankin (pictured) confirmed that yes, contestants have not only emergency radio equipment, but walkie-talkies and whistles, too. And it makes sense: They are, after all, out there on their own at night. Rankin says that one of their most important rules is to interfere as little as possible, which is pretty much what the show depicts. There are, however, times when they get involved — and it’s not just when there’s a medical emergency.

Rankin also admitted that when it comes time for contestants to head to the extraction point, “… if they go off track during that walk, they might just have a little nudge from the producers.” Supervising producer Mathilde Bittner says that doesn’t happen often, but what does happen is that she’ll sometimes step in for a pep talk: “If you lose your mental strength or your motivation, it’s over. A big part of what I do is to remind them — when they’re having these lows, when they’re like, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore,’ — remind them why they’re there … what you signed up for, and you have it in you.”