Digging for Gold(en) Social Comments with Matthew McGrory from Arwen

Digging for Gold(en) Social Comments with Matthew McGrory from Arwen

Author: Convince & Convert February 21, 2025 Duration: 35:02

How can brands create safer, more engaging digital spaces while maximizing the impact of their social media efforts? Matthew McGrory, CEO of Arwen AI, shares how AI-driven moderation helps brands protect their communities, reduce toxicity, and improve ad performance. In this episode, we explore how companies like Hinge and Formula One teams work with Arwen to safeguard conversations, enhance customer acquisition, and ensure a brand-safe environment. From tackling online abuse to optimizing real-time engagement, Matthew reveals why a cleaner, more positive digital space leads to stronger connections and better business outcomes.

Full Episode Details 

Matthew joins this episode of Social Pros to reveal how Arwen is transforming online brand safety and engagement through AI-powered moderation. He dives into how brands work with Arwen to track sponsorship sentiment, tackle online toxicity, and create safer, more welcoming digital spaces.

With social media ads reaching new audiences—sometimes unpredictably—Matthew unpacks how AI-driven moderation helps brands reduce harmful interactions and enhance positive ones. He also shares insights on why a clean, positive online environment leads to better ad performance, stronger audience trust, and increased conversions.

Social pros know that engagement is everything, as long as a brand's digital space feels safe and inviting. Matthew explains how Arwen helps companies automate moderation, ensure brand safety, and turn social media into a place where communities can thrive.

In This Episode:

  • 2:20 - How Arwen works for those in the social sphere
  • 3:04 - What inspired Matthew and his team to create Arwen
  • 5:58 - How social listening has evolved, and how AI is changing it today
  • 9:22 - How these tools help businesses to find more intent-driven comments and sales opportunities
  • 13:36 - How to stay authentic and respond naturally with the use of AI without losing audience trust 
  • 18:24 - Some of the recent projects Matthew and Arwen have been working on
  • 22:03 - Arwen's work with the Hinge dating app 
  • 27:11 - Matthew's recommendations for tools for identifying real-time social response opportunities
  • 32:14 - Matthew's advice for aspiring social pros

Resources 

Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers.


For years, Social Pros Podcast has served as an essential meeting point for those who do the real work in digital marketing. Created by Convince & Convert, this isn't a theoretical discussion; it's a deep dive into the practical realities of managing social media within larger business ecosystems. The conversations here consistently explore how platforms intersect with brand strategy, content creation, public relations, and paid media, moving beyond hype to examine measurable impact. You'll hear directly from the people behind the profiles at major organizations like Google, Reddit, Uber, and Oracle, gaining insight into their successes and the challenges they navigate daily. The longevity of this podcast is a testament to its value, offering a accumulated wealth of knowledge from hundreds of candid interviews and expert commentaries. Each episode functions like a focused case study, breaking down the "how" and "why" behind decisions that drive genuine business results. If you're looking to understand the evolving role of social media beyond the latest trend, this series provides a grounded, insider perspective that has educated a generation of marketing professionals. Tune in to hear the actual pros discuss the work that rarely makes it into a polished tweet or case study.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Social Pros Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Cut Through the Noise with the King of Clarity, Steve Woodruff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:11
Getting your message heard in today's crowded digital world isn't easy, but clarity in communication can make all the difference. Steve Woodruff, the King of Clarity, shares his 4-step formula to help social marketers cr…
Navigating Social with Your Friendly Neighborhood Gen-Z [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:12
For the past few years, we've seen all kinds of brands scrambling to learn more about their Gen-Z audiences. Cue a wave of brands rushing onto TikTok to learn their secrets… But what about the Gen-Z marketers on the othe…
Social Pros Podcast Live at Content Marketing World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:38
Coming to you live from Content Marketing World in sunny San Diego, Social Pros brings together content experts Robert Rose, Chief Strategy Officer at Content Marketing Institute, and Amber Naslund, LinkedIn's Enterprise…
How a Legacy Brand Ran with Their TikTok Boom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:52
TikTok's the place for dance trends, DIY hacks… and, apparently, for reviving iconic products from the '80s! When Lenox's Spice Village collection started trending on the platform, it sparked a social media success story…
The Sweet Tooth of Social Media [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:40
Candy fans unite! This episode is for you. Grab your favorite flavor of Nerds or indulge in some controversial candy corn and tune in to hear Annie Belgrade, Senior Manager of Integrated Content Marketing at Ferrara Cand…
Bridging the Generational Divide on Social [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:44
Generational perspectives collide in this episode as three social pros from different age groups share their insights on the evolution of social media. Leanna Pham, CEO of Pham & Fams and a Gen Z digital marketer, joins…
"Hiding the Veggies" in Higher Ed Social [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:37
Curating content for higher ed social channels can be a balancing act. How do you pair fun, engaging, and relatable content with important messages students need to pay attention to? Emily Stulz, the Director of Social M…
Nailing Down Paid Social for Your Brand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:16
We see paid social ads every day, scrolling through our feeds, watching YouTube videos… And a lot of the time it can leave us frustrated and eager to swipe past. So how can social pros pause that never-ending scroll and…
Building Ideal Customer Profiles for Social Media Success [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:45
A marketing strategy can be full of great, inventive ideas but unless it's targeted at the right people, you could be flying blind. But how do you narrow down and identify your target market? Katie Robbert, CEO of Trust…